We all want to be healthy and fit, lose some weight, get that healthy glow and detox our bodies. Its easier said than done but adding some healthy habits in our routine can really help us get closer to our goals. One such habit is adding detoxifying and nutrient-packed Ash Gourd Juice in your diet.

Ash Gourd is one of the most detoxifying vegetables and is high in vitamin B & C and minerals. I discovered this nutritious vegetable through a nutritionist and fell in love with it. Also known as winter melon (or petha), it is widely available during summers and belongs to the nutrient-packed gourd family.

Ash gourd has many health benefits and is also used in Ayurveda. It is alkaline, has a very high fiber content and it increases the metabolic rate. These properties help in weight loss. It is well-known to help patients with diabetes, acts as an anti-depressant and helps in treating sleeping disorders.

Ash gourd juice is known to suck-in all the toxins and act like a sponge in our digestive system. This is why it helps in preventing gastrointestinal problems including cramping, bloating hemorrhoids and general stomach issues. The best way to have this nutrient-rich vegetable is to juice it. The juice itself is bland and has no flavor to it. It's almost like drinking water - not a surprise because it has super high water content. So if you want to make it appetizing, you can add ginger, lemon and black pepper to the juice. I like to have it by itself!

Making this juice is really simple. You need to peel ash gourd and take out all the seeds. Cube the melon if you are blending in a blender or cut into long pieces if you are {slow} juicing. You should take one glass of juice every morning on an empty stomach as a pre-breakfast drink. You can then have your breakfast after 60-90 minutes of drinking the juice.


Get ready to get glowing and fit....

INGREDIENTS

• One medium sized peeled, deseeded and cubed ash gourd
• Small peeled ginger (optional)
• Water 1/4 cup (for making it easy to blend)

DIRECTIONS 

Blend all the ingredients together. Strain the juice with a muslin cloth or a sieve and drink fresh on an empty stomach. If you have a juicer, then juice it like any other fruit.

Remember to keep a gap of 90 minutes after having the juice and before breakfast.