Nutritional Benefits of Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourds are very low in calories but dense with precious nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, C, magnesium, folate, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and has high dietary fiber. It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of a banana. Bitter melon contains a unique phyto-constituent that has been confirmed to have a hypoglycemic effect called charantin. There is also another insulin-like compound known as polypeptide P which have been suggested as insulin replacement in some diabetic patients.

Health Benefits
There are few other fruit or vegetables that can offer the medicinal properties for the following ailments quite like bitter melon does

Treats blood disorders
Bitter gourd juice is highly beneficial for treating blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to toxemia. Mix 2 ounces of fresh bitter gourd juice with some lime juice. Sip it slowly on an empty stomach daily for four to six months and see improvement in your condition.

Helps kill cancer cells
Bitter gourd juice contains an enzyme that inhibits the transportation of glucose (sugar), thus lowering blood sugar levels, cutting off the food supply to cancer cells, retarding their growth.

Can stop cholera
In early stages of cholera, take two teaspoonfuls juice of bitter gourd leaves, mix with two teaspoonfuls white onion juice and one teaspoonful lime juice. Sip this concoction daily till you get well.

Diabetes Mellitus
Bitter melon contains a hypoglycemic compound (a plant insulin) that is highly beneficial in lowering sugar levels in blood and urine. Bitter melon juice has been shown to significantly improve glucose tolerance without increasing blood insulin levels.

Boost your energy level
Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice has been proven to improve energy and stamina level. Even sleeping patterns have been shown to be improved/stabilized.

Eye problems
The high beta-carotene and other properties in bitter gourd makes it one of the finest vegetable-fruit that help alleviate eye problems and improving eyesight

Can stop gout
Bitter gourd juice is liver cleansing. It helps clean up a toxic blood, improves blood circulation and relieves gout pain.

Boost your immune system
This bitter juice can also help to build your immune system and increase your body’s resistance against infection

Piles
Mix three teaspoonfuls of juice from bitter melon leaves with a glassful of buttermilk. Take this every morning on empty stomach for about a month and see an improvement to your condition. To hasten the healing, use the paste of the roots of bitter melon plant and apply over the piles.

Psoriasis
Regular consumption of this bitter juice has also been known to improve psoriasis condition and other fungal infections like ring-worm and athletes feet. Read: a great Psoriasis remedy.

Respiratory disorders
ake two ounces of fresh bitter melon juice and mix with a cup of honey diluted in water. Drink daily to improve asthma, bronchitis and pharyngitis.

Combat Toxemia
Bitter gourd contains beneficial properties that cleanses the blood from toxins. Sip two teaspoonfuls of the juice daily to help cleanse the liver. Also helpful in ridding jaundice for the same reasons.

Lower blood sugar level
Choose a bitter gourd that is of light green. The bigger and lighter-colored ones are less bitter. Store unused bitter melons wrapped up in a plastic bag and keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Note that the longer you keep the gourds, the more bitter it may become.

Side effects
Drinking more than 3 ounces of bitter gourd juice may cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea. Diabetics taking hypoglycemic drugs will need to alter the dosage of their drugs if they consume bitter melon on a regular basis. Please consult your doctor. Pregnant women should avoid taking too much bitter gourd or its juice as it may stimulate the uterus that can lead to preterm labor.