You are what you eat! What you feed your body has a direct impact on not just the body but also the mind and soul and affects your life. If you eat food full of Prana or life force, it will give you more than mere satisfaction to the taste buds. It will nourish your body, senses, mind, and soul, leaving you feeling energized, increase positive thinking, longevity and with a heightened awareness of life. One such food that is high in Prana is Ash Gourd. In this article learn all about ash gourd – the high prana food. 

Ancient science states that the ideal food to consume is the one which is high in Prana and passes through your digestive tract with ease. That would mean that water is a high prana food. Next, to natural water, Ash Gourd is the most positive prana food that constitutes 96% of water content. So powerful is this vegetable that in various places it is even hung at doorways to ward off negative energy.


History of Ash Gourd

This unique melon is eaten mostly in India and China. It is known by several other names such as Winter Melon, Winter Gourd and other regional names. It is difficult to trace the roots of Ash Gourd, but it’s likely to have originated Japan, Indonesia, China, or Indo-Malaysia.  Descriptions of Ash Gourd medicinal value can be found in Chinese texts from the 5th-6th century AD.

In ancient times lower strata of the population were forbidden to eat this vegetable as it was said that if they consume ash gourd, they will become intellectually agile. Ancient Ayurvedic texts, such as Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita, hail ash gourd for its many nutritional and medicinal properties. The juice of raw ash gourd is used by the Mizo community of North-East India as a natural remedy to treat mild to severe dysentery.


Nutrition Content of Ash Gourd

Composed primarily of water, it also has loads of beneficial vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It also provides an essential dose of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber.


Ash Gourd – The High Prana Food: Benefits 


Sharp Mind

Just drink one glass of ash gourd juice in empty stomach in the morning, you will experience an instant cooling effect and it will also keep you alert. Daily consumption of Ash gourd increases intellectual capabilities. Children can greatly benefit from it.


Increased Energy

Drinking a cup of coffee gives you a surge of energy, but gives rise to other health hazards. But having ash gourd juice gives you more energy without any nasty side effects.

Treats Ulcers, Piles, and Boils

It cools down the system and is great for people who have excess heat in their body. It is an alkaline food that has a neutralizing effect on the stomach and useful in treating digestive ailments. Ash gourd is a popular remedy for peptic ulcers.

Diuretic Effect to Eliminate Water Retention and a Good Detoxifying Agent

Being a source of potassium, Ash gourd has a natural diuretic effect that helps flush out toxins through urine.

Effective for Weight Loss

Added to its benefit of being very low in calories, it is rich in nutrients and kicks your diet in the right direction to prevent obesity. It also contains saponins that block fat storage and hamper spikes in sugar level.
Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C to Treat Constipation and Better Skin

It cleans your bowels and all that fiber helps in better absorption of Vitamin C. This will leave your skin rejuvenated as well as stop constipation.

Good for Asthma, Allergy and Common Cold

When taken along with pepper, it has a natural neutralizing effect on the body. It contains a natural antihistamine agent that produces a bronchodilator effect for these conditions.


Inexpensive and versatile, Ash gourd is the most positive healthy vegetable that must be a part of your diet. Choose a full-sized, mature fruit with a hard, unblemished rind and reap the full benefits of this high prana food.

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