Short Answer: Bitter melon is good for high blood pressure. Because it has compounds that can lower blood pressure and nutrients that can protect your blood vessels and heart.
High blood pressure is a condition that affects your blood vessels and heart.
In high blood pressure, your blood pushes too hard against the walls of your arteries.
This can damage your arteries and make them narrow and stiff.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss.
One of the key factors in managing high blood pressure is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood pressure, which can impact your heart health and risk of complications.
To effectively manage high blood pressure, you should consume potassium-rich foods like bananas, potatoes, and spinach and avoid sodium-rich foods like processed meats, canned soups, and salty snacks.
Now, bitter melon is a tropical fruit that has a warty skin and a bitter taste.
People usually eat it raw, cooked, or juiced.
Bitter melon is good for high blood pressure because it contains compounds that can lower blood pressure.
These compounds include charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-p.
Bitter melon can lower blood pressure in both people with normal blood pressure and people with hypertension.
100 grams of raw bitter melon can give you 99% of your daily vitamin C needs, 44% of your daily vitamin A needs, 17% of your daily folate needs, and 8% of your daily potassium needs.
Vitamin C can help protect your blood vessels from oxidative stress and inflammation, which can contribute to high blood pressure.
Vitamin A can help maintain the health of your eyes, which can be affected by high blood pressure.
Folate can help lower your homocysteine levels, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Potassium can help balance the effects of sodium and relax your blood vessels, which can lower your blood pressure.
Furthermore, bitter melon is a low-calorie and high-fiber food and fiber is good for high blood pressure.
Because, fiber can help lower your cholesterol levels, control your blood sugar levels, and reduce your appetite, which can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.
You can eat up to 100 grams of bitter melon per day safely.
More than that can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, headache, and low blood sugar.
Also, you shouldn’t eat bitter melon if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a blood disorder to prevent miscarriage, bleeding, or adverse effects on your baby.
Because, bitter melon can stimulate uterine contractions, interfere with blood clotting, and lower your blood sugar too much.
You can buy fresh bitter melon in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose bitter melons that are firm, green, and free of bruises or cuts.
Because, these indicate the freshness and quality of the fruit.
You can store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing high blood pressure effectively.
I always recommend my high blood pressure patients to follow a high blood pressure-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.