Call it bitter gourd or karela, this bright green, super bitter vegetable is probably a favorite of many around the world. Despite being shunned for its bitter, pungent taste, bitter gourd has always managed to remain as an indispensable vegetable in Indian cuisine due to its amazing health benefits. If you remember, when you were a child, your mother or grandmother must have counted bitter gourd and tried to feed you a lot of its vegetables. Actually, he was right in many ways. We are so busy condemning its bitter taste, that we have always overlooked the benefits of bitter gourd. Not only bitter gourd but the benefits of bitter gourd juice are also many.
Did you know that bitter gourd is not actually a vegetable but a fruit? Bitter gourd, which looks green from outside, is cream color from inside and its seeds are also big. Its Chinese variety is usually long, pale green in color, and covered with wart-like bumps. The Indian variety, on the other hand, is narrower and has sharper ends with rough, jagged spikes on the rind. Bitter gourd is packed with important nutrients, from iron, magnesium and vitamins to potassium and vitamin C. It is an excellent source of fiber, with twice the strength of spinach’s calcium, broccoli’s beta-carotene and banana’s potassium.
# Control Blood SugarBitter gourd also has benefits for diabetics. It is recommended to drink a glass of bitter gourd juice every morning. Its vegetable is rich in polypeptide-P, which can prevent sudden spikes in sugar levels. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend drinking at least 2 ml of bitter gourd juice mixed with water daily to reduce sugar levels. It has also been reported according to various studies that regular consumption of this juice improves glycemic control. However, if you are one of the people suffering from low sugar level, talk to your doctor before consuming this juice.
# Weight LossBitter gourd is low in calories, fat and carbohydrates. It keeps your stomach full for a longer time and hence if you are planning to lose weight then bitter gourd can make your plan easier. Bitter gourd can be seen as a natural agent to treat obesity. In addition, bitter gourd contains 80-85% water, which helps in controlling appetite. It also improves metabolism.
# Benefits for EyesThe benefits of bitter gourd help in preventing vision related problems like cataract as it contains compounds like beta-carotene and vitamin A which are healthy for your eyes and strengthens the eyesight. Being rich in vitamin A and beta carotene, regular consumption of bitter gourd juice improves eyesight. It is also beneficial for children whose eyes start getting weak at an early age as it helps in preventing further weakening of their eyes.
# Benefits for LiverEating bitter gourd as a vegetable benefits the liver a lot. The antioxidants present in the vegetable flush out toxins and stimulate the secretion of bile acids, which are essential for various bodily functions from digestion to metabolism. Apart from this, bitter gourd juice also has benefits for the liver. Along with cleansing the intestine, it also cures many liver problems.
# Control CholesterolBitter gourd juice has anti-inflammatory properties, which also help in reducing the level of bad cholesterol in the body. It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. It also maintains the blood pressure of the body as it is rich in potassium, which absorbs excessive sodium in the body. It is rich in iron and folic acid which are known to reduce the risk of stroke and keep your heart healthy.
# Prevent CancerThe benefits of bitter gourd are also known to reduce fatal diseases like cancer. A test-tube study showed that bitter gourd extract was effective in killing cancer cells of the stomach, colon, lung, and nasopharynx. However, further research is needed to determine how consuming bitter gourd can prevent the development of cancer in humans.