Did you know that bitter gourd, also known as karela, is actually a fruit rather than a vegetable?
Since we have been so preoccupied with criticising its bitter flavour, we have neglected not just this fact, but also the wide variety of advantages that consuming bitter gourd juice provides.
Here I am going to enlist a few significant karela juice benefits. But first let’s see what nutritional value does bitter gourd juice possess.
Table of Contents
Nutritional Value of Karela Juice
Karela juice contains a number of crucial elements. For instance, mixing 1/2 cup (118 ml) of filtered water with 1 cup (93 grammes) of raw bitter melon will provide the following nutrients:
- Calories – 16
- Carbohydrates – 3.4 grams
- Fibre – 2.6 grams
- Protein – 0.9 grams
- Fat – 0.2 grams
- Vitamin C – 95% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Folate – 17% of the RDI
- Zinc – 10% of the RDI
- Potassium – 6% of the RDI
- Iron – 5% of the RDI
- Vitamin A – 4% of RDI
Bitter Gourd Juice Benefits
Despite its bitter reputation, bitter gourd is very sweet for your health. You should keep an eye out for the following karela juice benefits:
1- Helps Reduce Blood Sugar Levels
For diabetics, drinking a glass of bitter gourd juice in the morning is highly advised.
Bitter gourd juice contains three primary ingredients: polypeptide-p, charantin, and vicine. These ingredients have shown glucose-lowering effects.
It is believed that polypeptide-p works similarly to insulin. Thus, it aids in controlling blood sugar by making it easier for sugar to enter cells and tissues from the blood. Blood sugar levels have also been proven to be reduced by vicine and charantin.
Additionally, a number of additional ingredients in karela juice may support the regeneration and protection of cells in your pancreas, the organ in charge of producing insulin.
While these results are encouraging, further research is required to pinpoint the precise mechanism through which bitter melon or its juice may assist regulate blood sugar levels.
2- Bitter Gourd Juice Benefits for Skin
Want to have flawless skin? Karela juice can be a good option.
Bitter gourd juice has widely been ingested globally as many people think it might enhance the radiance of your skin.
Vitamin C and provitamin A, two antioxidants that are crucial for good skin and wound healing, are abundant in karela juice. Additionally, it lessens acne, helps in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis, and shields the skin from UV radiation.
3- Good for Your Hair
Moving next to bitter gourd juice benefits is: you can get lustrous hair by regularly consuming bitter gourd juice. Karela juice contains zinc, biotin, vitamin A, and vitamin C, which are all essential for healthy hair.
Also, applying karela juice is rich in amino acids that offer antiviral and antimicrobial qualities that work well to treat scalp issues. So, applying this juice externally to the scalp can help treat dandruff, hair loss, itchy scalp, and other issues.
4- Purifies Blood
Karela’s antibacterial and antioxidant qualities make it a quick blood purifier – one of the excellent bitter gourd juice benefits. Therefore, consume this remarkable vegetable at least twice each week to promote blood circulation, eliminate pathogens from the blood, and eliminate toxins.
Another all natural blood purifier is Safi syrup. To learn about it click here!
5- Aids Weight Loss
Karela juice might also help with weight loss and provide other health advantages.
How it aids in weight loss?
It is hydrating, low in calories, and rich in fibre. Given that fibre absorbs nutrients more slowly than simple carbohydrates, this combination may help you feel fuller for longer. Since it prevents appetite, it may prevent you from consuming meals that are higher in calories and lower in nutrients.
6- Lowers Bad Cholesterol Levels
Another bitter gourd juice benefits is that it helps lower blood cholesterol. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), often known as bad cholesterol, builds up in the arteries and causes atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and other coronary heart issues.
Karela juice has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, because it contains a lot of iron, it boosts immunity and safeguards the heart.
Learn more about foods to lower cholesterol.
7- Karela Juice Benefits in Boosting Immunity
Karela juice is a miracle remedy for illnesses, particularly in the winter. Additionally, it helps with indigestion, constipation, and other digestive problems that are extremely prevalent during this time of year.
Furthermore, the huge presence of antioxidants in bitter gourds prevent free-radical damage that can lead to various chronic conditions and cancers. Research studies on animals and in test tubes suggests that some of the ingredients in karela juice may be capable of preventing cancer.
How to Make Karela Juice?
How to make bitter gourd juice? Here are simple steps:
- Cut the karela in half after scraping it.
- Pick off the seeds and pulp. Slice the karela very finely.
- Grind the karela with salt and lemon juice in a juicer and add water. Juice is ready.
Some tips to lessen its bitterness: You can add some honey or jaggery to the beverage, or serve it with sweet fruits like apples or pears. Even lemon juice might be used to soften the bitter melon juice’s flavour. Ginger and a dash of black pepper might also lessen the tartness.
What is The Best Time to Drink Karela Juice?
It is typically advised to consume it in the morning on an empty stomach as it may help in its absorption by the body.
However, it can make you feel queasy due to its emetic properties. So, to begin with, try consuming smaller amounts.
Downsides of Bitter Gourd Juice
Excessive consumption of this juice may not be a smart idea as it may result in unpleasant side effects including diarrhoea, upset stomach, and stomach pain.
Can we drink bitter gourd juice daily? Well, to decide how much is safe to consume, there is not enough scientific proof. Furthermore, not everyone may benefit from it given that its long-term implications are unknown.
Other Precautions to Take:
People with diabetes and those taking medication should speak with their doctor before beginning a karela juice programme due to its effect on blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and considering adding karela juice in your routine, you may consult with the best diabetologists near you via Healthwire.pk.
Bitter melon juice may also impact the endocrine system, which regulates hormones and reproduction. Due to this, pregnant or nursing women should also consult their doctor before including karela juice into their daily regimen.
