I've heard that ash gourd (petha) has many health benefits. I was thinking of adding it to my diet now that I'm pregnant. Is it generally considered good for pregnancy?
When I was staying at my mom's place, she used to make mild ash gourd curry for me to beat the summer heat. It is very soothing for the stomach and light to digest. Just ensure it's cooked properly at home.
I was very careful with my diet due to my PCOS history, and focused on low-glycemic, light veggies. Ash gourd is great and low calorie, but don't overdo the raw juice version. Having it cooked is much safer and easier on the stomach.
Since I had GD, I had to watch everything I ate. Ash gourd is actually very good because it is low in carbs and doesn't spike sugar. Just make sure not to consume any sweetened commercial petha sweets!
I remember having terrible acidity during my pregnancy and ash gourd really helped cool my system down. Now my baby is a toddler and I still make it! It's totally safe and healthy in normal food quantities.
My saas used to make petha sabzi for me quite often saying it keeps the body cool. It really helped with digestion in the afternoon. It is a very simple, safe ghar ka khana.
Ash gourd is fine, but if you have thyroid issues like I did, make sure you are regular with your doctor visits and blood tests. No vegetable can replace your daily thyroid pills, so keep up with your checkups.
Managing twin pregnancy acidity was a whole task, let me tell you! Ash gourd was a savior because it's mostly water and super light. Just don't drink raw juices if your throat is sensitive, as it is very cooling.
My hospital's nutritionist said ash gourd juice is great for hydration and acidity, but it must be freshly made and clean. I always asked the hospital team before trying new juices to avoid stomach infections.
