Pointed Gourd (Parwal): Health benefits, nutrition and precautions

Among all the types of gourd out there, pointed gourd is one of the least-known vegetables in India. Also known as parwal in many parts of India, this vegetable could not even seem like a gourd in its first appearance. It might fool you. It’s pretty tiny. But its benefits are mighty. 

Since ancient times, pointed gourd has been used not just as a food but medicinally as well. It is potent – its leaves as well – much to treat even jaundice. Pick up any texts of Ayurveda, Unani, or even Siddha, and you’ll find several mentions of Parwal. We’ll carry down all those benefits with the stamp of ‘scientifically proven’.

Today, we’ll examine the pointed gourd’s benefits, nutritional value, and cooking methods. Plus, we’ll add some fun facts about Parwal.

Know Your Pointed Gourd (Parwal) – History, Names, and Nutrition

Native to India, this veggie has been grown for thousands of years. And here is a fun fact to start with – 

In India, pointed gourd is sometimes even called ‘Green Potato’.

Across India, especially in Northern India, pointed gourd is cherished in curries, salads, sweets, and even pickles. It is delicious. And when it comes to its nutritional value, the graph takes another good spike. 

Few calories, more nutritional content – pointed gourd is an absolute guard for those watching out their weight. 

In India, the pointed gourd is known by numerous names. Here are a few common ones:

• Parwal / Parwar / Parmal – Hindi
• Potol or Patol – Bengali 
• Kambupudalai –Tamil 

The 15^th Century Hatha Yoga Pradipika tells of pointed gourd as the most suitable food for Yoginis.

Let’s see through its benefits why this lesser-known food should be consumed more.

Pointed Gourd Benefits

In Ayurveda, pointed gourd is written as beneficial for kapha and pitta dosh balancing. In tribal regions of India, parwal is even dried and powdered to be used as a potent medicine against Spermatorrhea. And here is how parwal or pointed gourd can help you have enhanced health. ^[2]

1. Can Balance Blood Sugar

If you often suffer from your blood sugar taking big leaps, pointed gourd could lend you some help. It has shown quite some potential in managing blood sugar levels. Studies have indicated that pointed gourd seeds help to control blood sugar levels, which in turn lower the cholesterol in the body. ^[3]

Not just this, parwal even works at the intestine level. It may even help reduce glucose absorption in the intestines too.  This helps slow down the rise of sugar levels after you eat. Think this is all?

Some studies have even shown that pointed gourd may help protect pancreatic beta cells from damage. Now, these are the cells responsible for producing insulin. So, if you are someone who often takes the impact of their erratic blood sugar levels, give this green guy a try.

2. Can Look After Your Liver

The liver is one of the few organs that stand alone and serve the whole body on its own. This organ was so valued in the ancient times that people would revere it. It was thought of as the seat of the life force. People believed that god wrote the destiny of a person on their liver. And as science says, the liver is indeed a crucial organ.

Throughout our lives, our livers go through several impacts given by toxins, alcohol, medications, etc. But a pointed gourd may protect the liver from these damages. The reason? Their high antioxidant content. ^[4]

Pointed gourd contains numerous flavonoids, phenolic compounds, etc. These beneficial compounds neutralize harmful free radicals that can damage liver cells. It may also benefit the body for jaundice. ^[5]

Also, parwal has been shown to reduce liver inflammation. Now, liver inflammation is bad. It leads to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. ^[6]

3. Improves Digestion

Pointed gourd is an excellent source of dietary fibre, which plays a crucial role in promoting healthy digestion. The fiber content helps regulate bowel movements, making it effective in alleviating constipation and supporting overall gastrointestinal health. ^[7]

The seeds of pointed gourd further aid in softening stools, providing additional relief from constipation. Moreover, this vegetable is beneficial for managing gastrointestinal and liver disorders, contributing to a well-functioning digestive system. 

Pro tip: Consuming 10-15ml of its fresh juice may help boost digestive fire and promote digestion.

4. Skin Soothing

In Ayurveda, there is another herbal formulation called BhujBal that uses pointed gourd. This formulation aims to treat several skin disorders. And studies have found that it treats well. Without any side effects. The study treated 50 cases of numerous skin disorders. ^[8]

It also help reducing signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. It is referred to as “varnya” in Ayurveda meaning skin tone improving. Additionally, it can help soothe skin conditions like eczema by cleansing the blood and reducing impurities.

Parwal’s skin-soothing quality could be attributed to its numerous plant compounds, especially vitamin C and other antioxidants. Regular consumption of pointed gourd contributes to healthier, clearer, and more youthful-looking skin. 

5. Controls Cholesterol

Cholesterol, as opposed to what many people think, isn’t bad. In fact, our bodies produce it by themselves to perform several functions. The culprit is actually the bad kind of cholesterol, LDL. And pointed gourd benefits in this area as well. It controls. 

Consuming pointed gourds regularly does three things healthy for the heart:

• May help in lowering  levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol 

May help reduce triglycerides in the blood (which causes obesity and heart issues)

• May help increases HDL (good) cholesterol levels ^[9]

This wonderful trilogy reduces the risk of heart issues. This way, your body can effectively break down and use fats.

6. Enhances Immunity

Immunity is your body’s ability to fight off diseases and keep you alive all the time. The stronger it is, the happier you are. Pointed gourd can help you get a good boost in this area as well. It has been shown to have immune-boosting properties. 

Pointed gourd help stimulate the immunity production of white blood cells.It helps fight common health problems that occur due to the change of season like common cold and flu. In Ayurveda, it is used to treat flu, throat problems and high temperatures as well. 

7. Armed with Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties

We’ve already read about how pointed gourd stays soaked in antioxidants. Also, it helps deal with inflammation. But why should it matter?

Firstly, inflammation in the body, if chronic, can take a big toll on your health. It can trigger your heart, joints, bones, lungs, and even brain, if left untreated. Pointed gourd contains a variety of compounds that can keep inflammation down in your body. For example

• flavonoids, 
• phenolic acids, 
• terpenoids, etc.

These compounds inhibit the production of inflammatory enzymes. 

Jatyadi Ghrita, an Ayurvedic polyherbal formula that reduces the body’s inflammation, has pointed gourd as one of its ingredients.

Now, about antioxidants. The antioxidants in pointed gourd are vitamins C, E, and numerous other plant compounds. These compounds protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are known to damage human cells and cause early ageing. Parwal counters it. 

Numerous studies have shown pointed gourd to be effective in showing antioxidant properties in areas such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. ^[10][11]

8. Anti-fungal and Anti-bacterial

Our bodies get constantly bombarded with germs all the time. Consuming pointed gourd can bestow our bodies with the power to fight these. This is because Research shows that it possesses both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The fixed oil extracted from pointed gourd seeds has been found to have antifungal properties.  So, it can be a good measure if you often find yourself fighting with fungal infections. This same oil has even shown antibacterial activities against several bacteria such as against Bacillus anthracis and Xanthomonas malvacearum.

Here is more to its power—extracts from the leaves, fruits, and seeds have worked wonderfully against the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. It is always a win-win. ^[12][13]

8. Weight Management 

Being overweight has become the new normal today. But when it comes down to health, it is the worst thing we can sag our bodies with. The culprits behind this are poor diet, poor lifestyle, and stress. 

Pointed gourd contains very few calories. A 100 grams of parwal contains 24 calories. It is a low-calorie food that has good fibre and excellent water content as well. It helps your stomach feel fuller and controls the need to eat. Brilliant option for weight management. ^[14]

Also, this green veggie has been shown to promote healthy digestion. Digestion is very crucial when it comes to weight management. Pointed gourd’s antimicrobial properties add to its digestive power as well. 

How To Eat Pointed Gourd (Parwal)?

Pointed gourd can be enjoyed in many ways. 

You may use it as a vegetable and cook it in curries, stir-fries, or even stuffed preparations. If you love salads, toss them in. Just remember to wash these properly. 

Even the leaves of pointed gourd can be used in similar culinary ways as the fruit.

As we see, pointed gourd benefits numerous areas when it comes to health. But should we consume it all the time? Where does the limit lie?

Pointed Gourd – Risks and Precautions

Pointed Gourd is a healthy vegetable that must be embraced by every individual. Not just Ayurveda, but even modern science backs it. Although no side effects have been noted so far, it is best to consume it in moderation. Firstly, this is because this vegetable has medicinal properties. So overeating may offer some side effects. Secondly, the wisdom lies in having a diet diverse in fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds, fish, etc. 

Here are some precautions you must take beforehand while harnessing pointed gourd benefits:

• Because it has shown blood sugar-lowering properties, it might interact with your blood sugar medications. Consult your doctor before eating it every day.
• Pointed gourd may even contain pesticide residues if not grown organically. The best way is to give them a good wash or buy organic.
• If you are either pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before eating it in large amounts.

Each individual is different. If you feel any allergic reaction after consuming pointed gourd, adjust your diet accordingly. Also, don’t consume it over the bar as it may cause digestive issues. 

Bottom Line

Ayurveda has always revered Mother Nature and looked into its depths for health and healing. In those very Vedic texts, the pointed gourd has been lauded much for its benefits. 

Pointed gourd, or parwal, has been used in India for centuries due to its health benefits. Today, science proves it as well. Pointed gourd benefits not only in balancing blood sugar levels, but it can be soothing to your liver as well. This is not all. Parwal has even been shown to possess strong antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. It even controls cholesterol and protects not just the heart but the whole body. 

If you are looking to bring down your weight or enhance your health through healing foods, pointed gourd is the vegetable you might want to include in your plate. 

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