Bitter Gourd a Boon or Bane?

Bitter Gourd a Boon or Bane
Bitter Gourd a Boon or Bane

Bitter gourd also called bitter melon. Bitter Gourd is generally ignored by many due to its bitter taste. During our childhood, we were forced to consume Bitter Gourd by our parents but later we realize how many benefits does it has. In this article, we will highlight what are the major benefits that Bitter Gourd has and how can we consume it without destroying our taste palette.

BENEFITS OF CONSUMING BITTER GOURD

High on nutrition

Bitter Gourd is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals. It contains minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins like A and C. It contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of a banana according to health.com. Various anti-inflammatory and antioxidants are present in bitter gourd.

It works amazingly in reducing the bad cholesterol level, thereby reducing the number of heart diseases like heart attacks & heart stroke. It also helps in strengthening the immune system, improves skin & respiratory health as well. It also has anti-aging properties. 

Perfect For Weight Loss 

Bitter Gourd is very low in fat, calories and carbohydrates. It is a perfect ingredient for your weight loss plan. It keeps your stomach fulfilled for a longer period, which helps you avoid overeating. As per a report, Bitter Gourd helps in the dislocation of human fat cells and also hinders the formation of new ones.

It helps the liver to secrete bile juice which thereby helps in increasing metabolism in our body.

Bitter Gourd contains 80-85% of water, which is a universal suppressant of hunger. It concludes that Bitter Gourd is a natural agent for reducing obesity.

Natural Diabetic Remedy

According to the World Health Organisation around 382 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide. Bitter Gourd contains a compound which acts insulin named as Polypeptide-p or p- insulin. This is a natural compound that helps in controlling diabetes.

There are many studies done in which patients are treated with just bitter gourd itself.

A study has shown if you drink Bitter Gourd juice regularly then you will never suffer from diabetes. Bitter Gourd acts as a hypoglycemic agent. It is a medium of soluble fiber and is low in the glycemic index, which helps in lowering the overall blood sugar level.

Flawless Skin

Yes, you heard it right. Do u want flawless skin, but don’t know how to cure it. Bitter gourd has powerful antioxidants along with goodness of vitamin A and C which helps in making your skin unblemished and wrinkle-free. It also cures acne, skin breakout, eczema, and psoriasis. Due to global warming, the ozone layer in our environment has depleted a lot which has caused the Uv rays to enter the environment. Bitter Gourd helps our skin from harmful UV rays.

Lustrous Hair

We all crave lustrous hair, as a result, we tend to use a heavy chemical embedded shampoo which instead damages our hair scalp and result in hair fall. We often forget our mother nature has given us such great gems which we usually ignore. Yes, Bitter Gourd has an immense amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc and Biotin which help us giving that shine and luster which we crave for. Not only If we apply Bitter Gourd Juice regularly at our scalp, then it can help us reduce hair fall, dandruff, roughness, split ends and itchiness.

You can either apply Bitter Gourd Juice directly to your hair or you can prepare a mixture by mixing some yogurt and bitter gourd juice. Which you can apply at your scalp and hair and use it as a conditioner. If you want to treat dandruff then you can prepare a hair mask by adding bitter gourd juice, tablespoon lime juice, and cumin seed paste. Leave the hair mask for 30mins and rinse afterward.

Increased EyeSight

It prevents vision-related problems like cataract which is very common nowadays. It has compounds like Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A which are very healthy for our eyes and result in increased eyesight. It also acts as a dark circle reducer.

Improves Digestion

Our ancestors said If you want to be healthy, keep good care of your digestive system. In the modern world where we have a focus on Junk food like Burger, Pizza, Cola, etc. Bitter Gourd Juice acts as a perfect detox for our bodies. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber. If we want to keep our digestion intact then consuming Bitter Gourd regularly can do miracles in our life. It can stop digestive problems like constipation and indigestion. It supports healthy gut bacteria which favors nutrient absorption and digestion,  

So These were benefits from consuming Bitter Gourd in any form either by making juice or eating it by making it like a vegetable. It has many benefits but excessive consumption can lead to several health problems as well. Excess consumption can lead to diarrhea and abdominal pain. Pregnant women should avoid taking too much bitter gourd as it might stimulate the uterus and lead to premature labor. 

 You might think that Bitter Gourd is a natural gem if you have reached so far till now but how to consume it as it’s so bitter, so here are some ways by which you can reduce the bitterness of bitter gourd.

  • Soak it in tamarind juice for around 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle salt over the bitter gourd pieces and let it sit for about 10 mins. This process will help in making bitter gourd palatable.
  • Sauté bitter gourd pieces in olive oil
  • Boil equal parts of vinegar and sugar. Pour this mixture on the bitter gourd and let it soak for around 10-15 mins. 
  • Add some carrots, amla, orange, ginger, bitter gourd, and beetroot in a juicer and prepare a juice. Drinking juice is easier than eating Bitter gourd.

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