List of health benefits of bitter leaf… Medicinal benefits of bitter leaf.
Botanically known as Vernonia Amygdalina. Bitter leaf is a plant grown in sub-saharan Africa. It possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that helps in treating several disease conditions. In traditional medicine, it is regarded with importance, as a lot of health benefits can be gotten from the consumption of bitter leaf.
There are several ways to use this leaf; it is mainly used in the preparation of soups in Nigeria. The famous is the Bitter leaf soup. It can also be mashed or pounded to extract the juice content, or can be chewed. Either way you like, it is very healthy and serves as a natural remedy for preserving health. However, if used appropriately and still no desired outcome, please visit your doctor or physician for immediate treatment.
It is known as ‘Onugbo’ in Igbo, ‘Efo ewuro’ in Yoruba, and ‘Shakwa Shuwaka’ in Hausa.
Bitter leaf contains a lot of nutrients; including flavonoids and vitamins that help give these benefits to health.
Let’s see some of them:
List of Health Benefits of Bitter Leaf
See the amazing health benefits of bitter leaf. Check out the list below:
1. Bitter leaf can help lower your blood pressure: One of the nutrients contained in bitter leaf is Potassium. Potassium helps regulate salt balance in the body, or helps flush out accumulated salt that could cause an increase of sodium/salt in the blood. This makes it a good remedy for blood pressure reduction and hypertension treatment.
2. It can help strengthen bones and teeth: Vitamin C and K in bitter leaf helps with strengthening and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth in the body.; as well as the prevention of deficiencies like Osteoroposis.
3. It also helps speed up the rate of metabolism in the body: Vitamin B (Thiamine) found in bitter leaf helps in the metabolism of foods at a faster rate; thereby, preventing gastro-intestinal issues such as bloating.
4. It helps prevent the risk of having cancer such as prostate cancer: Bitter leaf has been found to be a strong cancer curative agent that helps prevent the risk of cancers such as prostate cancer, gastric cancer and colon cancer.
5. It helps boost fertility, particularly in women: Bitter leaf can help in boosting sex hormones such as Oestrogen and Progesterone in women responsible for reproduction development. These hormones are released during ovulation; thereby increasing a woman’s chance of getting pregnant when she engages in sexual activity during that period.
6. Bitter leaf can be used to manage and treat conditions like diabetes: Bitter leaf is known to contain Andrographolide that helps in blood sugar reduction; thereby, reducing your risk of having diabetes.
7. Treatment of Infections: Bitter leaf can serve as a good natural remedy for treatment of several infections like tuberculosis, typhoid, and respiratory tract infections.
8. Helps in Weight Loss: Consumption of bitter leaf as part of your dietary intake helps in weight loss (either through drinking, chewing or in meals). It contains fiber that helps with excess calories and fats reduction, as well as warding off bad cholesterol in your body.
9. Body Detoxification: It also helps remove toxins from organs in the body such as the liver, kidney, lungs and the whole entire body.
10. Treat Inflammations: It helps treat inflammations in the mouth and ear, as well as tooth aches.
11. It helps relieve and clear fever (High Temperature): Bitter leaf contains antioxidants like diterpene, glucosides and flavonoids that help relieve effects of feverish conditions.
12. Treatment of Insomnia: Insomnia is a condition whereby one finds it hard falling asleep. If you find it difficult falling asleep at night; it is recommended you take bitter leaf (juice or chew) before going to bed. Too bad the day’s stress or life problems can make it hard for you to sleep and rest, bitter leaf can help with that. It helps relax your nerves.
13. Bitter leaf can help treat gastrointestinal problems like stomach aches: Problems that arise in the gastro-intestinal system can be treated with bitter leaf. Abdominal problems such as stomach upset/aches, dysentery, diarrhea etc. can be treated with the use of bitter leaf.
14. Treatment of Skin Problems: Lastly, it helps in the treatment of skin problems and infections, such as: wrinkles that could lead to aging. In addition, bitter leaf contains Vitamin K that help with wound healings on the skin.
Conclusion:
As stated above, there are lots and more health benefits that can be gotten from bitter leaf. Recommended by experts in the Health field, bitter leaf shouldn’t be given to infants and people with kidney problems. It is known to cause adverse effects on their health.
Stella-marris Achumba
This article is the intellectual property of www.nimedhealth.com.ng
