Diabetes is a serious and chronic medical condition that affects millions of people around the world. It can lead to several health complications due to high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, such as nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke.
As diabetes has become more prevalent in today’s society with an estimated 350 million people affected worldwide, so too have new ways for prevention and treatment been discovered.
In this article, we’ll discuss if bitter guard is good for diabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to use sugar as a source of fuel. Normally, the pancreas produces insulin—a hormone that helps cells absorb glucose from the blood and convert it into energy.
When you have diabetes, either your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or your cells cannot properly absorb glucose due to insulin resistance. This results in high blood sugar levels and a variety of health problems. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood or adolescence, while type 2 diabetes usually develops later in life, although it can also develop during childhood and adolescence as well.
What Is Bitter Gourd?
Bitter gourd or bitter melon is a green, bumpy fruit that grows on vines. It has distinct ridges running in either direction along its length and is generally 20 to 30 cm long. Bitter gourd’s scientific name is Momordica charantia Linn (family: Cucurbitaceae).
This plant grows mostly in tropical climates and is cultivated for medicinal purposes as well as for food. Though bitter gourd is most commonly consumed in Asia, it can also be found in Europe and the United States as a popular health food.
What Are the Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd?
Bitter gourd has been eaten since ancient times and is popularly used as a folk remedy for various health conditions. It has been shown to protect the liver and help with other problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, diarrhea, cancer, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
However, it’s important to note that many of these studies are based on animal models or test tube experiments. Only a handful of human studies have been conducted on the health benefits of bitter melon, with most focusing on blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
The possible effects of bitter melon on blood glucose control have made it a popular herbal remedy for diabetic patients in parts of Asia and India. Bitter melon juice is commonly used in these regions to help patients with type 2 diabetes supplement their treatment.
What Are the Health Risks Associated With Bitter Gourd?
In many parts of the world, bitter gourd is thought to have a number of medicinal uses and there are no known serious side effects from taking it as a dietary supplement. However, it is known to interact with several medications, including insulin.
The fruit of the plant can be toxic if ingested in large amounts, so people are advised to avoid eating more than 3 ounces of fresh bitter gourd or 1/2 teaspoon of its dried powder per day. Most side effects are due to allergies and mild stomach problems, including diarrhea.
Is Bitter Gourd Good for Diabetes?
There are many claims that bitter gourd can be used as a dietary supplement to help manage blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Studies have shown that the extract of bitter melon may improve blood sugar control and reduce insulin resistance, however there is little evidence for this use in humans.
A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that taking bitter gourd juice may have a role as an adjuvant in the management of type 2 diabetic patients.
Another study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that a product made from bitter melon extract could improve blood sugar levels and lipid profiles for people with type 2 diabetes.
In a study published in the Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, bitter melon extract was found to have significant effects on blood glucose levels as well as lipid profiles for patients with type 2 diabetes.
However, more research is needed to determine whether or not bitter gourd can be safely used as a dietary supplement to help manage blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s important to note that several of these studies were conducted on rats and test tube cells, not humans.
People with diabetes may find it difficult to eat a healthy diet because food choices are limited. Although diabetic diets don’t restrict calories or portion sizes, they do place more emphasis on eating nutrient-rich foods at the right time of day.
Bitter gourd may be good for diabetes, but it itself will not cure diabetes. It is important for diabetic people to control blood sugar levels by eating healthy food, exercising regularly and taking medications prescribed by your doctor.
Does Bitter Gourd Help With Weight Loss?
Bitter melon is often consumed as part of a weight loss diet in parts of Asia because it is high in fiber and low in calories, with zero fat. The fruit is known to reduce hunger, increase satiety levels and reduce cravings. A study published in Diabetes Care suggested that bitter melon juice may also be beneficial for weight loss by helping to control blood glucose levels after meals.
A study published in Nutrition & Metabolism found that taking an extract of bitter gourd significantly reduced food intake during the first three hours after a meal in rats on a high-fat diet. However, more research is needed to determine whether or not bitter gourd can be safely used as a dietary supplement for weight loss.
Bitter melon juice may help reduce cravings and suppress food intake by helping people with type 2 diabetes control blood glucose levels after meals. More research is needed to determine whether or not bitter gourd can be safely used as a dietary supplement for weight loss.
Looking For Good Diabetes Supplement?
There are many different supplements that may offer health benefits for people with diabetes. However, research has not confirmed the effectiveness of bitter melon as a dietary supplement to lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
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References
http://www.barc.gov.in/technologies/karela/index.html