Short Answer: Bitter gourd is good for low blood pressure. Because it has potassium, iron, and antioxidants and they can regulate blood pressure, prevent anemia, and protect blood vessels.
Low blood pressure is a condition that affects your heart and blood vessels.
In low blood pressure, your body does not have enough pressure to push blood through your arteries and veins.
This can lead to various health problems, such as dizziness, fainting, shock, and organ damage.
One of the key factors in managing low blood pressure is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood volume, which can impact your low blood pressure symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage low blood pressure, you should consume sodium-rich foods like salt, cheese, and pickles and avoid sodium-poor foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Now, bitter gourd is a green-skinned vegetable with white to translucent flesh and a bitter taste.
People usually eat it raw, cooked, or juiced.
Bitter gourd is good for low blood pressure because it contains potassium, iron, and antioxidants.
Potassium can help regulate blood pressure by balancing the effects of sodium.
Iron can help prevent anemia, which can cause low blood pressure.
Antioxidants can help protect your blood vessels from damage and inflammation.
100 grams of raw bitter gourd can give you 8% of your daily potassium needs, 4% of your daily iron needs, and 99% of your daily vitamin C needs.
Potassium can positively affect low blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels and lowering your heart rate.
Iron can positively affect low blood pressure by increasing your red blood cell production and oxygen delivery.
Vitamin C can positively affect low blood pressure by enhancing your immune system and collagen synthesis.
Furthermore, bitter gourd is a diuretic and diuretics are good for low blood pressure.
Because, they can increase your urine output and reduce your fluid retention.
You can eat 100 to 200 grams of bitter gourd per day safely.
More than that can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and hypoglycemia.
Also, you shouldn’t eat bitter gourd if you have high blood pressure or diabetes to prevent a sudden drop in blood pressure or blood sugar.
Because, bitter gourd can lower both of them.
You can buy fresh bitter gourd in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose firm, unripe, and light green ones.
Because, they have more nutrients and less bitterness.
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 low blood pressure effectively.
I always recommend my low blood pressure patients to follow a low blood pressure-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.