Diabetes mellitus has been described as the rich-man’s diseases in Nigeria.
But that description is fast becoming obsolete, as the disease has lowered its bar.
Recently, we have had chats with people in their 20s and 30s whose blood sugar level had passed that ‘be careful’ mark.
However, we thank God for the provisions He had made from the beginning to address some of these issues.
We have seen young people who rely on insulin injection to regulate their blood sugar level. How long can they sustain this?
Rise In Blood Sugar Level
In essence, what we are saying is that younger Nigerians are coming down with diabetes, as a result of lifestyle.
Often, the intake of sweetened drinks and foods that are high in carbohydrate have been linked to rise in blood sugar level.
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A 2013 study says diabetes is among the most common disorder in developed and developing countries (1).
Sadly, Nigeria falls in this category.
Diabetes is among the 5 leading causes of death in the world.
According to the study, an estimate of one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.
Bitter Melon
One plant that has become prominent in the mix of these alternatives is Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd).
It is also referred to as Momordica charantia (M. charantia).
Also, you can use the fruit for the treatment of diabetes and related conditions.
More so, Bitter melon is popular among the indigenous populations of Asia, South America, India and East Africa.
Its fruit has a distinguishing bitter taste and it is more pronounced as it ripens. This is why it is called bitter melon or bitter gourd.
People do not like bitter things, but we expect that when it could save a life, that it should become a delight.
Bitter Melon Components
Furthermore, the study also identified the components of bitter melon that give it the power to address diabetes.
These include bio-active chemicals, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which all contribute to its remarkable versatility in treating a wide range of illnesses.
Bitter melon fruits contain high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamins B1, B2 and B3, as well as vitamin B9 (folate).
Also, the caloric values for leaf, fruit and seed were 213.26, 241.66 and 176.61 Kcal/100g respectively.
The fruit is also rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.
Bitter melon is also a good source of dietary fiber.
Antioxidant Properties
The Medicinal value of bitter melon is as a result of its high antioxidant properties.
This vegetable has phenols, flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenes, anthroquinones, and glucosinolates, all of which confer a bitter taste on the vegetable.
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We have offered several of our clients this medicinal vegetable and they have also shared testimonies of good results and improvement within a short period of application.
While Bitter melon has showed great results as alternative medicine for diabetes, there is need for better-designed clinical trials to further elucidate its possible therapeutic effects on diabetes.
Remove Bitterness With Our Recipe
It is better! Yes! We know and we have tried a recipe that worked in reducing the bitter taste.
We will share with you.
It is a combination of vegetables grains and all prepared to make the meal rich in nutrients.