A Green salad for Wellness

Today man’s life has become fast paced. His life is full of hassles, demands, deadlines and frustrations. He has become career oriented. He is spending most of his time in his office. As a result he is not able to eat fresh and delicious food. He is eating either pre-packed food from hotels, or shops or from home. He hardly enjoys freshly prepared steaming soup or any other homemade dishes. Fresh homemade food has become a dream in his life.

The hectic life and lack of proper nutritious homemade balanced diet have caused several health disorders like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, heart and respiratory problems, digestive problems, cancer, skin problems, obesity, imbalance in lipid profile etc. Ecological degradation and environmental imbalance have also added to the health problems. The entire body of man requires an exhaustive and thorough cleansing. No doubt there are several health centers. Health clubs have come up with various packages which are time consuming and expensive. So, most of us can not afford those costly packages for rejuvenation.

At this juncture, we can bank on Mother Nature for a remedy for our present day health problems and disorders. One of the remedies is the green vegetable- Bitter gourd. Bitter gourd is a tropical or a sub-tropical vine. It is abundantly grown in Asia, Africa, and Caribbean. It is an annual, herbaceous plant. It bears thin stem, tendril, and simple alternate leaves. It has bisexual yellow colored flowers. The edible fruit has a warty exterior and is oblong in shape.

The plant is classified as follows:

Kingdom-Plant; Order- cucurbitales; family-Cucurbitaceae; Genus- Momordica;

Species: M.Charantia; Botanical Name: Momordica Charantia

The Bitter gourd is called in other languages as follows:

• Karela in Guajarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Sanskrit;
• Pavakkai in Tamil and Malayalam;
• Karle in Marathi;
• Hagalakai in Kannada;
• Kakara in Telugu;
• Kugua in Chinese
• Nigauri in Japanese.

Bitter gourd has several medicinal values. It is very low in calories. Energy is only 17 Kilo cal/100gms. It is rich in phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. Regular consumption of this vegetable will rectify several health disorders.

This vegetable is rich in folates. This helps in reducing severe anemia, and increasing the percentage of hemoglobin content in our blood. It is an excellent source of vitamin C which is powerful and natural antioxidant. It helps the body in scavenging the free radicals.

This vegetable also contains polypeptide p, a phytonutrient which is plant insulin that helps in lowering the blood sugar level. It contains charantin, a hypoglycemic agent and helps in fighting Type 2 diabetes. In addition to this, bitter gourd contains certain Flavonoids like alpha and beta carotene, Luetein, Zeaxanthin which promote the proper functioning of sense organs. It also helps in the elimination of toxic waste of our blood.

Bitter Gourd is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K. This vegetable is a Multivitamin Capsule of Mother Nature. Eating this vegetable helps in preventing ageing, cancer etc.

Bitter gourd contains a sizable percentage of dietary fiber helpful in relieving indigestion, constipation and other stomach related problems. Since it is a good source of minerals like sodium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, etc., it purifies and rejuvenates our blood. It stimulates liver and boosts the secretion of bile juice which is important for the metabolism of fats. It purifies and restores liver as it is an antidote for alcoholism.

Bitter gourd is an immunity booster because it increases the body’s fighting power against infection. Severe skin ailments like Eczema, psoriasis, respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis can also be tackled by the use of this vegetable. Regular intake of this versatile vegetable helps in weight loss and controlling blood pressure.

Bitter gourd helps the body to fight against several infections. It is an immune modulator in fighting against diseases caused by gram positive and gram negative micro- organisms, like virus, bacteria etc, .It protects the body from the dreaded disease, HIV.

Bitter gourd contains mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fats. This brings down the level of triglycerides in the blood. Fat content of the blood is reduced. Blood circulation improves and this ensures proper functioning of the heart. Hence, it is cardio protective.

All the vital ingredients of Bitter gourd will be damaged by boiling and cooking. This vegetable should be eaten daily at least in a small serving in order to derive all its medicinal values. Here is a simple recipe of the Green Salad made from bitter gourd:

Ingredients:

Bitter gourd: 200 grams

Methi/fenugreek powder: 2 teaspoons

Turmeric Powder: 2 teaspoons

Lemon juice: 2 lemons

Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash Bitter gourd. Make very thin slices. Add salt and marinate it for 4 to 5 hours. Wash it under tap of water to remove the salt and squeeze out the water from the slices.
• Add Methi Powder, Turmeric Powder and a little salt. Turmeric Powder is added as a preservative and Methi powder is added as a flavoring agent and increases nutrition value of the salad.
• Add the lemon juice to fortify the content of vitamin C in the salad and also to reduce the taste of bitterness.
• Mix it well; store it in an air tight container. Keep it in the refrigerator. Make it a habit to take a few slices after meals or along with meals daily.

Health and vitality will improve. Quality of life will also improve. Visiting the doctors and taking medicines will slowly reduce. This Green Salad restores healthy life.

Mother Nature has remedies and answers for all our health disorders. Bitter gourd is an inexpensive gift of Mother Nature. “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away” is the old saying. But “A few pieces of Bitter Gourd eaten every day will keep the diseases away” is the new saying.

Caution: Those who suffer from chronic IBS, GERD, Gastritis, acidity etc, should consult their doctors before taking this salad.

“Go Green!”