Did you know, bitter gourd is actually a fruit and not a vegetable?
It goes by the names bitter squash and bitter melon as well. True to its name, it is said to have a very bitter taste. Regardless of its unpleasant taste, it is admired for its medicinal properties.
Bitter gourd is a powerhouse of essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and electrolytes. It contains Vitamin A, C, and B (B1, B2), calcium, magnesium, Zinc, iron, and Phosphorus, which impart amazing health benefits, especially those associated with diabetes. There are a number of ways in which bitter gourd may be able to help with diabetes.
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Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in India. Mostly, it’s due to genetics but also can be caused by improper habits and our lifestyle.
It is a condition where the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot use the right amount of insulin that it produces. This can lead to other serious health problems like an increase in blood sugar levels in the body; increase in the risk of damage to blood vessels, organs, and nerves.
Thankfully, bitter gourd is one food that has been shown to be beneficial for diabetes. Let’s talk about the advantages of bitter gourd for diabetes, as well as its effectiveness and preparation methods.
Bitter gourd helps the body absorb and use glucose efficiently. It also contributes to blood glucose reduction. This is due to the presence of two significant compounds found in bitter gourd, called momordicin and charatin, both of which have the potential to significantly lower blood sugar levels.
It can also be effective in the treatment of type 1 diabetes which is generally caused by the failure of insulin secretion by the pancreas. Bitter gourd contains polypeptide P, an insulin-like molecule that aids in lowering blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes.
High-level sugar concentration in blood leads to an increase in the risk of type1 and type2 diabetes and can affect blood vessels and organs, therefore antioxidant properties in bitter gourd help prevent lower blood sugar levels.
Eat one bitter gourd before breakfast every morning when you’re empty-handed. You have two options for serving it: raw or in juice form. The reason most people like juice is that you can flavor it to lessen the bitterness.
Pulse them in a mixer or juicer to get the juice out. You can either drink the juice as such or add some lemon juice, turmeric, and salt.
Please note, discuss with your doctor if you are experiencing diabetes or prediabetes symptoms for further treatment.