Can bitter bottle gourd juice kill you?

It is a no-brainer that fresh fruits and vegetables help in improving health and keeping the body fit and fine. When it comes to vegetables, green vegetables occupy the top-notch place in the list of the healthiest veggies. Bottle Gourd or Ghiya is a super healthy vegetable that is not only low on calories but also high in nutrients. Most people make a sabzi with this vegetable but some people also consume it raw, in the form of juice. Recently, some cases related to death due to bitter bottle gourd juice caused disarray among the people and put a question mark on how safe raw bottle gourd juice really is. (image credits-istock)

Bottle Gourd Juice is quite a healthy drink, especially for cholesterol and diabetes patients. But if the juice tastes bitter, you need to trash it right away.

Bottle gourd belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumber, squash, pumpkin and melon. A high concentration of cucurbitacins compounds in these fruits and veggies can not only make them bitter but also highly toxic.

Bottle gourd juice is perfectly safe for consumption if it is not bitter. Even if the juice is slightly bitter, it is best to throw it away to avoid further repercussions. The best way to check for bitterness is by cutting a small piece from the bottle gourd before using it and tasting it. If you get a bitter taste, spit it out and don’t use the vegetable for juicing.

Bitter bottle gourd can be highly dangerous for the human body. A 1.2 mg dose of cucurbitacins compound is capable of killing a mouse and can cause blood vomiting in humans.

Usually, in veggies like bottle gourds, cucurbitacins compounds are triggered by high temperatures and improper storage of these vegetables. This way, the bottle gourd over-matures and its toxicity levels up.

Disclaimer: Always consult your doctor before including fruit, vegetable juices or other homemade remedies in your daily diet. Only a doctor or a nutritionist can assess your body type and suggest the best option for you.

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