5 Side Effects Of Consuming Excess Bottle Gourd

Bottle gourd is a nutritious vegetable that belongs to cucurbitaceae family, and is known by various other names such as long melon, suzza melon, and Tasmania bean, etc. They are not only consumed as vegetable, but are often dried and used for storage purpose. Being an excellent source of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fibers, etc they provide many health and beauty benefits. However, eating too many bottle gourds may give rise to side effects, and should be avoided.

# Too Much Dietary Fiber Is Bad For Stomach

Bottle gourd contains dietary fibers that relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and flatulence, etc.However, if you are already enjoying a high fiber diet, you should be cautious of adding more fiber to your diet.

Young men and young women are recommended to eat 38 grams and 25 grams of fiber per day.Excessive intake of dietary fiber may cause poor absorption of nutrients, and other gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, intestinal gas, and intestinal blockage, etc.

# May Cause Allergies In Some Individuals

Avoid bottle gourds if you are allergic to them.

Some allergic reactions that may arise are skin rashes, irritation, itching, abdominal pain, swelling in mouth and tongue.

# Too Many Antioxidants Are Bad For Our Health

Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds in bottle gourd protect our cells from free radical damage, and reduces risk of several cancers.At moderate levels, antioxidants targes the cancer cells and the free radicals in our body, but at excessive level, they may target the healthy cells in our body and increases risk of cancer.

As per a study published by National Cancer Institute, high doses of beta-carotene supplements may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers in comparison to other smokers’ group who didn’t took beta-carotene supplement.

# Broccoli And Blood Sugar

Broccoli has a low glycemic index of 15, and slowly release sugar into the bloodstream. It prevents a sudden rise in the blood sugar level, and helps in managing diabetes.It also contain dietary fibes that regulates blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of sugar by the bloodstream.But, if you take diabetic medication, consult your doctor before eating broccolis to avoid the risk of food-drug intolerance.

Overeating broccolis may drop blood sugar below the healthy levels, and cause symptoms like excessive hunger, excessive sweating, dizziness, fast heartbeat, confusion, irritability or moodiness.

# May Cause Hypotension

Hypertension is a common health problem that affect millions around the world, and is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems.Bottle gourd regulates hypertension or high blood pressure as it contain potassium that relaxes our blood vessels, and improve blood circulation.

However, high potassium level may drop blood pressure below the healthy levels, and cause dizziness, fainting, nausea, dehydration, poor concentration, blurred vision, and pale skin, etc.If you are on blood pressure medication, eat bottle gourd after consulting with your doctor as the potassium in it may interfere with some blood pressure medication.