6 Proven Health Benefits Of Eating Bottle Gourd

Bitter gourd or bitter melon is a tropical and subtropical vine of the Cucurbitaceae family, and is native to South Asia but now grown in different regions of the world. It is used both as a food and medicine and is considered bitter among all fruits and vegetables. The abundance of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and polyphenols, etc makes them very beneficial for us as they provide numerous health and beauty benefits.

# Keeps Our Digestive System Healthy

Bitter gourd is good for our stomach and improves our digestive health.The laxative properties of the dietary fibers in bitter gourd improves our bowel movement, helps proper elimination of stool, and thus provides relief from constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, and flatulence, etc.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect our digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of colon cancer, abdominal cancer, intestinal cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer, etc.The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C reduce stomach inflammation and minimize the risk of ulcers.

# Boost Our Immune System

Bitter gourd strengthens our immune system, the defense mechanism of the body that prevents and treats microbial infections, injuries, diseases, and wounds.

Antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, and other relevant antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect our immune cells aka white blood cells from free radical damage, and thus strengthens our immunity.

Vitamin C enhances the production of white blood cells in the body and further strengthens our immunity. With stronger immunity, our risk of getting a cough, cold, fever, and flu, etc reduces drastically.The antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties of the bitter gourd protect us from the ill effects of microbial infections and further strengthens immunity.

# Beneficial For Diabetics

Consuming bitter gourd or bitter gourd juice regulates our blood sugar level and helps in managing diabetes.Because of its low glycemic index, it slows down the sugar release into the bloodstream, prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar level, and thus regulates blood sugar level.

Dietary fibers in the bitter gourd reduce the rate at which sugar gets absorbed by the bloodstream and helps in managing diabetes.

# Helps In Managing Weight

Eating 100 grams of bitter gourd provides 17 calories of energy, and this makes it very beneficial for individuals who are on a weight loss journey and would like to shed some extra pounds.

The dietary fibers in the bitter gourd provide satiety to the stomach, decrease the urge to eat again and again, and thus controls overeating which is a major cause of obesity. Drinking bitter gourd juice on the empty stomach improves metabolism and thus accelerates the burning of stored fats.

# Good For Eyes & Prevents Vision-Related Disorders

Bitter gourd is good for our eyes and improves our ocular health.Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect the eyes from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.

Vitamin A is an essential mineral for our eyes as it improves vision and prevents eye dryness and minimizes the risk of night-blindness.The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C minimize the risk of inflammatory glaucoma.

# Provides Antioxidantal Benefits

Bitter gourd provides numerous antioxidantal benefits as they contain antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc.

These antioxidants and associated compounds protect our cells and tissues from free radical damage and thus minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer, etc.