Bitter gourd or karela is one of those vegetables that is looked at as a necessary evil. As goes its name, bitter gourd tastes bitter and hence, is certainly not a favourite food item to eat. But what remains undisputed is the health benefits of karela. It is one of those green vegetables that is very rich in nutrients and is low in calories too. Karela might not be the first item to pick during a meal, it certainly should be a part of your meals for sure. While we are on the topic of discussing the bitter and not so sweet bitter gourd, why not list out the benefits of this vegetable that is hidden behind its taste?
1. Karela is known for regulating insulin in the body which results in maintaining blood sugar levels. It helps in activating your insulin, which in turn prevents sugar from turning into fat. Simply put, consuming a healthy karela will aid your body in creating less fat, leading to considerable fat loss in the body.
2. Bitter gourd is very low in calories and contains a minuscule amount of carbohydrates and fats. But at the same time, this vegetable is very rich in other micro nutrients like magnesium, iron, potassium and vitamin C. So, it provides nourishment to your body and keeps you satiated while not having those extra calories and carbs! What can be a better option than karela to embark upon your fitness journey then?
3. The vegetable is also very rich in fibre which not only makes the digestive system strong, but leads to a great metabolism. Now, there are a very few things that are more important than having a good metabolism for weight loss. Foods rich in dietary fibres like karela help in keeping the body full for a long time and curbs appetite.
4. Karela is also known to prevent the formation and growth of fat cells in your body. So, it is seen as a natural agent for not only aiding weight loss, but also as a cure for obesity in the human bodies.
Bitter gourds | Pexels
Now that we have dwelled upon the benefits of bitter gourd, let us look at a simple karela juice recipe that you can add to your diet for weight loss.
Ingredients
- 1 bitter gourd
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tbsp rock salt
- 10 gms ginger
- 1 tbsp jaggery powder/honey
Method
- Cut the bitter gourd from the center and take out the white flesh and seeds.
- Cut it into small pieces and put it in a blender.
- Cut the ginger into small pieces and add to the blender.
- Add the honey or jaggery powder and blend until you make a smooth paste.
- Pour it in a glass. Add rock salt and lemon juice. The juice is ready!
- You can chill the juice for a couple of hours and garnish it with mint leaves too.
Karela might be feared and borderline detested due to its bitter taste, but it will definitely make your weight loss journey better and easier.
