Bitter gourd for diabetes: Know how bitter gourd juice is one of the best drinks for diabetics

Managing diabetes is not easy. A diabetes-friendly diet comes with many restrictions. Even the most ‘healthy’ foods can spike your blood sugar levels (read: fruit juices). Diabetes is fast becoming one of the most prevalent conditions across the world. Characterised by too much sugar in the blood (high blood glucose), diabetes is often associated with many other health complications like obesity and stroke. According to WHO, in the year 2014, 422 million people were diagnosed with diabetes across the world. WHO also stated that the prevalence of diabetes has been rising steadily over the past 3 decades and is rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries. Lack of awareness about diabetes management and its complications, delayed diagnosis, can make the condition worse and even lead to untimely death.

When it comes to diabetes, one has to be extra careful about their diet. Due to the abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, diabetics are advised to skip refined carbohydrates and take complex carbohydrates instead. Diabetics are also advised to take foods with a low glycemic index. The glycemic index (GI) is a relative ranking of carbohydrates in foods depending on how they affect blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates with a low GI value (55 or less) are slowly digested, absorbed and metabolized and cause a gradual increase in blood sugar.

(Also read: Does eating sweets cause diabetes?)

When it comes to diabetes, a person has to be very careful about his diet.

While a lot of experts have talked about an ideal diet for diabetes, many of these ‘diet tips’ do not take into account diabetics’ struggle with ‘liquid calories’. Yes, you heard us, liquid calories. So you have been right, avoiding all refined carbohydrates and consuming whole grain foods and drinking an entire bottle of aerated drinks later in the day. This act of yours can destroy most of your healthy efforts to manage diabetes naturally. Diabetics should stay away from aerated and sugary drinks. Various studies and reports have repeatedly confirmed that these drinks are loaded with liquid calories and can cause a major spike in blood sugar levels. Fruit juices are also not one of the healthiest options. Fruit juices, especially packaged fruit juices contain fructose which spikes blood sugar levels. However, there is one juice you can drink, and that juice can also help control your blood sugar levels naturally. We are talking about bitter gourd juice or bitter gourd juice.

Know why bitter gourd juice is beneficial for diabetic patients

Bitter gourd juice is an excellent beverage for diabetics. Bitter gourd helps control the blood sugar levels in your body. Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood explains, “Bitter gourd juice makes your insulin active. When your insulin is active, your sugar will be utilized adequately and will not be converted into fat, which will eventually help in weight loss as well”
According to studies, bitter gourd contains certain active ingredients with anti-diabetic properties. One of them is charantin, which is famous for its blood sugar-lowering effect. Bitter gourd contains an insulin-like compound called polypeptide-p or p-insulin that has been proven to be effective in controlling diabetes naturally. These substances work either alone or together to help lower blood sugar levels.

(Also Read: Bitter Gourd Juice For Weight Loss: It Is An Ideal Drink To Burn Fat)

Bitter gourd juice is an excellent drink for diabetics.

How to Make Bitter Gourd Juice

Peel the bitter gourd with the help of a knife. Cut the bitter gourd in half. After cutting, remove the white pulp and seeds of the vegetable. Now cut the bitter gourd into small pieces. Soak the pieces in cold water for about 30 minutes. Put the bitter gourd pieces in a juicer and add half a teaspoon of salt and lemon juice to it. Blend the ingredients.

To reduce the bitterness of the drink, add some honey or jaggery or mix it with sweet fruits like apple or pear. You can also add lemon juice to reduce the sharp taste of bitter gourd juice. A pinch of black pepper and ginger can also reduce the pungency and make it even more delicious.

It is important to understand that nothing can replace the importance of prescribed medication and medical help. However, there are a lot of things that can be done at home to control diabetes. Drinking bitter gourd juice can be one of them.