Bitter Gourd, also called Bitter Melon or Karela in Hindi, might not be everyone's favourite, but this "wonder vegetable" has a lot of great health benefits. Just ignore the slightly bitter taste it might leave on your tongue and enjoy the Karela's many antioxidants and nutrients.
Indian bitter melons are small to medium-sized fruits, averaging 10 to 25 centimeters in length, and have a narrow, cylindrical shape with tapered, pointed ends. The skin is thick, bumpy, waxy, and rough, covered in many small, irregularly shaped ridges known as teeth. The skin also ripens from green to yellow-orange when mature. Underneath the surface, the flesh is crisp, firm, white, and aqueous, encasing a small cavity filled with seeds and pith. Indian bitter melons are considered unpalatable when raw, and once cooked, they develop a tender consistency with a sharp, bitter flavor.
Everyone knows that karela is a healthy vegetable. Read below for the nutritional profile and probable health benefits of bitter gourd :
Lowers diabetes : The most widely accepted bitter gourd benefit is its ability to lower blood sugar levels. Polypeptide-p, also known as p-insulin, is an insulin-like substance present in karela. Patients with type-2 diabetes can drastically lower their blood glucose levels by regularly consuming the recommended amounts of karela juice. It also helps people with type-1 diabetes.
Builds stronger immunity : Bitter gourd is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant. As a result, it offers protection from three extremely severe diseases, including heart attacks, renal damage, and liver failure.
Purifies blood : There is perhaps no better blood cleanser than a bitter gourd. With regular consumption of karela, you can keep various diseases away. The antioxidant and anti-microbial qualities of karela help in purifying blood.
Aids in digestion : People who suffer from IBS or constipation can benefit from moderate consumption of karela.
Helps in weight loss : Karela is high in fiber and low in calories, so it helps people to lose weight. Adipose cells store fat in the body, and with the consumption of karela, they are prevented from forming and expanding. Karela can enhance metabolism on the one hand, and the antioxidants aid in the body's detoxification while reducing fat on the other hand.
Promotes healthy heart : The potassium in bitter gourd helps the body absorb the extra sodium, helping to keep the blood pressure stable. The iron and folic acid content in karela also help in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Promotes good eyesight : The chemicals beta-carotene and vitamin A are present profusely in karela which promotes good eyesight. Including bitter gourd in your diet may delay or prevent the occurrence of cataracts.
Boon for healthy skin and hair : For healthy skin and hair, you should have foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, and C. Karela has all those elements, and thus, regular consumption will keep acne, pimples, and blemishes away. It may effectively treat ringworm, psoriasis, itching, and other skin infections. Also, karela juice makes hair more lustrous and treats split ends, dandruff, and hair loss.
Bitter gourd is excellent for revitalizing the body in addition to the advantages listed above. So, don’t
always go for its bitterness, because the result is brighter. Blessed with essential nutrients and easy to
grow and care for, growing karela would be painless even for a beginner. Get your gardening tools and get
started with the bitter gourd plantation.
Happy gardening!
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