Showing posts with label bitter melon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bitter melon. Show all posts

Monday, July 11, 2011

Bitter Melon (Gourd) Side Effects

Bitter melon is a great super fruit and supplement for weight loss. It can help you in many ways when it comes to losing weight and being more healthy. There are, however, some side effects that have been reported from use of bitter melon.

Those who have diabetes should be careful when using bitter melon, because it does effect blood sugar. Keep a close check on your blood sugar to make sure you are fine. It has been known to lower blood sugar. This is a good thing for people without diabetes, but those with diabetes should check their blood sugar often.

Do not give bitter melon to children. Bitter melon seeds are especially toxic for kids and may cause a number of problems. The side effects range from vomiting and diarrhea to coma and death. The reason is because these seeds may lower blood sugar too much in children. While it's safe for adults, avoid giving it to children.

Those who are pregnant or nursing should not take bitter melon. Bitter melon may cause you to have a miscarriage. In animal studies, bitter melon has been known to cause miscarriages. Avoid bitter melon while you are pregnant. Don't take bitter melon while you are nursing either. Bitter melon is somewhat of a natural contraceptive. This should give you an idea of the seriousness of this.

Everyone else, it's generally safe for you to take bitter melon as long as you aren't in any of the above categories. Obviously, some may have an allergic reaction so it's best to look out for symptoms of an allergy and discontinue use if you develop an allergic reaction to bitter melon. If you are a normal adult, your blood sugar will spike and fall rapidly during the day. Bitter melon helps to combat that problem by regulating it. While this can be possibly harmful to diabetics and definitely harmful to children, it's a good thing for you because it helps to keep the extra pounds off.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Bitter Melon (Gourd) Weight Loss

Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, is an Asian fruit. It can also be found in Africa and the Caribbean. It is helpful for those who are trying to lose weight. Bitter melon has so many nutrients and benefits. Here are the weight loss benefits you may experience:
  • Regulation of insulin
  • Improved digestion
  • Suppresses appetite
  • Detox
The processed foods that we eat reduce our bodies sensitivity to insulin. In short, we will end up storing a lot of extra fat. If you eat processed foods, you can bet that your body is doing this right now. This will also cause you to be hungry shortly after eating.

The main reason bitter melon helps with weight loss is because it restores your body's sensitivity to insulin. If you are eating processed foods, I urge you to take some herbal supplement that will do this for you. You will have a hard time losing weight on your own without it, because your body is working against you.

The next way bitter melon helps with weight loss is by improving your digestion. Irregular digestion is a cause for weight gain. Most people don't have regular digestive systems and this will cause extra weight. Bitter melon also helps detoxify your body.

Our bodies have loads of toxins that come from everything including the air we breathe to those processed foods I was telling you about. These toxins being present in your body will make weight loss difficult for you because your liver will end up working over time. Then, your liver will not be able to commit it's time to ridding the body of excess fat.

You can take bitter melon any way you choose. There is the fruit itself, juice, and supplements. Swanson Vitamins has some bitter melon supplements that you can look at if you are interested. I haven't tried them yet, but the reviews are good. As always, the price is perfectly affordable.