Sorekai or bottle gourd is part of the cucumber family and grows in warm climate. It is not only easy to digest but also helps one to lose weight.

In a study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of the Tropical Medicine in September 2012, rats were put on a high-fat diet yet did not gain much weight as they were also consuming sorekai. However, no such research has been conducted on humans yet.

It is very low in saturated fats and cholesterol and is rich in the nutrients required for weight loss. It contains essential nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Iron, Folate, Magnesium, and Potassium. It is high in water and fibre content, which makes it low in calories and density per gram. Food that are lower in energy density may be helpful in losing weight and maintaining it, as shown in a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in May 2012.

Diuretic effect

Sorekai has a diuretic effect and promotes weight loss by encouraging the loss of the water weight. Taking diuretics, in general, can be risky as it can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the body.

Risks of drinking the juice

Drinking it in excess can lead to adverse health issues like bleeding stomach, nausea, ulcers, vomiting blood, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and kidney problems. It is advisable to drink the juice that has been cooked because that removes its bitterness. The bitter taste is due to the cucurbitacin compounds in it; which is toxic to people but this can be destroyed by heat.

How much to consume

One should not drink more than three ounces (roughly 88 ml) in a day, as stated in a study published in the International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological diseases in 2012.

Photo Source: Nurserylive