Karela Kachri (Bitter-Gourd Roundels ) – Diabetes Friendly Thursdays

 

Diabetes Friendly Thursday is an initiative taken by me to collect, create and improvise the recipes beneficial for Diabetics. I take immense pleasure and pride in this venture.

An estimated 371 million people, corresponding to 8.3% of the world’s adult population, had diabetes in 2012. The number is expected to grow to 552 million by 2030.

Please Read here about Diabetes, symptoms and it’s maintenance.

  

Bitter Melon / Karela / Bitter Gourd 

Source – www.diabetes.co.uk 

Disclaimer – I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. All the information gathered is studied through and compiled together. Please consult your doctor and dietician for more specifications.

  

Image – simplyvegetarian777

Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd or karela (in India), is a unique vegetable-fruit that can be used as food or medicine. The fruit contains at least three active substances with anti-diabetic properties, including charantin, which has been confirmed to have a blood glucose-lowering effect, vicine and an insulin-like compound known as polypeptide-p.

These substances either work individually or together to help reduce blood sugar levels.

It is also known that bitter melon contains a lectin that reduces blood glucose concentrations by acting on peripheral tissues and suppressing appetite – similar to the effects of insulin in the brain.

This lectin is thought to be a major factor behind the hypoglycemic effect that develops after eating bitter melon.

Ways to consume Karela / Bitter melon

1. Karela / Bitter Melon  Tablets.

2. Consume it whole in your cooking.

3. Karela and Cinnamon for reducing fasting levels.

4. Bitter Melon Juice. Grate the outer skin, add little water, squeeze and sieve it. 

Precautions

1. Limit yourself to no more than two ounces of bitter melon (or more than two melons) a day, as excessive consumption can cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea.

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p style=”margin:1em 0;padding:0;”>2. If you are considering using bitter melon for glycemic control, you should consult your doctor or healthcare professional first to check that it is safe for use alongside your prescribed diabetes medication, as there is the risk that taking bitter melon together with these drugs and/or insulin could cause hypoglycemia (extremely low blood sugar).

Recipe

If you are not a Karela fan, believe me that you will eat it with much pleasure. My husband who “hates” karela otherwise, took 2nd helping!

Serving Suggestion

Make it a complete meal by combining it with 1/2 cup of low fat yogurt and 2 thin multi grain rotis/chapatis. 2 karelas/bitter melons in number is what is recommended for diabetic consumption for 1 serving. Approximately,  1/3 cup (1/2 normal size Indian katori) cooked karela Kachri is advised. 

 

Do give me a feedback if you try it.

Notes

You may sundry the Karela kachris and store in air tight container.

You may pan fry the karela kachris on lowest heat. 

Sonal