Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan has always championed healthy eating habits. She recently shared her favorite vegetable during a rapid-fire interview. The actress did not hesitate to name lauki, commonly known as bottle gourd, as her top pick.
Kareena's Personal Experience with Bottle Gourd
Kareena Kapoor expressed strong admiration for this humble vegetable. She described it as a gut-friendly option that has personally helped her. The actress revealed that she sometimes avoids medication by consuming bottle gourd in various forms.
"I am a big fan of lauki," Kareena stated clearly. "I feel it is a gut-friendly vegetable. It has helped me. Sometimes, I don't take medication, but I would have dudhi soup, a plain lauki salad or a lauki sabzi. It really helps me."
She acknowledged that bottle gourd might not sound glamorous. However, Kareena emphasized its practical benefits. "I think it is the superpower vegetable. Not cool, but it's what it is," she added with honesty.
Nutritional Powerhouse: Expert Insights
Dt Amreen Sheikh, chief dietitian at KIMS Hospitals in Thane, supports Kareena's choice. She explained that Indian kitchens have relied on bottle gourd for generations. Despite its simple appearance, this vegetable offers substantial health advantages.
"Light, soothing, and gentle to digest, this simple vegetable often proves to be stronger than most of the trendy foods we know about," Sheikh noted. "Though plain in flavour, lauki is packed with health benefits that make it deserving of a place in the diet on a regular basis."
Key Health Benefits of Bottle Gourd
- Excellent Hydration: Bottle gourd contains over 90 percent water. This high water content helps maintain proper fluid balance in the body and supports digestion.
- Weight Management: Being low in calories and high in fiber, lauki keeps the stomach feeling full while enhancing metabolism. It serves as an ideal food for weight loss efforts.
- Digestive Support: The cooling nature of bottle gourd makes it easily digestible. It proves particularly useful during hot summer months and humid monsoon seasons.
- Detoxification: Regular consumption helps remove toxins from the body and maintains a clean digestive system.
- Blood Pressure Regulation: Rich in potassium, lauki helps balance excess sodium in the body, supporting healthy blood pressure levels.
Versatile and Accessible Vegetable
Bottle gourd suits people of all ages, from children to seniors. It offers special benefits for those managing lifestyle disorders like diabetes, heart disease, or obesity. The vegetable's neutral flavor allows for creative culinary uses.
Sheikh suggested several preparation methods. "Its neutral flavour allows it to be used in a variety of recipes. It can be turned into soups, curries, raitas, or even smoothies with ease," she explained.
The dietitian offered one important caution. "The only thing to watch out for is to not consume lauki that has a bitter taste, since it can be unsafe to eat," Sheikh warned.
Additional Health Applications
Bottle gourd provides benefits beyond basic nutrition. It helps individuals suffering from acidity or constipation. The vegetable supports recovery after illness and provides an energy boost. Regular consumption may even contribute to healthier skin.
Kareena Kapoor's endorsement highlights how traditional Indian vegetables offer modern health solutions. Her personal experience combined with expert analysis demonstrates that sometimes the simplest foods deliver the most powerful benefits.
