Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also to share more professional health knowledge with you, so as to escort your health, thank you for your support.
"Come on, Lao Zhang, what's wrong with you this time?"
In the outpatient room, Dr. Liu's eyes looked through his glasses at the uncle in front of him, who had passed the retirement age.
Lao Zhang habitually scratched his head and said, "I'm not fine, it's my old neighbor Aunt Wang, who has changed so much recently that even I, the old man, are dumbfounded." ”
Aunt Wang, a 67-year-old retired primary school teacher, has been committed to pursuing a healthier lifestyle since her retirement. The most special habit is that every morning, no matter whether it is windy or rainy, she will insist on drinking a glass of homemade bitter gourd juice. It is said that after persisting like this for a whole year, the three major physical changes brought about by it made the people around him envious.
First of all, Aunt Wang's blood sugar is better controlled. Bitter melon is rich in a compound called prunella glycosides, which have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in the body and promote insulin secretion.
According to the latest research data, diabetic patients who drank bitter gourd juice for a long time had an average reduction of 1.5% in blood sugar control indicators (such as glycosylated hemoglobin A1c levels) compared with conventional treatment.
Secondly, she has seen a noticeable loss in weight. The high-fiber and low-calorie properties in bitter melon, plus its natural compounds that promote fat metabolism,
As a result, Aunt Wang has successfully lost 10 kilograms in the past year. And this way of losing weight is very healthy and has no side effects, which is incomparable to many weight loss drugs.
Finally, Aunt Wang's skin condition has also improved significantly. Bitter melon is rich in vitamin C and β-carotene, two antioxidants that fight free radicals and slow down the aging process, making her skin look smoother and more supple.
And today, she came to the hospital with a look of excitement and curiosity, because she found that this change seemed to have some unexpected "side effects".
After listening to the patient's account, Dr. Lau began to ask her in detail about her diet. After listening to Aunt Wang's bitter gourd juice recipe, Dr. Liu's eyes lit up, and he found a very interesting point:
Aunt Wang added honey and lemon to bitter gourd juice, which not only improved the bitter taste of bitter gourd, but more importantly, honey and lemon are both good anti-inflammatory foods. At this time, Dr. Liu made a unique point: although it seems that the direct benefit of bitter gourd juice lies in its ability to fight diabetes and lose weight,
But in fact, by adding honey and lemon, Aunt Wang unknowingly enhanced her anti-inflammatory ability. This anti-inflammatory effect may be a big factor in how she feels that her body has changed so dramatically. This idea is rarely mentioned in the usual dietary guidance, but in reality the health benefits may be much greater than we expect.
Studies have shown that chronic inflammation is strongly associated with the development of a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. The risk of these diseases can be significantly reduced by including anti-inflammatory foods in the daily diet.
As the conversation deepened, Aunt Wang suddenly asked, "Doctor, I want to know, if I drink bitter gourd juice every day, will it have a negative impact on my kidneys?"
Dr. Liu replied with a smile: "According to our current research, bitter melon does contain some ingredients to watch out for, such as arsenic and beryllium, which may indeed put pressure on the kidneys if exceeded. However, as long as it is consumed according to the normal amount and combined with a balanced diet, the impact on the kidneys is minimal.
Of course, if you have a particular health condition, we recommend visiting the hospital regularly to make sure everything is okay. ”
What do you think about bitter melon? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!