Tips for Selecting Sweet, Unsprayed Star Gourds

Star gourd is a highly popular vegetable due to its delicious flavor and nutritional benefits. In this article from Bach Hoa Xanh, we will explore how to choose gourds that are both tasty and safe for consumption.

1 Nutritional value and benefits of star gourd

Nutritional value of star gourd

Star gourd is a common vegetable in many Vietnamese households, often used in refreshing dishes and salads.

According to nutrition experts, 100g of star gourd contains the following nutrients:

• Protein: 0.2mg
• Carbohydrates: 0.02mg
• Fat: 0.4mg
• Fiber: 12mg
• Vitamin A: 0.03mg
• Water: 95%
• Calcium: 0.5%
• Iron: 2.9%
• Potassium: 25%
• Vitamin C: 21mg
• Vitamin E: 0.034mg
• Vitamin B6: 0.7mg

Nutritional value of star gourd

Health benefits of star gourd

• Good for digestion: Star gourd is rich in fiber and helps with digestion, making it suitable for those with constipation. The high water content also promotes the balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
• Heart and blood pressure benefits: Star gourd contains vitamin C and other substances that help fight inflammation, boost the immune system, and improve blood circulation. It also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Weight loss support: Star gourd contains saponin, an active ingredient that suppresses appetite and aids in weight control. It is a suitable choice for weight loss menus.
• Sleep and stress management: Star gourd contains choline, which helps stabilize mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.
• Liver function improvement: Star gourd’s cooling properties, high water content, vitamins, and minerals contribute to liver function improvement, detoxification, and healthy skin.

Gourd has many health benefits

2 Tips for choosing delicious and sweet star gourd

Choose young gourds

For a delicious star gourd, choose young gourds that have a pleasant and sweet taste. Look for gourds with a large stem, fresh appearance, straight shape, and heavy weight when buying.

Choose a young gourd, when eaten, it will have a pleasant sweet taste

Inspect the gourd shell

Check the gourd for a soft shell and avoid purchasing old gourds that appear large but feel light. Also, make sure there are no bruises or blemishes on the fruit.

Observe the gourd shell

3 Precautions for consuming star gourd and proper storage methods

Precautions for consuming star gourd:

• Avoid consuming star gourd if you have a cold stomach or suffer from flatulence, as it may worsen the condition.
• It is advisable to consume star gourd in moderation, preferably not more than three times a week, and to include a variety of other vegetables in your diet for a balanced intake of vitamins and nutrients.
• If you encounter a bitter taste while consuming star gourd, it may be due to Cucurbitacin poisoning. This is more likely in severe cases and can cause nausea and abdominal pain.

Note when eating pregnant stars

Tips for storing gourds:

If you have leftovers, wrap the gourd in paper or place it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. Consume it within two days if it has been taken out of the refrigerator.

Uncut gourds should be stored in a cool and dark place to avoid direct sunlight.

How to preserve gourds?

4 Delicious dishes made with star gourd

Star gourd soup with mussels:

Combining star gourd with mussel meat enhances the flavor of the soup. It is easy to make by cooking the broth with the gourd. The soft gourd and flavorful broth make this soup a favorite.

Refer to the article:

Star gourd has a sweet taste, combined with mussel meat will increase the rich flavor

Sauteed star gourd with garlic:

A simple and delicious dish that requires frying star gourd with garlic. The ingredients are easy to find, and the cooking process is straightforward. The stir-fried dish is refreshing and perfect for hot seasons.

Refer to the article:

Stir-fried gourd with garlic has simple ingredients, it’s not difficult to make

Stir-fried star gourd with dried shrimp:

Another easy and delicious dish, perfect for hot weather. The stir-fry only requires prepping the star gourd and then stir-frying it with dried shrimp and necessary spices. This stir-fry is flavorful, nutritious, and addictive.

Refer to the article:

Stir-fried star fruit with dried shrimp

5 Get fresh and high-quality gourds at Bach Hoa Xanh:

At Bach Hoa Xanh, you can find fresh and high-quality gourds that meet consumer criteria of cleanliness, quality, and clear origin. The supermarket offers competitive prices and various promotions to ensure customer satisfaction.

The sales staff at Bach Khoa XANH are hospitable, enthusiastic, and attentive to customer opinions. They strive to make the shopping experience as easy and convenient as possible.

Reference: fresh at Bach Hoa Xanh

The GREEN star gourd department store: The supermarket sells the best price gourd gourd

We hope this article has provided you with useful and interesting information about star gourd and its uses, as well as tips for choosing delicious gourds.