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"Let me tell you, it's really bitter and uncomfortable to eat bitter melon, but you see, my blood sugar level is very stable this year!" Li Dashan said to his old friend Uncle Zhang in the vegetable market early in the morning.
Li Dashan, 65 years old, a recently retired postman, has been diligent all his life, but he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after retirement. He listened to the saying that "bitter gourd lowers blood sugar" and began his "bitter gourd journey".
You read that right, bitter gourd! In the eyes of many people, this thing is tantamount to "self-abuse," but Li Dashan is such a persistent person. He decided to spend a year testing the effects of bitter melon. Whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, rain or shine, eat one or two pieces of bitter gourd three times a day, and sometimes even its bitter juice is not spared.
In fact, Li Dashan's insistence is not groundless. Bitter melon contains an insulin-like substance that can help lower blood sugar levels. However, this bitter medicine is not acceptable to everyone, and its bitter taste is enough to discourage many people.
These "magical" ingredients of bitter melon. First of all, one of the main active ingredients in bitter melon, called prunella, can mimic the function of insulin to a certain extent, helping to maintain the stability of blood sugar levels. In addition, bitter gourd also contains high dietary fiber, which can be slowly broken down in the digestive system and reduce the rapid rise in blood sugar.
Bitter melon is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and β-carotene. These effectively help the body fight cell damage, which in turn helps to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. At the same time, bitter gourd also contains high levels of phosphorus, which is an indispensable mineral for maintaining bone health, and has a certain positive effect on preventing bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis.
But in the final analysis, the real reason why Li Dashan insisted on eating bitter gourd for a year was not only his trust in bitter gourd to lower blood sugar, but also his attitude towards his own health management. He believes that by making daily dietary changes, he can fight diabetes, a disease that once made him anxious.
Time passed day by day, and Li Dashan gradually felt the changes in this kind of persistence day after day. Although he was accompanied by bitter gourd every day, he found that his weight was slowly declining, and his physical strength was much better than at the beginning of his retirement. What's more, his blood sugar levels have also begun to show a stable trend.
A year later, on the day of the physical examination, Li Dashan went to the hospital with a nervous and expectant heart. The result was unexpectedly good, and when the doctor read his physical examination report, he couldn't help but pat Li Dashan on the shoulder and said, "Dashan, your bitter gourd is really reasonable, you see that your blood sugar control is much better than before!"
Li Dashan also unexpectedly found that his knee joint, which used to have occasional pain, had actually decreased the number of pains in the past year. It turns out that bitter gourd not only contains hypoglycemic ingredients, but also contains certain anti-inflammatory effects. The bioactive ingredients in bitter melon can inhibit the production of inflammatory factors, thereby helping to reduce joint inflammation.
This discovery made Li Dashan more convinced of his "bitter melon treatment". However, as with any treatment, bitter melon is not a panacea. For some people with certain constitutions, such as those with hyperacidity or hypoglycemia, excessive consumption of bitter gourd may cause discomfort.
After Li Dashan's story spread in the town, more people began to try bitter gourd to regulate blood sugar. But Li Dashan always said: "Everyone's physique is different, and the effect will naturally be different." We can't just look at how others are, the most important thing is to do it according to our own actual situation. ”
And on the day of his annual physical examination, in the clinic, a newly diagnosed diabetic patient consulted the doctor: "Doctor, I heard that Li Dashan can control blood sugar by eating bitter melon, should I also try it?"
The doctor smiled and took out Li Dashan's medical records from the drawer. "Like Li Dashan, his physical condition and living habits make bitter gourd have a good effect on him. ”
"But before you start, it's a good idea to do a thorough check-up to see your specific situation and then develop a diet plan that works for you based on your health condition. We can't rely solely on bitter gourd, moderate exercise and a reasonable diet are equally important. ”
Through such conversations, doctors not only provide professional medical advice, but also emphasize the diversity and individualized needs of diabetes treatment, so that patients understand that a single food or method does not completely solve the problem, and a comprehensive management plan is needed. Such an approach can better ensure that the patient's health management is on the right path.
What do you think about bitter melon? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!