WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BITTER GOURD?

Bitter gourd is a healthy and nutritious food with a unique bitter flavor and is also used as natural medicine. Fruit is short, spindle-shaped, green-colored with smooth regular ribs and moderate bitterness.

Bitter gourd also known by the names of bitter melon, bitter apple, bitter squash, balsam-pear.

Momordicacharantia has several purported uses including cancer prevention, treatment of diabetes, fever, HIV, and AIDS, and infections.

Bitter melon is a great source of nutrients:

• Bitter melon is especially rich in vitamin C, an important micronutrient involved in disease prevention, bone formation, and wound healing.

• it is also high in vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes skin health and proper vision.

• it provides folate, which is essential for growth and development, and smaller amounts of potassium, zinc, and iron.

• Bitter melon is a good source of chlorogenic acid too, powerful antioxidant compounds that can help protect your cells against damage.

• it’s low in calories yet high in fiber. Fulfilling approximately 8% of your daily fiber needs in a single one-cup (94-gram) serving.

 Benefits of taking the bitter gourd

It has a high amount of antioxidants, which helps it cure many problems related to corrupted blood. Regular consumption of bitter gourd leads to improvement in skin, hair, and cancer problems. Also, it helps to improve blood circulation.

Bitter gourd has great healing properties. It controls the blood flow and blood clotting, which helps in quicker healing of wounds and reducing infections.

It's rich in vitamin A and prevent cataract and strengthens vision. It even lightens dark circles.

 Bitter gourd is liver friendly and detoxifies. It boosts liver enzymes and is a good cure for a hangover as it reduces alcohol deposits in the liver. The bladder and the gut also benefit from consuming.

 Helps, with weight loss: Yes, bitter gourd is extremely low in calorie content and is a low-fat and low-carb food. 

Prevent premature skin aging and diminishes wrinkles.

 Boosts your immune system better, gourd fights viruses and bacteria and strengthens your immunity. It prevents allergies and indigestion. The antioxidants work as powerful defense mechanisms against illness and also help fight free-radical damage that can cause various types of cancer. In 2010, a study was published in the Pharmaceutical Research Journal which stated that bitter-melon has anti-carcinogen and antitumor properties. It reduced the risk of prostate, breast, and cervical cancer.

Consuming bitter gourd juice

It's rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which are good for the skin. It reduces aging and fights acne and skin blemishes. It is useful in treating various skin infections like ringworm, psoriasis, and itching.

Recipe:

Juice 1 cup reseeded and roughly chopped bitter gourd, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, salt to taste. Grind them and have it.

Bitter melon tea:

Bitter melon tea is a herbal tea made from an infusion of dried slices of bitter melon. It is sold as a medicinal tea, and a culinary vegetable.

Planting Bitter gourd at home

bitter gourd can be grown in the home garden by the seeds. It can be grown in medium-sized containers. Select the containers 12 inches deep and 10-inch wide for growing bitter gourd. The bitter gourd plant grows up to 5 m long, needs a sturdy trellis.

It takes about 55-60 days from seed sowing to reach the first harvest. Pickings should be done at an interval of 2-3 days, as bitter gourd fruits mature very fast and turn red.