About Nutrition and Health Benefits of Bitter Leaf

  1.  Bitter leaves contain flavonoids which have
powerful antioxidant effects in treating several
health issues together with other elements like
andrographolide lactones, glucosides, diterpene
which are present in the leaves and work
together to treat and trim down fever and its
symptoms.

2.  They are commonly known to reduce the level of
sugar in the blood and control blood pressure
due to the bitterness. This is true because bitter
leave has andrographolide content that
contributes to sugar reduction in the blood and
as reducing the risk of resulting diabetes.

3.  They are eaten raw or mashed to get the juice
which is used in treating abdominal difficulties
such as diarrhoea, stomach upset and
gastrointestinal tract diseases like dysentery and
related other issues.

4. These leaves though bitter in taste contain
essential vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B2, C
and E. Vitamin A helps in maintaining healthy
bones and tissues; B1 plays important role in
metabolic reaction while B2 contribute to the
proper functioning of the nervous system.

5.  Some other vitamins such E which serve as an
antioxidant that fights against free radicals which
have harmful effects on the body system;
vitamin C is not left behind because it has a
special role in the body which is the
maintenance of bones and teeth as well as
prevention of associated deficiency.

6.  Presence of anti-cancer properties in bitter
leaves makes it effective in preventing and
management of hydatidiform mole,
trophoblastic tumour and lung tumour which are
the signs of cancer.

             
                 In fact, bitter leaves have versatile curative and medicinal
properties which can treat and manage certain health
conditions, on the other hand, they are especially known
in Nigeria for culinary purposes; used in preparing
Nigerian soup called Onugbu soup in Igbo land.
They are also used as for pharmaceutical purposes in
medicines such as anti-helminths, laxative and fertility
inducers. Bitter leaves itself; the roots and the plant, in
general, are highly medicinal and serve certain nutritional
benefits in the human body.