Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon or karela, belongs to the gourd family. It’s closely related to pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini. It’s grown all over the world and is used widely in Asian countries. Karela can be had as a side dish for meals. It can be had as juice, as a snack or even a starter. Every culture has a different way of preparing karela as it’s very nutritious.
Benefits of eating bitter gourd
Eating bitter gourd has enormous health benefits. Following are some of them –
Bitter gourd can reduce blood sugar levels
Bitter gourd can help in lowering blood sugar levels. This is very good for controlling diabetes by increasing insulin production.
Bitter gourd improves skin health
Bitter gourd is rich in antioxidants and is good for the skin. It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C which improves the quality of skin by reducing blemishes and wrinkles. It prevents aging of skin. Treats acne due to anti-inflammatory properties of bitter gourd. It treats blood disorders caused to the skin like psoriasis, itching, ringworm, and other fungal infections.
Bitter gourd improves quality of hair
Bitter gourd juice can add lustre to your hair. It reduces dandruff, hair loss, and split-ends.
Bitter gourd improves eyesight
Regularly including bitter gourd in your diet is good for improving your eyesight. High beta-carotene present in bitter gourds can prevent eye complications. Vitamin A in bitter gourd can help prevent cataract and strengthen eyesight.
Bitter gourd aids in losing weight
Bitter gourd when included daily encourages secretion of bile. This helps in fat metabolism and aids in weight loss.
Bitter gourd removes toxins from the body
Bitter gourd cleanses the body by removing toxins. It purifies the blood and also improves blood circulation.
Bitter gourd prevents growth of cancer cells
Bitter gourd fights cancer cells and prevents growth of cancer cells within the body. Regularly having bitter gourd can reduce the risk of cancers like breast cancer and colon cancer. It also can help in preventing formation of tumours.
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Bitter gourd can make you active
Stamina of your body and also your energy level will improve as you regularly consume bitter gourd. It also improves sleep quality and reduces insomnia considerably.
Bitter gourd has healing properties
Bitter gourd can control blood flow and helps in clotting of blood when you are wounded. This helps in healing your wounds quickly and prevents infection.
Bitter gourd acts a cleanser of your liver
Bitter gourd is liver friendly. It helps in detoxification. It also boosts in liver enzymes. It can reduce deposits of alcohol from your liver.
Bitter gourd helps in digestion
Bitter gourd is rich in fibre and aids in bowel movements. It also helps to provide relief from constipation.
Bitter gourd improves heart health
Bitter gourd can reduce bad cholesterol and therefore decreases chance of heart attack. Fibres present in bitter gourd can help to clear the arteries.
Bitter gourd can be consumed regularly to benefit from its nutritional value. But as everything else in life, balance is essential. Over indulgence in bitter gourd could be harmful.