Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is a vegetable used for preparing the popular Bitter leaf soup. It is also known as Onugbu, Shiwaka & Ewuro by the Igbos, Hausas&Yorubas in Nigeria. Apart from this, bitter leaf is well known for its healing potency when it is chewed or juiced raw because cooking reduces its potency and medicinal value.
Although this plant has been around for hundreds of years, only a few people know of its medicinal and healing properties.
Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) as the name implies, is actually a bitter plant whose leaves, extracts, stems and barks are used for culinary,medicinal and curative purposes.
Vitamins in Bitter leaf includes;Vitamin A, Vitamin C ,Vitamin E, Vit.B1 and Vit.B2.
My mum is a big fan of the bitter leaf juice, and the truth is growing up,we barely visited the hospital.. I hated the bitter taste, at that time,but now, kowing what it can do, I humbly joined the Bitter leaf fan club ... ☺ .....
Bitter leaf and Spinach Juice
Well, To get the best results from the bitter leaf plant, it's best taken freshly squeezed from the leaves.
How to extract the Bitter leaf Juice
This can be done, the old school way of rubbing the clean leaves in between your palms with the help of a little water and squeezing out the juice from the leaves.
You can also use a juicer or blend the leaves with a little water, in a blender and strain out the extract with a cheese cloth, coffee strainer or a sieve with a tight mesh.
Bitter leaf juice on its own, is quite bitter and this taste might be unbearable for a lot of people.
So to reduce the bitterness of the bitter leaf juice, simply blend it with spinach or Ugwu (fluted pumpkin). If you still find it extremely bitter, then add some sweet fruits to it, such as pineapple , apples, or oranges or milk.
Dry bitter leaf is also potent, but has to be properly cleaned before use.
Some of the health benefits of Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina);
* It speeds up metabolism and therefore is great for weight loss.
* Bitter leaf juice relieves fever and feverish conditions. Take the squeezed juice, 3 times daily until the symptoms disappears.
* It also helps to reduce high sugar level in the blood, and great for diabetic patients Sarah Abagia, head, Dietetics Department at the National Hospital, Abuja, said: “It is not that bitter leaf can cure diabetes, but it has some sugar controlling influence to a certain degree. Bitter leaf is able to influence some drop in the sugar level. But it is not suppose to be regarded as an entire medication for diabetes. One can take a handful of fresh bitter leaf, pour in a blender, pour the desired amount of water, blend and strain it, then drink while some people take a handful of bitter leaf and eat it too.” Bitter leaf does not only reduce the blood sugar level drastically, it also helps to repair the pancreas. According to some researchers writing in the Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences, the administration of aqueous extract of bitter leaf at a concentration of 500 mg/kg of body weight significantly decreases the level of blood glucose and its efficacy to lower blood glucose level was comparable with that of chlorpropamide which is a standard drug used in the management of diabetes.
* Squeeze the fresh leaves on your palm and apply the juice on skin rashes,eczema, ring worms and any superficial skin ailments, you'll notice a change in few days.
* Bitter leaf is said to soothe and also cure pile .
* Taking a cup of bitter leaf juice a day, is a great way to detoxify the body of harmful toxins.
* Bitter leaf juice nourishes the skin.
* Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) also cures mild stomach ailments
* Bitter leaf juice is said to increase breast milk production in nursing mothers.
* The washed roots and stalks of bitterleaf are boiled and the infusion is taking as a worm expeller. A cup of bitter leaf infusion taking first thing in the morning before meals
* Bitter leaf juice is used by local women in Guinea-Bissau to contract the uterus and after childbirth and The aqueous extract of bitter leaf can also help in inducing labour in cases of prolonged labour. NOTE : therefore should not be taking during the first trimester of pregnancy or if you're trying to conceive,because high intake might cause miscarriage.
* A cup of bitter leaf juice a day, energizes you... Bitter leaf also stimulates bile and hydrochloric acid production, stimulates nervous and immune system function. Interestingly, it also combats fatigue and exhaustion.
okay people.....go juicing some Vernonia amygdalina
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