Loofah
A loofah is a tree. When ripe fruit is left to dry, a fibrous, sponge-like material remains. The fibers can be boiled in water, which is used as medicine.
Luffa is taken orally to treat and prevent colds. It is also used for nasal congestion and sinus problems. Some people use it for arthritis, muscle and heart pain. Women use the loofah to bring back their periods. Nursing mothers use it to stimulate milk flow. Sometimes, the entire “sponge” of the loofah is wiped off the skin to remove dead skin and stimulate the skin. Loofah charcoal, which is prepared by heating loofah fibers in a closed bag, is applied directly to the skin for shingles on the face and eyes.
How to knit a loofah
Dig the soil to a depth of about eight inches in a planting area that provides full sun and well-drained soil. Add about four inches of organic matter, such as finished compost, leaf mold, grass clippings, aged food, and grass, to increase drainage and soil fertility.
Use a soil test kit to determine soil pH and nutrient needs. Increase the acidity with iron sulfate or use lime to increase the alkalinity as needed to get a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
Work fertilizer into the soil at a rate of about 3 kilograms per 100 square feet. Choose a fertilizer with less nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium, such as 5-10-10, or if desired, use finished compost as an alternative to commercial fertilizers. 4.
Work the soil into mounds about 12 inches high with garden needles, with about 5 feet between mounds and 7 feet between each row. On the other hand, you can plant in a row without a mound if you leave 8 to 12 inches between each plant in the row.
Provide a loofah tree with a sturdy trellis to support the fruit. Areas around a chain link fence work well because the fence acts like a trellis to support the vines. If you don’t have a fence to support those hardy vines, you can build a strong house out of reinforcing mesh, stainless steel wire, or wood. The trellises hold the fruit to the ground so that it does not rot; Luffas grown on trellises tend to be more upright than those grown on spreading vines. 6.
Grind the seeds with a nail file or fine sandpaper, such as 220 grit, to make them vibrate, allowing water to penetrate more easily into the seed coat and begin to germinate. Soak the cut seeds in room temperature water for about 24 hours.
Seven. Plant five or six seeds about half an inch deep, evenly spaced along the slope. For seedless planting, plant three or four seeds in each half-inch hole. A minimum of two plants is best per harvest when the loofah plant produces two full leaves; need to one plant in each hole when you plant without hill.
Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to the soil around the loofah plant, and avoid placing the mulch directly against the plant’s trunk.
Watering the plant seems to be necessary during each growing season to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering the loofah plant as this can lead to root disease and poor growth. Supplemental water is especially needed during the summer months. ten.
Apply fertilizer, finished compost, or aged food as a dressing around the loofah plant about once a month to give the loofah a continuous supply of nutrients. 11
Pinch off the male flowers – the first loofah flowers – as they develop to produce better loofah fruit. Cut the first four branches from the main stem, cutting the branches to the main stem using a road block.
Nutrition Facts
Loofah (sponge gourd) fruit contains various antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, nutrients and lipids. It is a good source of vitamin A and carbohydrates. It is also a good source of Vitamin B5, Manganese, Potassium, Copper, Total Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Magnesium.
Health Advantages of loofah
Aids in weight loss
ridge gourd helps those who want to lose weight. It has a lot of water in it and it also has fiber. Hence, when you eat woolly gourd, you are satiated to a good extent and thus feel full without eating too much. So, you can avoid eating various junk foods or other foods throughout the day if you eat gourd rice as a snack at any time of the day. As a result, you will eat less fat and calories, which will help prevent weight gain.
Digestive and liver benefits
Since ridge gourd is full of fiber and water, it helps your digestive system to work more efficiently. Its content keeps the intestinal system hydrated, which makes the intestines healthy, so your body’s waste will be removed from your body in a better way. Ridge squash juice and other types of extract are also effective in helping you fight jaundice and other liver-related diseases. The liver gets a clean effect when you consume bottle gourd extract regularly and avoid liver problems. Adding raw gourd to your diet helps prevent ulcers and indigestion.
Improves skin condition
As you read, calabash is rich in antioxidants and helps to kill the body. Therefore, our skin also benefits from these wonderful qualities of squash. The antioxidant and detoxifying properties help the skin to shed dead cells from your body and promote the growth of new, glowing skin cells. Therefore, if you want to have clean and fresh skin, you must include ridge gourd in your diet regularly.
Brain activity
Oxygen is essential for proper brain function. The brain leads to poor memory, lack of interest and reduced productivity and lack of iron because the brain does not get oxygen. Iron deficiency causes restlessness, irritability and apathy.
Prevents physical pain
Potassium balances water levels and helps keep the body cool. A low level of potassium leads to muscle spasms, spasms and pain. It helps digest protein and carbohydrates that muscles rely on for repair and energy.
Prevents eye conditions
Vitamin A prevents macular degeneration which leads to blindness. Research by the National Eye Institute shows that those who take vitamin C, vitamin A, copper, vitamin E and zinc, the risk of macular degeneration is reduced by 25% in six years. The study also showed that vitamin A eye drops effectively treat dry eyes. Including loofah seeds, foods rich in vitamin A, in your daily diet can help reduce eye conditions.
Relieves Constipation:
A vegetable in the squash family, squash has a high water content. In addition, the flesh of the gourd is full of cellulose, a natural fiber. Therefore, eating gourd rice with dals or fries, or just drinking a glass of gourd milk sweetened with honey provides immediate relief from constipation, in addition to restoring bowel movements and digestion.
Reduces body temperature:
Ridge gourd is a water vegetable that contains a lot of water, which provides a significant cooling effect and reduces excessive heat. In addition, this food contains precious minerals, including potassium, sodium, zinc, copper and selenium. These help to neutralize excess acidity in the body, creating a beneficial alkaline environment, in addition to fighting thirst, restoring electrolyte balance and replenishing lost water, nutrients and processes.
