• Bitter Gourd
• Top benefits of Bitter Gourd
• Other benefits of Bitter Gourd
• Prepare bitter gourd curry.
• Side Effects

Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourd or Bitter melon or Karela originated from India later it was introduced in China. It is having many names in other languages. It has widely grown in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. It has many varieties in the shape and bitterness of the vegetable.

It is the edible part of the plant Momordica Charantia, which is a vine of the Cucurbitaceae family and is considered the most bitter among all fruits and vegetables. 

Bitter gourd is a source of numerous vitamins and minerals like folate, zinc, iron and magnesium and vitamin C, B1, B2 and B3 and other such things. It’s also rich in calcium and potassium and proteins.

It is not just a vegetable to cook, also it has been used in various herbal medicine systems for a long time, its leaves and stems also used in the medicine.

After hearing the name bitter gourd many of us keep it away due to its bitterness. Once you can start eating, in a few days you love the taste of the recipes made with Bitter Gourd and one can add it much variety of dishes.

Having Bitter Gourd in our dishes will get many health benefits, let us see top 6 health benefits with it.

Top benefits of Bitter Gourd:

Helps to reduce blood sugar: Several clinical studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of the bitter gourd in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The vegetable contains three active substances with anti-diabetic properties.

Charanti, Vicine and Polypeptide-p, These threes substances either work individually or together to reduce blood sugar level.

It is also known that bitter gourd contains a lectin that reduces blood glucose concentrations by acting on tissues and suppressing appetite. This lectin is thought to be the main factor behind the lowering blood sugar levels that develops after eating bitter gourd. 

Weight loss: As we know it helps to keep the blood sugar level under proper check. It makes the insulin, active and prevents the storage of sugar in the body as fats. Thus, the controlled sugar level helps to lose weight. 

Being low in calories, bitter gourd juice helps to lose weight. It has a low amount of fats and carbohydrates. Thus, drinking bitter gourd juice fills your stomach and unnecessary calorie intake.

It is having a good amount of fibre, it helps to curb hunger and feel satiated for a longer time. Not just this, it also helps to make the digestive system healthy. Bitter gourd is effective for weight loss if you use it to reduce your total calorie intake so that you are eating fewer calories than you burn. This calorie deficit is essential for losing weight.

Drinking a glass of bitter gourd juice provides sufficient fibre to the body and helps to lose weight. Most vegetables are diet-friendly choices because they have a low calorie-density

Liver Functioning: Numerous studies reveal that Bitter gourd is liver friendly and detoxifies. It boosts the liver enzymes and is a good cure for a hangover as it reduces alcohol deposits on the liver. Bitter juices contain anti-inflammatory properties which prevent liver failure from excessive intake of alcohol and heavy smoking. 

It always keeps the liver active; a glass of bitter gourd juice rejuvenates the cells of the liver and makes its function cleaner and stronger.

Decreases Cholesterol: Bitter gourd significantly attenuates hypercholesterolemia in terms of serum lipid parameters Including triglycerides, total cholesterol and its bad fraction (Low-Density Lipids – LDL).

Bitter gourd especially its powdered extract and its flesh are effective in reducing the circulating total cholesterol and its bad fractions significantly owing to interference in feed conversion and cholesterol metabolism. The anorexic effects of bitter gourd extract might be responsible for reducing total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (Low-density lipids – LDL).

Moreover, bitter gourd seeds are a rich source of dietary fiber and phytochemicals and thus can interfere in cholesterol metabolisms.

Cancer treatment: New research in mice seems to suggest that bitter melon extract may help fight cancer. Prof. Ratna Ray — from Saint Louis University in Missouri — and her colleagues made an intriguing find. In experiments using mouse models, bitter melon extract appeared to be effective in preventing cancer tumours from growing and spreading.

She and her colleagues decided to put this to the test in a preliminary study by using bitter melon extract on various types of cancer cells — including breast, prostate, and head and neck cancer cells.

Laboratory tests showed that the extract stopped those cells from replicating, suggesting that it might be effective in preventing the spread of cancer.

In further experiments using mouse models, the researchers found that the plant extract was able to reduce the incidence of tongue cancer.

So, in their new study, Prof. Ray and team tried to find out what might give bitter melon compounds an edge against cancer cells.

Builds Immunity: A healthy immune system is vital for fending off potential infections and diseases. Bitter melon contains a protein called Momordica anti-human immunovirus protein (MAP30). It has been shown to support a variety of immune system functions. Bitter gourd also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. 

The phenolic compounds gallic acid, catechin, and caffeic acid in bitter melon are powerful antioxidants, making a serving of the vegetable immensely beneficial for your immunity.Its antioxidant property works as a powerful defence mechanism against illnesses.

Other Benefits Bitter Gourd has?

• Chronic Cough
• Prevents bone loss
• Fever
• Burns
• Painful menstruation
• Skin Conditions
• Blood purifier
• Protects vision

It is also used to heal wounds, assist childbirth in some parts of the world, prevent or treat malaria and viral diseases like chicken fox.

Simple way to prepare bitter gourd curry!

Side Effects

Moderate intake of bitter gourd can be a healthy and nutritious addition to your diet. However, consuming high amounts of bitter gourd or taking its supplements may cause adverse effects.
It is not recommended for pregnant women and if you have any underlying health issues or undergoing any medication consult a physician before eating bitter gourd for guidance.