Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd
Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd just like its name is bitter in taste but it truly can sweeten our well-being because of its several impressive health benefits.
Bitter gourd is equally known as bitter cucumber, bitter apple, or bitter squash.
This vegetable is also called karela in India and Ku-Gua throughout china.
Bitter gourd is rich in many health-promoting and disease-preventing phytochemical compounds.
Due to the presence of flavonoids and other phytochemical compounds, bitter melon may provide many health benefits.
In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of bitter gourd.
Bitter melon is rich in several key nutrients. 1 cup (94 grams) of raw bitter melon provides 2 grams of fiber, 93% of the reference daily intake of vitamin C, 44% of the reference daily intake of vitamin A, 17% of the reference daily intake of Folate, 8% of the reference daily intake of Potassium, 5% of the reference daily intake of Zinc, and 4% of the reference daily intake of Iron.
As bitter melon is especially rich in vitamin C so bitter melon can help in disease prevention, bone formation, and wound healing.
Vitamin A level is also high in bitter gourd so it can help in maintaining proper vision and skin health.
Bitter melon is also rich in antioxidant compounds like catechin, gallic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid which can help protect ourselves against damage and may prevent aging.
Bitter melon has long been used around the world to help treat diabetes-related conditions.
Bitter Melons occupy bioactive compounds called saponins and terpenoids.
Several studies confirmed the role of bitter melon in controlling blood sugar levels.
A three-month trial of 24 diabetic patients revealed that consuming 2 grams (2000 milligrams) of bitter melon daily lower blood sugar and Hba1c levels.
Additionally, several studies also indicate that bitter melon includes several compounds that have anti-cancer potential.
In one test tube investigation, the bitter melon extract was found to be efficient at destroying cancer cells in the stomach, colon, lung, and nasopharynx.
Another test-tube study had similar findings but both of these studies used a concentrated amount of bitter gourd extract on each cell.
So more extensive research is needed to confirm this finding.
Bitter melon was also found to decrease bad cholesterol levels in some animal studies.
As we know high cholesterol levels can cause fatty plaque to form in our arteries pushing our heart to work harder to pump blood and increase our risk of heart disease.
Giving bitter melon extract to rats on a high cholesterol diet resulted in a considerable drop in levels of total cholesterol, bad (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides.
According to one research bitter melon is also a great addition to a weight loss diet because it is low in calories but high in fiber.
Each 1 cup (94 grams) serving provides around 2 grams of fiber.
One study discovered that taking a capsule containing 4.8 grams of bitter melon extract per day resulted in a substantial reduction in abdominal fat.
After seven weeks participants lost an average of 0.5 inches 1.3 centimeters from their waist circumference.
Bitter gourd also accelerates the production of growth factors in the injured area.
In addition, it plays an important role in wound healing.
Bitter melon also enhances the oxygenation of the wound by speeding up capillary circulation.
In addition, its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects enable the wounds to shrink and packed.
It also speeds up the epithelialization process.
Bitter gourd promotes hair growth and supports hair health as well.
Components like protein, zinc, and vitamin C in the bitter gourd help keep hair healthy and strong.
Applying bitter gourd juice to the hair ensures that the hair roots strengthen and problems like split ends and hair fall are eliminated.
It is also used to treat hair growing, roughness, dandruff, and itchiness.
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