Bittergourd or karela, the natural pill for diabetes

Bitter gourd acts as an excellent natural remedy to prevent and control blood sugar levels in diabetics.

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Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : June 19, 2014 4:45 PM IST

BittergourdBitter gourd or karela hardly finds a place in one's meal due to its unpalatable and bitter taste. But, this healthy vegeatable is packed with numerous health benefits and is actually a boon for diabetics. Read about the 6 amazing health benefits of bitter gourd or karela.

Anti-diabetic action of Karela or bittergourd:

  • Several research studies have proved that extracts from karela help in reducing thealpha glucosidase enzyme activity which in turn lowers the high blood sugar levels raised by a meal.
  • It contains two special anti-hyperglycemic compounds called momorcidin and charatin that play a key role in transportation of blood sugar levels to the muscles, liver and adipose tissue and lower high blood glucose concentrations in diabetics.
  • Karela seeds are found to be loaded with polypeptide-P that exerts insulin-like action to reduce blood sugar levels in the body.

Tips:

  • Drink one glass of karela juice in the morning to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
  • You can also have karela tea made from dried bitter gourd and water twice in a day to maintain blood sugar levels.
  • Prepare dishes by adding karela to other vegetables that can complement its bitter taste to normalize your sugar.

References:

A.Raman, et al Anti-diabetic properties and phytochemistry of Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae)

Bitter Melon Find a Vitamin or Supplement WebMD

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