When it comes to type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise are the two most important areas you’ll need to focus on in your journey to lowering your blood sugar. You’ll need to make a lot of lifestyle changes, especially what you eat. One of the options that you may come across when looking for helpful foods for diabetes is bitter melon. Not only is it known for its distinctive taste and appearance, but it can also have a positive effect on your health.
Bitter melon is a plant. commonly cultivated in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced to China as early as the 14th century. It looks similar to cucumber with rough and wrinkled skin. Other names for the fruit include…
- bitter Gourd,
- coloquintida,
- apple balm,
- bitter Gourd,
- african Cucumber,
- balsamic pear, and
- Karela (in India).
You will be interested to know that bitter melon is commonly featured in traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases; one of which is type 2 diabetes.
The effect of bitter melon. It is known to stimulate weight loss and help control blood sugar. Studies have shown that bitter melon may be helpful in improving glucose intolerance. And this is closely related to the type of chemicals found in the plant. These chemicals are similar to insulin in the way they work. Not only do they help push more sugar into cells, they also help suppress the conversion of other stored nutrients to sugar.
Based on the result of a study conducted on a group of people with type 2 diabetes, it is also believed that bitter lemon could help reduce hemoglobin A1c levels (HbA1c levels).
How to use. Bitter melon is available as a supplement in capsule form, but there is no concrete evidence yet about its effectiveness for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some factors may come into play, such as your general health, your age, and whether you have any other medical conditions .
If you decide to try bitter melon, be sure to follow the directions on the product’s package. It’s also a good idea to check with your doctor before taking it. Even though supplements appear to be safe, you don’t want to find out that they don’t interact with your prescription medications.
In addition to the supplement form, you can also try the fruit, flower, juice, or tea form, depending on your preferences. The plant/fruit is commonly found in an Asian or African grocery store. If you decide to prepare the fruit like many people do, be sure to remove the seeds before cooking.