Lowering Your Blood Sugar Levels With Bitter Melon

Plants are natural pharmacies and are rich in a diversity of nutrients. Many of all modern day pharmaceutical drugs have either been developed from plant compounds or are synthetic replicas of the plant molecule system. These nutrients mainly function as antioxidants but they also help to regulate the gene function in the plants and also in animals that actually eat them. These nutrients have played a major role in human nutrition also, for example herbs have often provided a much needed boost during illness.

Many herbs contain elements that regulate glucose and indirectly, insulin levels. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), also known as bitter gourd, balsam pear and karela, has been used by traditional healers for a variety of medicinal purposes, including the treatment of diabetes.

Bitter melon contains medicinal constituents that are similar to animal insulin. However the plant is used... as a juice, in fruit form or dried powder... all have been useful in decreasing blood sugar levels. It can be found at farmers' markets that feature Asian plants or is available at many Asian grocery stores.

How to take bitter melon:

    firstly select one that is green or yellow, orange ones are old
    slice the unpeeled fruit lengthwise and remove the seeds. Cut into thin slices and steam or boil until the fruit is tender and is easy to cut with the edge of a spoon. Then place the fruit with an equal amount of water in a blender and puree for two or three minutes. Drink one quarter to half a cup a day
    or the gourds can be sliced and added in small amounts to wok dishes. Or cut into thin strips, mixed with onions and tomatoes and eggs and made into an omelet
    a bitter melon extract can be found in Asian grocery stores... take one quarter to half a teaspoon up to three times daily
    bitter melon has been concentrated and made into capsules... it is advised to take two capsules per day usually with a meal or one hour after eating when your blood sugar levels are highest.
    bitter melon is also an ingredient found in most diabetic herbal supplements; combined with other herbs, vitamins or even minerals

The bitter melon extract can be taken alone or mixed with other herbs, mineral or vitamin supplements. Bitter melon itself is also naturally loaded with vitamins and minerals; a mix does not have harmful interactions.

Don't forget though to inform your health care practitioner about the bitter melon supplements or concoctions you are taking.

Because you may have significant lowering of your blood sugar levels, close monitoring is important. Also many other medicinal herbs contain substances that are drug-like in their function... please take care if you are taking insulin or hypoglycemic medications.

By-Beverleigh Piepers

Also Read :  Who can use Karela or Bitter Melon Capsules and Tablets?

Beverleigh Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3218572

Lack of Sleep and Erectile Dysfunction

These days, Americans are staying up later and later all the time because the world we live in caters to that lifestyle. We have 24 hour pharmacies where we can get prescriptions filled at any time of the day or night, online banking where we don't have to wait to see a teller, and apps for smart phones that can basically perform any task that we might need done. All of this caters to a lifestyle that is oblivious to time and place because you can do nearly anything, from anywhere, and at anytime. But the sleep that you are missing out on due to all this new convenience might be causing you some major troubles in your ability to get and sustain an erection. Lets take a look and see just how much your sleep is tied to your erectile ability.

The first way that not sleeping can affect your sex life is by the simple lack of energy that comes from such a lifestyle. Most people who are sleep-deprived are not aware that they are even affected by their sleeplessness. The fact is that it is like carrying a huge weight on your shoulders all the time. You might think that you are functioning fine, but you are really suffering in every way. You might be able to do all the things that you normally could do, but you just won't do them as well as if you had plenty of rest.

Another simple fact that is tied to many if not most of those who suffer with sleeplessness is that they drink lots of caffeine. When you take in caffeine and coffee, your sex life will suffer. This is because of caffeine's diuretic tendencies. When you drink it, you have to urinate, and the blood stream is affected making it more difficult for you to get an erection. Caffeine seems like an easy fix for someone who doesn't sleep well. If you miss out on four hours of relaxing, reinvigorating rest, then you can just simply drink four cups of coffee! Easy enough, right? This logic is making your erectile problems doubly worse because you are implementing two negatives into your routine; sleeplessness and caffeine overload.

The most important thing that you can do if you realize that you have a problem with your pattern of sleeping is to consult your doctor. Your sex life could be in danger if you do not do something about this problem right away. Erectile dysfunction is known to be linked with sleeplessness and it is easy to see why. Your body simply functions better in all aspects when you are getting a good, healthy, full night's rest.

We have all heard the phrase where people jokingly say about good sex that you will be "up all night." But the truth of the matter is that there are many ways in which sleeping soundly and comfortably through the night will bring you unspeakable benefits in your sexual life and in your daily life. Get some rest and enjoy your sex life more than ever before.

By Paul A Buchanan
Also Read Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Good Sleep

Foods That Promote Weight Loss - Fruits

Is it any surprise that fruits are one of the group of foods that promote weight loss? Mother Nature has blessed us with an abundance of these fabulous juicy, tasty, healthy foods that greatly benefit our bodies. Fruits are packed with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber - everything you need to stay healthy and lose fat. Many of us, especially kids, would shun the sight of vegetables set on the table; but if we see delectable fruits all laid out, then we just cannot resist them!

There's a huge range of fruits available these days, in various shapes, sizes and colors that make your mouth water just by looking at them. Each bite of a tasty fruit can give you enough vitamins and minerals to give your body and energy supply a healthy boost.

No matter how fruits are served, each has its own repertoire of vitamins and minerals that will surely benefit your body. Here are six favorites:

1. Peaches are rich in Vitamin A which is perfect for cell reproduction, growth and development of our bones and teeth, and maintaining healthy skin and hair.

2. Avocados. Often served as a salad ingredient, one avocado contains nutrients such as vitamin K, dietary fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C and copper.

3. Apples. Every bite of this luscious fruit contains folic acid which is vital for proper cell growth and development of embryos.

4. Oranges contain a healthy dose of Vitamin C, which is an important anti-oxidant, reducing the development of harmful diseases, like cancer.

5. Banana. This golden fruit is a great source of the potassium that our body needs to balance water, cells and other body fluids.

6. Grapes. Considered as the fruit of the gods according to Greek mythology, grapes are highly nutritious. They contain compounds that fight diseases; among these are anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. These two substances are known to show cancer preventive properties, and can detoxify some cancer causing substances.

Healthy eating and weight loss:
There are many ways to enjoy the taste of fruits without destroying their precious nutrients. Many can be eaten raw, skin and all, while some need to be peeled, especially if their skin is tough and bitter. A great way to enjoy them is as a fresh juice - a juicer is a recommended investment!

To get the greatest benefit from your fruits, whether you are eating whole fruits or juicing, make sure your fruit is ripe. It sounds obvious, but when fully ripe fruit is in it's optimum state for you to digest and be absorbed rapidly into your body. The less ripe it is, the harder and slower it becomes to digest. Eat fruit on an empty stomach, preferably 30 minutes before you eat anything else, and you will have completely digested the fruit before other foods interfere with the process. If you are juicing, the fruit will be digested even more quickly.

Why not breakfast on fresh fruit? It is quick and easy to digest and because it is so rapidly absorbed you will soon feel the energy-boosting benefits. It's healthy too - start your day with foods that promote weight loss.

By Peter FJ Ford

Also read 3 Fruits for Weight Loss and Glowing Skin 

What is a Correct PCOS Diet?

In treatment of Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome the PCOS diet plays a key role but there are many diet programs out there and how you can rely upon them that these are good diets for PCOS patients. If you search for a good PCOS diet you must look that it should not eliminate necessary nutrients. A very good diet will give you a control over your weight and hormonal balance. For women PCOS can cause serious problems like infertility so must be careful about the diet and intake of other elements such as sugar and carbohydrates.

As you might know that PCOS affects almost 10 to 15% of all women. It is always a advice that your should take a healthy diet in guidance of your health professionals who may suggest some stimulants for fertility. As PCOS is left untreated it can lead to myriad problems including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The insulin is the main reason for fat and problems like sugar so experts suggest that a low glycol diet must be a part of treatment plan.

The cause of PCOS is still not known but from research and studies most experts believe that insulin plays a vital role. The primary problem in PCOS Syndrome is insulin resistance in that condition the insulin is not produce in adequate amount from fat, muscle and liver cells. If you are careful to the symptoms you can better cure the PCOS some of the symptoms are indexed below:
• Depression
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Difficulty losing weight
• High blood sugar ( Diabetes)
• Increased blood triglyceride levels

Many researchers have found that there are special diets available that can help fighting your insulin response and weight gain. And all it takes to do is to understand carbohydrates.Mainly two types of carbohydrates are there: simple and complex. The Simple carbohydrates can be found in many processed foods such as pasta, bread and absorbed by the body very much faster than others and this causes leading sudden increase in blood sugar and so they are identified as high glycerol foods. Where as Simple carbohydrates are named as the "bad" carbohydrate and must be curbed or eliminated if you are suffering from PCOS.

The Complex carbohydrates can be found in various food items as wholegrain breads, oats, muesli, fibrous vegetables. They also contain good amount of fiber. These carbohydrates have a property of breaking down into glucose very much slowly than other simple carbohydrates so it can provide energy throughout the day. if you are having natural PCOS diet then natural complex carbohydrates are better choice for you.

As you should take low glycol food but additionally it is very much important that the intake of carbohydrates should be always with protein or good fat such as olive, canola oil or part skim cheese. To maintain the level of carbohydrate consumption you should take large amount of decaffeinated drink throughout the day because a low level of carbohydrate can lead to dehydration.

So summarizing all, a PCOS diet enriched with fiber-rich complex carbohydrates which include whole grain foods and vegetables, fruits will definitely help you to recover from PCOS syndrome and also helpful for other body related issues.

By Nikhilesh Patel

Also view Benefits of Turmeric in PCOS or PCOD

Discover Turmeric Health Benefits

From the rhizomes (root) of this perennial plant found in India, come the highly valued turmeric health benefits. However, turmeric has other talents besides being used for medicine. Turmeric is a fairly new arrival to most Americans spice racks, but it's been a mainstay flavoring spice of Indian curries for thousands of years. In addition to its role as a flavoring spice, turmeric has a long history of use in India's Ayurvedic medicine.

Indeed, its arrival here is good news because studies with animals show that this herb has an impressive array of medicinal uses. So, without further adieu, let's delve into turmeric health benefits.

First, it's important to note that turmeric's chief constituent is known as curcumin. However, it also contains volatile oils, which also harbors medicinal effects.

That said, let's move on to this herbs health benefits.

Turmeric has created a lot of excitement in the natural world of medicine. It's a potent antioxidant and a powerhouse anti-inflammatory agent. Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals, which are highly unstable destructive oxygen molecules that can damage cells if left unchecked. Put simply, antioxidants protect the body from the continuous onslaught of free radicals that many experts believe are responsible for premature aging and most diseases, including cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and arthritis if left unchecked.

If you suffer from arthritis, turmeric health benefits may be of interest to you. Turmeric is prized for its ability to fight arthritis. Turmeric is often found in arthritis supplements to help mitigate pain and inflammation. More specifically, test-tube and laboratory studies have confirmed turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. In addition to arthritis, turmeric may be helpful for other inflammatory conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and joint inflammation.

Many people have specifically expressed an interest about turmeric for tumors. Turmeric is currently being researched for its effects on different types of cancerous tumors. In fact, many laboratory studies have shown that turmeric has anti-cancer activity. In animal studies, turmeric (curcumin) has been shown to prevent a number of cancers. According to our research, evidence suggests via laboratory data that turmeric (curcumin) can inhibit tumor initiation, promotion, invasion, angiogenesis (growth of new tumor blood vessels), and metastasis (uncontrolled spread).

For example:

    Turmeric (curcumin) inhibited growth of tumors in the colon.
    Turmeric (curcumin) helped stop the spread of breast cancer tumor cells to the lungs of mice.
    Turmeric slowed the development of prostate cancer on tumor cells in a lab dish.

Indeed, the evidence from laboratory data, meaning animal and laboratory studies suggests that turmeric (curcumin) has potential in the treatment of various forms of cancer, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon. In addition, turmeric is touted as a cancer protective herb because antioxidants help prevent the cell damage that sets the stage for cancer.

Turmeric health benefits may be of benefit to heart disease prevention. According to the well renowned tome "The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines" written by Michael Murray N.D. who states:

"Curcumin prevents LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized and damaging arteries. In addition, it exerts other atherosclerosis-preventing effects, including lowering cholesterol levels, preventing plaque formation, and inhibiting the formation of clots by inhibiting platelet aggregation."(Page 608.)

But wait, there's more turmeric health benefits...

Turmeric's volatile oils is said to have external anti-bacterial action. As such, it may help prevent bacterial wound infections.

The herb also stimulates the production of bile, which helps digest fats. In addition, turmeric has shown in animal studies to have a protective effect on the liver such as protecting the liver from many toxins.

What about turmeric for fibroids? In this regard, we located scant information that turmeric may be helpful for uterine fibroids. According to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC the author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, turmeric may be helpful for uterine fibroids because it's a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver while promoting the elimination of toxins.

Other possible turmeric health benefits or uses:

    May be helpful for indigestion and heartburn.
    It is used for improved liver function.
    May help prevent cataracts due to its antioxidant properties.

By Cindy Amorin

 Also Read Ayurveda Medicinal Properties of Turmeric (Haldi)

Bitter Melon and Its Uses

Bittermelon or scientifically known as Momordica charantia is a kind of vine that widely grown to tropical and subtropical countries and a member of cucurbit family. It is also called as bitter gourd, balsam pear, ku gua, ampalaya, balsamino and is considered the most bitter fruit.

The plant comes in different shapes and sizes. Usually, it has a wart looking outer skin, is oblong in shape and green in color if unripe. The inside layer is surrounded by pith and commonly large flat seeds. It turns yellowish and more bitter if it has started to ripen. The fruit becomes too bitter, orange in color and already soggy if it is fully ripe. The plant is can be eaten raw or cooked with other vegetables and it can be drank as a tea.

The awareness of the medicinal use of bitter melon is significantly increasing but it has been already used as a traditional medicine for some Asian countries for such a long time. It stimulates digestion because of the bitter properties called momordicin. It helps to relieve the person with slow digestion, constipation and dyspepsia but it worsens the ulcer and produces heartburns as contraindication.

Laboratory studies shows that the fruit has anti-malarial effect and has a compound use to treat HIV. And it also helps to balance the harmful effect of anti-HIV drugs. But it is very necessary to have a thorough research of this before further recommendation is done.

The plant is very much likely to be used as an aid to prevent diabetes. A study shows that bitter melon boosts insulin sensitivity. It contains lectin that has an insulin-like action. In the Philippines, the bitter melon also known as amplaya, is widely used as anti-diabetes medicine. As approved by the Philippines Department of Health, bitter melon is said to aid lower blood sugar level. it is being transformed and being sold in the market and exported in other countries as a food supplement and herbal tea.

One of the most promising medicinal aids of bitter melon is the act as an immunomodulator. Some findings suggested that bitter melon decreases the production of cancer cells and it has a hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect. Clinical studies show that the fruit can develop the immune cell function of the person with a cancer. But more studies and research that is need to indulge to verify this theory. But if it is proven to treat cancer it is also more possible that it can also treat HIV.

Also read  Ayurvedic Treatment for PCOS Using Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon

Ayurvedic Treatment for PCOS Using Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon - See more at: https://www.moolikaayurveda.com/#sthash.jNZzsou0.dpuf

Ayurvedic Treatment for PCOS Using Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon - See more at: https://www.moolikaayurveda.com/#sthash.jNZzsou0.dpuf

By Gerald Salazar

Benefits of Bitter Melon Herbs

Bitter melon herb is one of many names given to momordica charantia. This tropical vine is native to India, but now is also found in China, the Americas, and Africa.

Some plants seem to gather around human dwelling places, and the herb appears to be one of them. It draws attention to itself by growing to six feet high and sporting yellow flowers and orange fruit. Naturally, the people noticed it. As they explored its uses, they gave it names, often related to its bitter taste.

The people of Asia know this plant very well. It is called karela by practitioners of Ayurveda, a holistic healing tradition, and is used as a stomach medicine, blood purifier, and for lowering blood sugar levels.

In China it is known as bitter gourd and often used in salty stir-fry dishes. The herb is a useful addition to the type 2 diabetic's diet because it lowers blood sugar.

Bitter Melon and Diabetes Mellitus
 

Diabetes is a challenging disease. Sufferers are subject to a regime that revolves around managing time, balancing exercise, and measuring quantities precisely in order to control their blood sugar level. Diabetics must always think about what they eat in terms of the effects of carbohydrates, exercise, and insulin.

The bitter melon herb contains plant chemicals that have the same effects as those produced by the commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drugs but without the side effects. One possible side effect of diabetes medications is low blood sugar, so bitter melon should not be used if any of these drugs are being taken, because it is itself a hypoglycemic.

Bitter melon also lowers cholesterol, which may benefit type 2 diabetics, especially when obesity is a factor. Also, the absence of fat and the presence of phosphorous, calcium, and iron in the fruit add value the type 2 diabetic by bringing sound nutritional elements into the equation.

The herb can be taken as a tea made from the leaves, but an extract of the fruit made into juice, tincture, or capsules is recommended for diabetics, as the hypoglycemic properties are concentrated in the fruit.

Making bitter melon part of our diet and eating it regularly may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in those predisposed to it and delay the progression of the disease in those in its early stages. Eating foods with a low glycemic index whenever possible is also an important step in diabetes management. This type of diet has also been shown to reduce not only diabetes but also and coronary heart disease.

Bitter melon herb is thought to be a safe alternative to anti-diabetic drugs. Diabetics are always advised, however, to work closely with medical professionals before bitter melon herb is used, especially if taking anti-diabetic drugs or drugs that lower cholesterol. Bitter melon herb should not be taken by those trying to conceive, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. 

Also read   Ayurveda Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon (Karela)

By- Shelly Morgan