Bitter leaf is a plant of Acanthaceae family. Usually, you can find this plant growing wild in open places such as roadsides or fields. However, if you want to grow it on the back of your garden or on any available land, it will be a great idea. It is easy to plant and grow and has a very good effect on your body.
The plant is believed to have found its way to Africa from tropical Asia. The bitter leaf is efficient as a medicine and despite its light bitterness, is quite tasty. Depending, on how you have this leaf processed and if it is done in the right way, then it will bring many benefits to your health. Bitter leaf contains a high level of vitamin A, calcium and is very rich in minerals.
- Fights fever
Bitter leaf has an antiseptic effect and is very effective to reduce fever by fighting the heat inside the body. So if you have a fever or are not feeling very well, the first thing you should do is just boil some bitter leaves and drink twice per day. This will give your body more energy for sure.
- Helps to prevent cancer
The first signs of cancer are usually problems with trophoblastic tumor and even a lung tumor. Bitter leaf can help you to prevent such a terrible disease. It also helps improve your immune system. Some studies show that bitter leaf can not only inhibit tumor growth but also inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. The bitter leaf extract is very useful for treating cancer. So if you really care about your health and your future, then add some bitter leaves to your everyday food.
- Helps to overcome itching
Do you feel like your whole body is itching? Maybe mosquitoes recently bit you, so you cannot stop this annoying itching. No need to worry! To treat itching, you just need to take some bitter leaves and ginger root, and blend together until they become smooth in texture. Remember to add a little water. Drink it 3 times per day and itching will go away.
- Reduces level of glucose in the blood
Bitter leaf is a perfect helper when it comes to reducing the levels of glucose in the blood. It contains andrographolide component and this exact component helps to reduce the levels of glucose. Let’s look how you can mix bitter leaf and to make a good, healthy drink.
- Take some bitter leaves and pour 1 cup of hot water.
- You do not need to boil it, just wait until it cools down.
- Drink it daily, at least two times per day.
- Treats tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a very serious disease which takes the lives of millions of people every year. The tuberculosis bacillus is the main reason why tuberculosis can attack your lungs. This causes several problems, one of which is coughing. The lungs of people who have tuberculosis get inflamed; then soon after, it all gets even worse. To avoid this kind of terrible disease or help to cure it, doctors suggest using bitter leaves as natural herb medicine. Do not need to chew them, just blend them to make a drink. Besides, you can add them to your favorite dishes.
6. Helps in treatment of respiratory infections
Bitter leaf does not only help in the case of tuberculosis but in general can help patients with respiratory tract infections to recover faster. Infections which affect the respiratory tract are can be bacterial or viral. Once it gets to the system, some very unpleasant consequences can be experienced. Therefore, you can use some bitter leaves to treat it or prevent the development of these respiratory infections.
- Treats kidney disease
Every year, more and more people suffer from kidney disease. It has become a chronic disease for a lot of people. But since the kidney plays a crucial role in the body, we have to pay attention to it. Drink some bitter leaf extract to relieve the pain in your kidney and keep it functioning stably.
8. Improves skin condition
Different kinds of herbs and leaves are always beneficial to skin condition and beauty of every woman in general. But bitter leaf is a very special helper for your skin and body. It does not only reduce the chances of skin aging but also fights against the effects of free radicals. The bitter extract can help to smooth your skin and prevent many skin problems. You can do face mask or wash your face with bitter leaf extract. Also, you can drink a special tea with bitter leaf to prevent acne.
9. Treats Stomach Upset
They are eaten raw or mashed to get the juice which is used in treating abdominal difficulties such as diarrhoea, stomach upset and gastrointestinal tract diseases like dysentery and related other issues.
Bitter leaves are the major agents that are recommended as a natural remedy for intestinal problems and stomach cramps.
Get a handful of fresh bitter leaves. Wash very well with little quantity of salt and water.
Squeeze very well to extract the juice then take a glass of this juice twice a day to flush off stomach problems.
10. Good For the Bones & Teeth
Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant mineral found in bitter leaves that has a special role in the body which is the maintenance of bones and teeth as well as prevention of deficiencies associated with this essential vitamin.
It also contains a trace of vitamin K. The functions of this vitamin extend outside blood clotting as it includes maintaining healthy bones and prevention of bone tissues weakness called osteoporosis.
11. Improves Body Metabolism
Vitamin B1 called thiamine, in other words, plays important role in the metabolism of lipids, amino acids and glucose in the human body.
Thiamine is an important dietary supplement occurring naturally in a bitter leaf that helps to oxidize fatty acids in other to produce the synthesis of lipids.
Metabolism of lipids is commonly associated with that of carbohydrate which can be converted into fats by known processes.
Bitter leaf is very effective in this chemical synthesis known as metabolism because it contains the mineral that plays the key role.
12. Fights Free Radicals
Another nutrient in bitter leaf, which is vitamins E serves as an antioxidant that fights against free radicals which have harmful effects on the body system.
Bitter leaf contains also anti-bacterial compound known as sesquiterpenoids that give the property of bitter taste.
The major function of this plant compound is to scavenge free radicals from the body system as well as terminate their activities.
13. Prevents Cancer Risks
Presence of anti-cancer properties in bitter leaves makes it effective in preventing and management of hydatidiform mole, trophoblastic tumour and lung tumour which are signs of cancer.
Bitter leaf has also been mixed with other herbal preparations in an alternative medicine experiment on breast cancer and was found effective.
Andrographolide, labdane diterpenoid present in bitter leaf is a plant compound and a powerful cancer curative agent that has been studied scientifically and found effective in the treatment of gastric cancer, colon and prostate cancers.
14. Treats Diabetes
In fact, bitter leaves have versatile curative and medicinal properties which can treat and manage certain health conditions.
Scientifically, it has been proven that bitter leaf contains plant compounds which contribute to its bitter taste and play a pivotal role in moderating the blood sugar level and promoting normal insulin function.
This compound in bitter leaf hinders the rising of glucose in the blood which leads to the risks of diabetes.
15. Improve Fertility in Women
Bitter leaf has the ability to improve a very important female sex hormone that contributes to reproductive development and regulation.
It helps to improve quality hormone profile and as well prevents the toxification of immunoglobulin that fights an important female sex hormone, estrogen and reproduction.
Bitter leaf is very effective in women reproductive life for its capability of providing balance in the genital hormone.
16. Detoxifies The Body
The juice extracted from bitter leaf has detoxifying properties that help in mopping off impurities from the body.
This effect also helps to get rid of toxins in the liver, kidney as well as the lungs and entire human body. In such a manner prevents liver and kidney problems such as stone development in such areas.
17. Helps in Weight Loss
Most of the properties of the bitter leaf have a direct association with weight loss.
To start with, incorporating bitter leaf as a vegetable in daily meals or eating just a few fresh leaves a day or drinking the juice helps to reduce excess calories which can cause weight gain.
It also helps to ward off excess fat in the body which is the bad cholesterol as mentioned earlier in this article.
The fibre content in it and all the properties associated with weight loss that is found in bitter leaf make it a good weight loss diet.
18. Helps in Treating Several Infections
Aside all the health benefits pin-pointed above, bitter leaf has the properties to treat skin wounds, it can also help in treating mouth inflammations, skin infections, toothache, typhoid, ear inflammation, tuberculosis and respiratory tract diseases.
Here is what you can do:
- Peel turmeric and ginger.
- Then wash all the ingredients.
- Take 3 cups of the water and boil it with the prepared mixture.
- Finally, add some honey and stir it well.
- Drink your tasty tea every day, 2 times per day.
Both scent and bitter leaves can be very beneficial to your body and health. These amazing plants are enriched with a lot of minerals and vitamins. Make juice, tea, facemask or add it to your favorite meal and you will become healthier than you are today!
Source: Naij.com/Fine.lib
