{"id":161420,"date":"2022-07-17T17:12:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-17T11:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/?p=161420"},"modified":"2026-03-20T11:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:23:44","slug":"ayurveda-uses-benefits-side-effects-of-karela-bitter-gourd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/ayurveda-uses-benefits-side-effects-of-karela-bitter-gourd\/","title":{"rendered":"Karela (Bitter Gourd): Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Introduction<\/a><\/li>
Nutritional Value of Karela<\/a><\/li>
Properties of Karela<\/a><\/li>
Potential Uses of Karela<\/a><\/li>
How to Use Karela?<\/a><\/li>
Side Effects of Karela<\/a><\/li>
Precautions to Take with Karela<\/a><\/li>
Interactions with Other Drugs<\/a><\/li>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li>
References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n \n <\/span>\n $\"Join$ \n <\/a>\n
<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKarela, also known as Momordica charantia<\/em> L<\/em>., belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as balsam pear, bitter gourd, bitter melon, karela, or kugua. Its fruit has been used as a vegetable for thousands of years. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is called \u2018bitter melon\u2019 or \u2018bitter gourd\u2019 as the entire plant, including the fruit, tastes very bitter. Karela is widely cultivated in India, China, Japan, Malaya, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Colombia, Brazil, Amazon, Cuba, East Africa, Haiti, Ghana, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, the Middle East, the Central and South America1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vernacular names of Karela are Karavelli in Sanskrit; Karelo in Gujrati; Karli in Marathi; Baramasiya in Bengali; Kaypa in Malayalam; Karali in Kannada; Kakara in Telugu; Pakar in Tamil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Nutritional Value of Karela<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKarela has the following nutritional value 2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Water:<\/strong> 94 g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Carbohydrate:<\/strong> 3.7 g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Protein:<\/strong> 1 g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Fat:<\/strong> 0.17 g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Energy:<\/strong> 17 kcal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Fibre:<\/strong> 2.8 g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Calcium:<\/strong> 19 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Magnesium:<\/strong> 17 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Iron:<\/strong> 0.43 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Sodium:<\/strong> 5 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Potassium:<\/strong> 296 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Copper:<\/strong> 0.034 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Zinc:<\/strong> 0.8 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Selenium:<\/strong> 0.2 \u00b5g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Manganese:<\/strong> 0.089 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin A:<\/strong> 24 \u00b5g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine):<\/strong> 0.04 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin):<\/strong> 0.04 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B3 (Niacin):<\/strong> 0.4 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid):<\/strong> 0.212 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B6:<\/strong> 0.043 mg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin B9 (Folate):<\/strong> 72 \u00b5g<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin C:<\/strong> 84 mg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Properties of Karela<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe properties of karela include 3<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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It might be an antioxidant<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have hypoglycaemic (lowers the blood sugar level) activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have anti-bacterial (kills bacteria) property<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have anti-viral (kills viruses) activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have an anti-cancer potential<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have anti-diarrhoeal effects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Potential Uses of Karela<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Potential Uses of Karela for Diabetes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Karela extract is traditionally used as vegetable insulin as it might have antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Its antidiabetic effect is tested in both animals and humans. When tested in an animal model 4<\/a><\/sup>, the entire plant, including fruit pulp and seed, showed potential antidiabetic properties. Its fruit was found to have more potential effects on diabetes. It might either control the release of insulin<\/a> or may change the metabolism of glucose 5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>
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