10 Effective Benefits of Winter Melon for Health

Updated on December 9th, 2019
winter melon benefits

Winter Melon is one of the most famed vegetables among the new age superfoods. The benefits of winter melon are proven and time tested as well. The nutritional value of winter melon is impressive and lifesaving. Today we will talk about the nutritional value, benefits and the usages of winter melon. It is a natural vegetable of Southeast Asia.

It has a different name in different zones. The taste of unripe winter melon is a bit sweet. The winter melon develops a wax coating. Many ongoing types of research vouch for winter melon’s efficacies.

Facts

  • The best thing about winter melon is that you can use every part of this plant for medicinal or culinary purposes, and people of Asia and China widely use it
  • All parts of a winter melon plant can be consumed
  • About 96% of winter melon is water
  • Winter melon is an ancient Ayurveda plant and vegetable
    1. Nutritional Facts
    2. Health Benefits
    3. DIY Remedies
    4. Points to Remember

A Brief about the Beneficial Winter Melon

Beneficial Winter Melon
Image:ShutterStock

Winter melon bears on warm weather and sandy soil. South Asian country, especially China, India, and Japan are known for the cultivation of winter melon. Winter melon can be stored for several months. As we have said before, every piece of winter melon plant is usable.

One can consume winter melon flowers and leaves as well. Winter melon has vital importance in ancient Indian medical treatment known as Ayurveda for its medicinal and nutritional value. The benefits of winter melon are known to humankind for more than thousands of year. We have explained elaborately about winter melon’s nutritional value and all the significant advantages of winter melon.

[Also Read: Benefits of Bitter Melon]

Winter Melon Nutritional Facts

To understand the winter melon benefits, we should know the nutritional facts about winter melon. Winter Melon is dense in vitamins and minerals. Those vitamins and minerals prevent a lot of diseases. It is also rich in vitamin C and vitamin B complexes like thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin. It also has potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

If you are concerned about protein, dietary fibers, and carbohydrate, then winter melon is a good source of all these. So include winter melon in your diet right away to get the benefits of all these health-boosting nutritional components of winter melon. Winter melon is also a great source of phytonutrients.

What are the incredible 10  Winter Melon Health Benefits?

Now that we know the nutritional values of winter melon, let us know the benefits of winter melon. This explanation will help us understand, how these nutritional values of winter melon can boost our health. So, here are winter melon health benefits:

1. Good for Vision:

The deficiency of riboflavin can cause a vision problem. The well-known name of riboflavin is vitamin B2. Sufficient intake of vitamin B2 reduces the risk of eye-related issues. Winter melon can supply 11% of the daily requirement of vitamin B2. The antioxidants present in winter melon reduce the muscular and retinal degeneration(1).

[Also Read: Home Remedies for Dry Eyes]

2. Great for Heart:

heart-healthy
Image: ShutterStock

Potassium is a vasodilator. Vasodilator lowers blood pressure, removes tension from arteries, and helps blood circulation. Apart from potassium, vitamin C is also excellent for cardiovascular health. Vitamin C also lowers the risk of coronary heart disease.

3. Promotes Immunity:

Our body needs vitamin C for new blood cells and vessels. New blood cells boost our immune system. And winter melon supplies the required vitamin C for that. Vitamin C is also a great anti-oxidant which can neutralize free radicals. The presence of zinc in winter melon also boost immunity.

4. Good for Growth:

We need to keep our body growing, and for that our body needs new cells, muscles, bones, blood vessels, and tissues and collagen is preliminary need to build these growth components of our body. If you are suffering from a disease or fighting old age, then you need collagen. For collagen, we need Vitamin C, and as mentioned above, winter melon is a rich source of Vitamin C.

5. Boost Digestion:

Dietary fiber can boost digestion. Bad digestion means bloating, cramping, excess gas, and hemorrhoids, etc. Dietary fiber keeps your gut healthy.

6. Increase Energy:

Boosts Energy
Image:ShutterStock

For better metabolism, vitamin B2 boosts better metabolism. Better metabolism means your body can extract energy or convert nutrition to energy.

7. Fresh Blood:

We need iron for the production of a new red blood cell. New blood cells are useful for well circulated and oxygenated fresh blood. So if you are anemic, then winter melon is excellent for you. The well-circulated blood is also great for the brain as well.

8. Detoxifies:

Winter melon is a diuretic in traditional medicine. The diuretic is known for its detoxifying capacity. Fats and excess toxins get removed from the body through urination. Also, vegetables which can clean your body in that way are excellent for your liver and kidney.

9. Promote Weight Loss:

health benefits of ACV for weight loss
Image: ShutterStock

Weight Loss does not mean starving. Winter Melon is low in calorie. The maximum part of the vegetable is mostly watery. The high fiber, low calorie, and watery parts are good for weight loss. It will keep you full for a long time and prevent unnecessary cravings. But all these minerals and nutrition will not let you compromise with your health.

10. Relieves Constipation:

The dietary fibers present in winter melon are good for a bowel movement. So if you are a chronic victim of constipation, then winter melon can give you relief.

Apart from all these benefits of winter melon mentioned above, there are many more advantages. Winter melon can protect your kidney, heal peptic ulcer and insomnia. It is also good for mental health. Few studies suggest that winter melon is also good for boosting fertility.

You can try winter melon tea during the summer. Winter melon tea can help you to beat the heat waves.

[Also Read: Treat Constipation Using Natural Remedies]

DIY Remedies with Winter Melon

We have already explained the winter melon benefits. But apart from the advantages mentioned above, winter melon is also excellent for a few health issues, skin and hair. Here are a few DIY remedies for you:

  • For cold: To get rid of cough and cold, drink winter melon juice every day. Extract the juice of winter melon and drink the fresh juice. This juice can cure respiratory issues like influenza, asthma, and sinusitis.
  • For appetite: Mix winter melon juice with 5gms of clarified butter (ghee), 5gms of honey, 100 ml water and consume it at night. If you can drink it regularly, your appetite will gradually improve.
  • For dandruff: Take the skin and few seeds of winter melon, and heat them together with coconut oil. Then apply that oil directly on your scalp. This oil massage will decrease the dryness and dandruff from your scalp.

While Using Winter Melons Take Care of These Points

Over consuming any food, whether super food or general vegetable, can cause damage.  So you should reasonably consume winter melons too. If you must think, why we are saying so? Following points will clear your doubt:

  • Winter melon is rich in protein. So over intake can be tough to digest.
  • A pregnant woman should consult her doctor before including winter melon in her diet.
  • Try to avoid consuming winter melon in the cold season.
  • Because of the high protein, obese people should go for diet consultation.

Do not worry! If you are taking it moderately, then you are on the right track. But if you have any chronic disease then do not forget to seek an opinion of your physician. The benefits of winter melon can encourage you to consume it more and more.

But these natural health-boosting plants are not a quick fix. You need to give your body time to adapt and adjust to the new diet.

Our ancestors, somehow had the talent to understand the abundances of nature and her gifts; they knew what to use and how to use it. Ancient Indian Ayurveda scriptures have mentioned about the winter melon benefits in the shlokas. We should trust the knowledge of those wise men.

We tried to explain all the necessary information and winter melon health benefits. Our only intention is to let you know about different great foods around us. Nature has blessed us from the beginning of creation. And we humans, are part of this nature. So relying on natural healing and organic food habits will always be health boosting.

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