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Seasonal Sensations: The Gourds

Normally confused with vegetables, gourds are actually a family of various fruits. Merriam-Webster defines the gourd as: any of a family (cucurbitaceae, the gourd family) of chiefly herbaceous tendril-bearing vines including the cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin. The family of fruits is primarily found in warmer temperatures and carries a great economic importance in the many regions the varietals grow. The sizable edible fruit gourds allow it to be a sustainable food source. The gourd family tree is composed of many branches and leaves – there are over 900 species of gourds with approximately 100 different genera according to several sources. However, three main types of gourd in this lineage…

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 Best Wishes, Warmest "Regourds"

Often, a “gourd” is used synonymously with “squash,” but both can be more officially categorized as belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Plus, technically gourds are fruits – defined as such because they contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. In fact, cucumbers, summer and winter squashes, and melons are all from the family Cucurbitaceae – among nearly one thousand other species. Gourds are typically low in calories and high in water content, but they are not without their unique nutrient and phytonutrient profiles and subsequent beneficial health properties

 Ranking All Kinds of Gourds by How Healthy They Are

Since there are so many kinds of gourds — pudgy, elongated and otherwise — I asked nutritionist David Friedman, author of Food Sanity: How to Eat in a World of Fads and Fiction, to help me rank a whole bunch of them by how healthy they are, from superfood to decoration material. So put down the knife and pick up the fork, because that gourd might be the healthiest snack you get your hands on all day.

Articles of Interest

Ash Gourd (Winter Melon), the “Cool” Vegetable: Benefits & Recipes

Learn all about ash gourd, an incredibly versatile vegetable which boasts a laundry list of benefits for health and wellbeing.

Fruit of the month: Melons

An ice-cold slice of watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew can be especially refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Melons have a high water content and are fairly low in calories (a one-cup serving of cubed melon has only about 45 to 60 calories), making them a good choice for a sweet treat if you’re watching your weight.

Get Your Gourd On: An Unlikely Partner in Health

Gourds cover a lot of ground. This family of food includes vegetables you’re probably used to such as pumpkins and squash, but they also encompass things such as cucumbers and melons. The latter are foods more prevalent in summer, with pumpkins and other squash coming into season in the fall and winter. They can be sweet or savory and definitely belong in your dietary lineup.

Gourd To Death: Five Reasons to Fall for Squash

Gourds are “very high in B vitamins and minerals,” says Sonya Angelone, a San Francisco-based registered dietitian nutritionist. “And they’re especially rich in beta carotenes and alpha carotenes, which are good for your eyes.” B vitamins essentially help convert the food you eat into real, usable energy. That’s why health joints stock their shelves stocked with all sorts of B vitamin supplements, touting their magical energy-creating powers. You get can get your fix from all manner of squash — butternut, acorn, pick your poison.

How Gourds Survived When Even Mastodons Went Extinct

When mastodons and other large mammals became extinct 10,000 years ago, squash and gourds could have, too, said Logan Kistler, a molecular anthropologist at the University of Warwick in England and one of the study’s authors. So how did the plants survive?

It’s September … Bring on the Gourds!

But the world of gourds goes far beyond jack-o-lanterns and Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes. There are hundreds of varieties of gourds, some soft and edible (like bitter gourd and acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squashes), and others with shells that harden as they age. Around the world, gourds have been transformed into bowls, cups, spoons, masks, musical instruments, bird houses … you name it (check out these incredible lamps and see Carving My Dreams into a Gourd).

Melons: More Than Just Summer Coolers

The first fruit that comes to my mind when thinking of summer is Melons. I guess it is because they are quite juicy and nutritious! Melons are a part of the Gourd family that also includes cucumber, squash and pumpkins. There are different types of melons that we find locally. There are a hundred different varieties of them as well. The most common being Watermelon (red and yellow), Cantaloupes (muskmelons), Honeydew and Casaba.

Oh My Gourd! Have You Heard of These Health Benefits?

The gourd family of food includes some vegetables you can probably guess like squash and pumpkins, but it also encompasses melons and cucumbers. The latter is seen more in the summer, whereas squash and pumpkins are fall and winter favorites. They can be savory or sweet and although their delicious flavor should be enough to add them to your diet, their numerous health benefits are sure to give you a boost.

The versatile fall-favorites!

Gourds are a great starchy carbohydrate for those looking to manage blood sugar levels, improve digestion and increase the nutrient density of their meals. They’re packed with vitamins A and C, making them great for promoting optimal eye health and wound healing.

What Are Gourds—and Are They Safe to Eat?

Gourds play a pretty big part in the fall season—they tend to crop up as table decor for your Thanksgiving tablescape or in craft projects for your harvest-themed fall porch. But gourds are more than just ornamental fall decor—these hard-shelled fruits have also played host to musical instruments, sponges, and even bird houses over the centuries (yes, centuries!).