Wednesday 6 May 2020

Bitter Fact About Bottle Gourd (Lauki) That Could Save your Life

Although bottle gourd is a very popular vegetable in Indian cuisine, there's a surprising fact about it, which people hardly know. A bitter bottle gourd could be fatal. 

Who would have thought that an innocuous-looking bottle gourd could make you rush to emergency?

A few years back, my sister-in-law had to rush to a doctor due to this. She had cooked a bottle gourd curry and it tasted bitter. Disregarding the bitter taste, she took another bite. Soon after, she started vomiting. The doctor told her that it was due to bottle gourd poisoning.

Recently, a friend again brought it to my attention. Her acquaintance landed in ICU due to this poisoning. Though my friend is an avid cook, she never knew about the probability of a bitter lauki wreaking such havoc. She insisted that I write a piece on this and finally, here it is!


A veggie full of goodness can turn fatal if bitter.


Also known as lauki, doodhi and ghiya,  bottle gourd has a mild, bland taste. But one in thousands can be bitter. 

The bitterness in bottle gourd is due to the presence of a toxin called Tetracyclic Triterpenoid CucurbitacinThis toxin could lead to stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal bleeding. 

Before using a bottle gourd:

1. Taste a small piece of bottle gourd from both ends.

2. If it tastes bitter, spit out the piece and throw away the gourd.

3. Drink bottle gourd juice in moderation. If consumed in leass quantity, around 50 ml, the poisoning can be managed better. If consumed over 200 ml, bitter juice can turn fatal. 

4. If you make juice out of bottle gourd, don't mix this juice with any other vegetable juice. Drink it neat!

For e.g. if bottle gourd juice is mixed with bitter gourd juice (lauki mixed with karela), the bitter gourd juice could mask the taste of bottle gourd in case the bottle gourd is bitter. Quite a tongue and mind twister, this! Read again :)

The same holds true for gourds, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin and melon family. If they taste bitter, don't use them. 

Symptoms:

In case a person complains of discomfort or starts vomiting blood after consuming a bottle gourd, don't take it lightly. 

The symptoms can be immediate or can take a while.

Rush to emergency and let the doctor know about the quantity and level of bitterness of bottle gourd consumed. Take a sample of bottle gourd/ juice with you if you can. 

This poisoning needs immediate medical attention. If left untreated, a person can lose his life. 

Treatment: 

There is no antidote for it. The patients are generally treated with intravenous fluids and a thorough checkup of all vital organs is carried out. 

Prevention is the Best Cure:

Spread the word amongst your family and friends. Speak to your cook.  

It is also important for emergency doctors to know about this poisoning and interventions required. 

By spreading awareness, you could save someone from an unpleasant, life-threatening experience.