Building a food secured Africa
The name bitter gourd can ordinarily put you off. “What do I want to do with something bitter?” or “what is bitter gourd?” you may ask. Well, bitter gourd can also be called bitter melon Momordica charantia. A tropical vine that belongs to the gourd family and it is closely related to squash, pumpkin and cucumber family. It is cultivated around the world for its edible fruit, which is considered a staple in many types of Asian cuisine. The Chinese variety is typically lone, pale green, and covered with wart-like bumps whereas the Indian variety is narrower and has pointed ends with rough, jagged spikes on the rind. Apart from its sharp flavor and distinct appearance, bitter gourd or melon has been associated with several impressive health benefits.
There are so many interesting attributes of bitter gourd that present it beneficial to human health when added to daily diet.
Bitter gourd is a great source of several essential nutrients. It is rich in Vitamin C, an important micronutrient involved in disease prevention, bone formation, and wound healing. It’s also high in Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin which promotes skin health and proper vision. It provides folate, which is essential for growth and development, as well as smaller amounts of Potassium, Zinc, and Iron.
Bitter gourd also contains catechin, gallic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid, powerful antioxidant compounds that can help protect your cells against damage. Its calcium level is twice that of spinach and beta-carotene of broccoli.
Bitter gourd by health researchers has ability to help control blood sugar levels. It is thought to improve the way that sugar is used in your tissues and promote the secretion of insulin (which is the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels). This attributes have helped to treat diabetes-related conditions.
Because of the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds present in bitter gourds, it is thought to have ability to fight cancerous cells. However, more research can help to better explain how.
Bitter gourds in diet can boost weight loss, lowers bad cholesterol levels which helps to reduce heart disease and stroke. It strengthens the immune system, improves respiratory health and contains anti-ageing properties.
Bitter gourd is low in calories yet has high fiber thereby fulfilling approximately 8% of our daily fiber needs in a single one-cup (94-gram) serving. As an excellent source of dietary fibred its consumption regularly can relieve constipation and indigestion. It supports gut bacteria, which favours digestion and nutrients absorption.
These wonderful attributes of bitter gourds has made it an essential in everyday diet. The need to take it in moderate concentration is advised to avoid possible side effects owned to high concentration of consumption.