Luffa gourd, also called luffa squash, is an Asian vegetable that is a cross between a squash and okra. It has a curved appearance and dark green skin that resembles zucchini. Luffa gourds are plentiful in China and can be found growing alongside...
According to the Food Reference website, bitter melon gourd has various names, including bitter melon, bitter gourd, foo qua and balsam pear. This intense-tasting vegetable is often in Chinese and Indian cooking, and preparation varies. You can...
The gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, includes hundreds of vining plants that produce fruit, or curcurbits -- the most recognizable being pumpkins, winter squash, ornamental miniature squashes, and large gourds that are often hollowed out for...
A ridge gourd is similar in color and size to a zucchini, but rather than being smooth, it is ridged from top to bottom. As with other types of gourds, the ridge gourd is low in fat and calories, making it a good choice for including in a...
The bottle gourd, also known as the calabash, is a plant that was once a popular means of storing water due to its bulbous shape. Bottle gourds can be grown in a wide array of climates, so they are available globally. If you're trying to lose...
The bitter gourd, sometimes called the bitter melon, is a vegetable whose appearance closely resembles a cucumber. Bitter gourds primarily grow in very warm climates and are native to South America and Asia, the Juicing-For-Health website reports....
The bottle gourd, a fruit also known as the calabash, is grown in tropical countries. The bottle gourd is edible but is also made into musical instruments, water bottles and birdhouses. Because the bottle gourd is low in calories, you may find it...
Loofah gourd is an annual tropical vine popular in Africa and Asia. The large, cylindrical fruits of the young plant are edible. The mature fruits become hard and dry, and are filled with seeds. Loofah gourds and leaves have been used...
Bitter gourd, also called balsam pear or bitter melon, is a green, oblong gourd with wart-like bumps, cultivated mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The characteristic bitter taste of this fruit comes from a compound...
Bitter gourd, or bitter melon, has been used for centuries because of its health and medicinal properties. The plant, seeds, roots and fruit of a bitter gourd all offer some beneficial compounds. Bitter gourd is a vegetable that resembles a...
Bitter gourd, also called bitter melon, grows in tropical areas and is used for both food and medicinal purposes. The entire plant, including the seed and fruit, can be used. In Chinese food, bitter gourd imparts a bitter taste. This fruit can...
Bitter gourd -- also called bitter melon -- is a fruit used in South Asian cuisine as well as in alternative medicine. The fruit loosely resembles a cucumber, with a wart-like green skin that turns orange as it ripens. Used to add bitter flavor to...
Bitter gourd, or Momordica charantia, a tropical fruit loaded with vitamins and minerals, can be purchased in specialty markets and large grocery stores. The gourd is known by many names, including bitter melon, bitter cucumber and bitter apple....
Bitter gourd or bitter melon, found in many tropical areas around the world, has a long history of use as both a food and a medicine. It has a rich store of a wide variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C. Not enough research has been...
Bottle gourd, also called calabash, is a vine plant that produces an hourglass-shaped fruit similar to a summer squash. The gourd has a high water content, which makes the fruit low in calories. Bottle gourd is technically a fruit, but is often an...
Also called bitter melon or Momordica charantia, bitter gourd is a fruit sometimes used in herbal medicine to help treat diabetes, infections and even cancer. You might take bitter gourd for its cholesterol- and blood sugar-lowering effects....
Bitter foods do not appeal to many people, but the bitter gourd is a common food in Indian cuisine. This vegetable, also known as bitter melon or balsam pear, offers a variety of benefits, both nutritional and medicinal. Bitter gourd is a good...
If you are trying to lose weight and you are looking for diet-friendly foods to enjoy, you might want to consider bitter gourd, which is also called bitter melon or balsam-pear. The plant is common in Asian cuisine, and you can use it in a variety...
If you have kidney stones, you may experience pain in your back or abdomen, bloody urine, vomiting or fevers. Some of the characteristics of bitter gourd, also known as balsam-pear or Momordica charantia, may lower your risk for developing kidney...
A serious health condition called thrombocytopenia, or low blood-platelet count, could cause internal bleeding and stroke. The causes of low platelets include leukemia, immune system disorders and medication side effects. According to Dr. Serkan...
The astringent, good-for-you leaf tips of the bitter melon, called ampalaya in the Philippines, kerala in India and balsam pear in China, provide calcium, potassium, vitamin C, folate and vitamins A and K, while the warty-looking pods also provide...
The loofah, loofa and luffa sponge are the same thing: The fibrous remains of a gourd from the Luffa aegyptiaca plant. Mature gourds are peeled, soaked and squeezed to remove the flesh and seeds, leaving only the fibrous sponge behind. Loofah...
Almost any exfoliating bath product may be called a loofah, but true loofah fibers come from the fruit of the Luffa aegyptiaca vine. If the growing season is long enough, the luffa vines produce squashlike gourds. The gourds are peeled and smashed...
Patola with misua is a simple Asia dish that requires no elaborate preparation. Patola, or Chinese okra, is sponge gourd that is really your average loofah in its natural form before it is dried. This green vegetable is surprisingly tasty when...
Bowling games can be an entertaining addition to a college party --- or even just a fun way to spend a Wednesday afternoon. Luckily, you don't have to go to a real bowling alley and spend your hard-earned money to have fun bowling. There are a...
Fall means cooler temperatures, autumn colors and back to school, but it can also mean bored kids who miss going to the pool every day in the summer. Engage them with a variety of fall activities that extend past the usual jumping in a pile of...
Calling a loofah a sponge is a misnomer. Sponges are sea creatures, but loofahs -- also called luffas -- are grown in the garden. They are part of the cucumber family of gourds. When dried, the cellulose fibers create a network that can be used...
Many children enjoy listening and moving to music. Integrating some music and movement activities into the lives of young children can teach them new skills as well as help them to appreciate the arts. According to Jerry Storms, author of "101...
Neck, or crookneck, pumpkins fall into the category of squash and come in summer or winter varieties. Squash is a broad term that describes edible gourds and includes different types such as zucchini and butternut. Crooknecks have a structure...
