Bottle gourd, known as, lauki or calabash, is a nutritious vegetable that offers several benefits for skin and hair due to its high water content and various vitamins and minerals. According to the Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, gourd also contains vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B9, and vitamin B6. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps in removing free radicals. Minerals like riboflavin, zinc, thiamine, iron, magnesium, and manganese are also found in gourd.
What you eat and drink can greatly affect the appearance and health of your skin. You don’t need to buy fancy and expensive ingredients. Simple, everyday fruits and veggies can also help you get glowing skin.
Beauty Benefits of Lauki:
Skin Benefits
- Hydration: Bottle gourd has a high water content, which helps keep the skin hydrated and glowing. The water content of bottle gourd is approximately 92-96%. This high water content is one of the reasons it is beneficial for, hydration and cooling, especially during hot weather.
- Anti-Aging: Rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and B, bottle gourd can help reduce the signs of aging by fighting free radicals that damage the skin. A study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology highlighted the presence of antioxidants in bottle gourd, which can help in reducing oxidative stress and potentially delay the signs of aging.
- Acne Reduction: Its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce acne and other skin irritations. Lauki can help flush toxins from your system and this can help combat acne and related problems.
- Brightening: The juice of bottle gourd can be applied to the skin to help lighten dark spots and even out skin tone. Vitamin C is also important for the production of collagen, which affects the appearance and elasticity of your skin. So if you want a youthful glow, you better start consuming more lauki.
- Cooling Effect: The cooling nature of bottle gourd soothes the skin and can help reduce redness and sunburn.
Hair Benefits
While direct scientific studies on the benefits of consuming lauki are scarce, traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda have long used bottle gourd for its purported benefits in improving hair health and preventing dandruff.
- Hair Growth: Bottle gourd is rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin B and iron, which promote healthy hair growth.
- Dandruff Control: Its anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing dandruff and scalp irritation.
- Hair Strengthening: The nutrients in bottle gourd strengthen hair follicles and prevent hair breakage.
- Shine and Smoothness: Regular application of bottle gourd juice to the hair can make it smoother and shinier.
- Preventing Premature Greying: Bottle gourd contains vitamins and minerals that can help delay the onset of grey hair.
Ways to Use Bottle Gourd for Skin and Hair
- For Skin:
- Juice: Extract bottle gourd juice and apply it to your face with a cotton ball. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off.
- Mask: Mix bottle gourd juice with ingredients like honey or yogurt to create a hydrating face mask.
- For Hair:
- Juice: Apply bottle gourd juice directly to the scalp and hair. Massage gently and leave it on for about 30 minutes before washing off.
- Hair Pack: Mix bottle gourd juice with other natural ingredients like coconut oil or aloe vera gel to make a nourishing hair pack.
Incorporating bottle gourd into your diet can also provide these benefits internally, contributing to overall healthier skin and hair.
Consuming Lauki For Skin Care in Diet
Lauki Juice: Lauki juice should not be mixed with other juices. When it comes to skincare, drinking lauki juice can be especially beneficial. Note that it is generally advised to avoid mixing bottle gourd juice with any other juices. Once the juice has been extracted, you must drink it quickly and not allow it to oxidize. This simple detox drink is also good for those on a weight-loss diet.
Lauki Skin Chutney: Did you know that bottle gourd peel is safe to consume? Not only that, it is great for your health. The ‘skin’ of lauki can improve your skin health, immunity, and digestion. This peel doesn’t have a distinctive taste and can be added to dishes as you wish. We recommend making a delicious chutney using lauki skin.
Lauki Dishes: Lauki is traditionally used to prepare a wide variety of dishes in Indian cuisine. You can use lauki to make koftas, raitas, cheelas, dosas, salads, and much more.