Himalaya Karela
Bitter Melon / Bitter Gourd / (Momordica charantia)
Benefits of Karela: For Glycemic and Diabetes control, Regulates blood sugar and metabolism
Himalaya Karela is a pure herb extract. Karela also known as Bitter Melon or Momordica Charantia is a herb that helps regulate blood sugar levels and keeps body functions operating normally. Eating karela over long period of time significantly reduces glucose levels in the blood and urine. At least three different groups of constituents in Bitter Melon have been reported to have hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) or other actions of potential benefit in diabetes mellitus. These include a mixture of steroidal saponins known as charantin, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids.
Karela contains Gurmarin, a polypeptide considered to be similar to bovine insulin, which has been shown in experimental studies to achieve a positive sugar regulating effect by suppressing the neural response to sweet taste stimuli. Karela fruit is regularly used in the Indian diet and is known as a folk remedy for diabetes mellitus.Bitter melon is rich in iron and has twice the beta carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of bananas, and contains vitamins C and B 1 to 3, phosphorus and good dietary fiber. It is believed to be good for the liver and has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin, act as an anti-tumor agent, and inhibit HIV-1 infection. At least 32 active constituents have been identified in bitter melon so far, including beta-sitosterol-d-glucoside, citrulline, GABA, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin. Nutritional analysis reveals that bitter melon is also rich in potassium, calcium, iron, beta-carotene, vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C.
Benefits of Karela / Bitter Melon
Bitter Melon is useful in treating Diabetes.
Bitter Melon reduces sugar levels in blood and urine
Bitter Melon helps achieve positive sugar regulating effect by suppressing the neural response to sweet taste stimuli.
Bitter Melon has shown significant antilipolytic and lipogenic activity.
Bitter Melon is a good blood purifier
Bitter Melon treats worm infestations
Bitter Melon stimulates pancreas and liver and helps in good absoption of food
Bitter Melon is useful as an emetic, purgative, as an anthelmentic, in piles, and jaundice
Directions for taking Karela
1 capsule twice a day after meals.
Pure Karela Capsules from Himalaya Herbals
Himalaya Karela is from the renowned Himalaya Herbals brand endorsed by over 250,000 doctors worldwide and used by customers in over 60 countries. Himalaya Herbals products have been researched clinically and standardized to guarantee bioequivalence. Bioequivalence refers to ensuring that the product on the market is equivalent to the one on which clinical trials were successfully conducted. Himalaya Herbal Healthcare uses chromatographic fingerprinting, one of the most sophisticated standardization techniques, to ensure consistent quality and performance
Karela Facts:
Botanical Name : MOMORDICA CHARANTIA
Family Name : CUCURBITACEAE
Common Name : BITTER MELON, BITTER GOURD, BALSAM PEAR, BALSAM APPLE, MELEGA SAGA
Karela is widely grown in India. It is a climbing vine and the fruits are used.
In Ayurveda, the fruit is considered as emetic, laxative, antibilous, tonic, stomachic, stimulant and alternative. It has been found to be extremely good in Diabities.
The fruit is useful in gout, rheumatism and subacute cases of the spleen and liver diseases. It is supposed to purify blood and dissipate melancholia and gross humours. It has also been shown to have hypoglycaemic properties (anti-diabetic) in animal as well as human studies.
Karela in Ayurveda:
According to Ayurveda, Karela is kapha and pitta suppressant. Due to its properties it is very helpful in cooling the body so as to suppress the skin related problems caused by the excess of pitta. It also promotes wound healing. Due to its rasa it is very useful in normalizing the digestive tract and also helps in improving peristaltic movements in the body. Due to its bitter taste it is useful in suppressing worm infestation. It also helps in curbing infections in the body and in regularizing the urinary tract. It has remarkable properties in maintaining the blood sugar levels.
As per Ayurveda, Karela's gunna or properties are that it is laghu (light) and ruksh (dry). It's rasa or taste is katu or pungent and tickta or bitter. Its Virya or potency is ushan or hot.
Karela Research and Clinical Studies
Scientists have now identified three groups of constituents that are thought to be responsible for its 'blood sugar lowering' action.One of these, a compound called charantin, which is composed of mixed steroids, was found to be more effective than the oral hypoglycaemic drug, tolbutamide, in reducing blood sugar. Another, an insulin-like polypeptide, called polypeptide P, appears to lower blood sugar in type I (insulin dependent) diabetics, while alkaloids present in the fruit have also been noted to have a blood sugar lowering effect. As yet, researchers are unclear as to which of these compounds is most effective or if it is the synergistic effect of all three. Further research is required to understand how these compounds actually work. Compounds known as oleanolic acid glycosides have been found to improve glucose tolerance in Type II (maturity onset) diabetics by preventing the absorption of sugar from the intestines. Bitter melon has also been reported to increase the number of beta cells (cells that secrete insulin) in the pancreas, thereby improving your body's capability to produce insulin (insulin promotes the uptake of sugar from your blood by cells and tissues).
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A two-day Indian study published in 1999 examined bitter melon's effect on 100 people with type 2 diabetes. On both days, researchers tested the participants' blood sugar levels in a fasting state and after drinking glucose. Participants took 150 to 200 mi of bitter melon extract on the second day. That day, researchers found that 86 percent of the participants experienced an average 14 percent drop in blood sugar after fasting and after drinking glucose.< > To date, close to 100 in vivo studies have demonstrated the blood sugar-lowering effect of this bitter fruit. The fruit has also shown the ability to enhance cells' uptake of glucose, to promote insulin release, and to potentiate the effect of insulin.
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p-Insulin was tested in a controlled clinical trial. In juvenile diabetics, the peak hypoglycemic effect was observed after 1-8 hrs; in patients with maturity onset diabetes, maximum fall in blood sugar level was noted after 12 hrs. Karela or Bitter Melon has also been reported to show hypocholesteroemic activity.
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hi I am a diabetic and having treatment for about 15 years now, I really relate to your articles and I think you have a good work done for lot of people like me.Diabetes
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