Ayurvedic principles hold that summer is governed by the pitta dosha, or the fire element, and that excessive heat can lead to imbalance, showing up as irritability, inflammation, or indigestion. Lauki juice, according to Ayurvedic tradition, helps address exactly these concerns.

Safe daily amount is 100 to 200 ml of fresh lauki juice preferably in the morning on empty stomach as part of balanced diet. The key word here is balance. Acharya Balkrishna also emphasised this point, stating that regular and moderate consumption is what keeps the body light and energetic.

This is one caution that cannot be ignored. When lauki juice turns bitter, it can prove poisonous. Bottle gourd belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and contains toxic compounds called cucurbitacins. They are responsible for bitter taste and toxicity. There is no specific antidote for this toxicity, and doctors treat cases only with supportive care.

An ICMR expert committee looked into this issue and found that three deaths were reported in India following consumption of extremely bitter bottle gourd juice. Twenty-six persons were admitted to hospitals. They had complaints of abdominal pain, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding after drinking freshly prepared lauki juice.

Always taste a small piece of bottle gourd before juicing it. If the vegetable tastes bitter, discard it completely. Cooking or boiling the bitter gourd does not remove the harmful compounds.