Bittergourd - Health Benefits - Part 2

10:39 PM Bitter gourd , vegetables 2 Comments

Also known as Balsam pear, Karela, this herb has attracted considerable interest for its ability to regulate blood sugar. There are atleast three different groups of constituents in bitter melon or bitter squash also referring bittergourd. These include a mixture of steroidal saponins known as charatin, insulin like peptides and alkaloids. It is still unclear which of these is most effective or if all three work together.

Rich in iron, bittermelon has twice the beta carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of bananas and contains Vitamin C & B1, B2, B3 and good dietary fibre. It is believed to be good for liver and has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin and inhibit HIV-1 infection.

Also check on the Recipes with bittergourd here...