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Beyond the bitter taste, have you ever wondered about the amazing health benefits of bitter leaf?

Bitter leaf plant also known as Veronia amygdalina is a common plant with green leaves that grows in tropical/Sub-Saharan Africa. It is called bitter leaf in English because of its characteristic bitter taste. Bitter leaf is used in the treatment of so many ailments because of the incredible health benefits it possesses.

Key Points

Bitter leaf has great nutritional uses and health benefits. Modern researchers are still studying the pharmacological, medicinal and antioxidant uses because of its promising and positive results.
Traditionally, bitter leaf is used for cooking, brewing beer, treating wounds, malaria and other parasitic infections.
Bitter leaf also helps with weight loss, contains anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory properties, boosts immunity, lower blood pressure, etc.
Bitter leaf juice is generally safe for drinking but pregnant women, nursing mothers and persons with certain medical conditions need to confirm with a certified doctor before taking it as it can interact with some medications resulting in adverse effects.

Bitter leaf has a long history in the African countries where it is widely consumed. The leaf serves a multipurpose function – nutritional and traditional medicine function. In countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, bitter leaf is often used to cook native soups, stews, and other dishes, adding a unique bitter flavor to the food.

For centuries, our ancestors have used the leaves, roots, and stems of bitter leaf to treat a variety of ailments, including malaria, stomach problems, wounds, diabetes and fevers. It is used to treat almost all ailments known to our local communities. In the brewing industry, bitter leaf extract has also been used as a substitute for making local alcoholic drinks and beers. Most alcoholic drinks with the suffix, ‘Bitters’, are made from bitter leaf extract.

In this article, you will learn about the amazing health benefits of bitter leaf that you had no idea existed.

What are the benefits of cooking with bitter leaf?

Bitter leaf as the name suggests has an intense bitterness. You need to wash it with water to reduce the bitterness before using it to cook a meal. It enriches the meal with the amazing nutrients it contains like Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, minerals and phytonutrients.

Adding bitter leaf to your cooking can add a flavor and potentially provide some health advantages like boosting the body’s immunity, lowering blood pressure, weight loss, aiding digestion, constipation, and other stomach problems.

What are the health benefits of bitter leaf?

From the olden days, bitter leaf has been known to possess amazing health benefits. In recent years, many scientists have carried out research on the health benefits of bitter leaf and most of the results will surely blow your mind.

Some of the health benefits of bitter leaf include:

Diabetic Treatment:

Bitter leaf has anti-diabetic properties as reported in this 2016 study where the tender bitter leaf juice extract consumption reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetic rat models that were used. Other researchers also reported a positive impact on blood sugar control with bitter leaf extract administration which offered potential health benefits for diabetic patients.

Cancer Treatment:

Bitter leaf was found to possess anti-cancerous properties. It is said to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. In this study, bitter leaf extract had cytotoxic effects on the human nasopharyngeal cancer cells.

Detoxification:

Bitter leaf is a natural detoxifier. The bioactive compounds it contains help the lymphatic system, liver and kidney in detoxification. Detoxification is the removal of toxins and other waste products from the body. Bitter leaf also helps in preventing fatty liver and development of kidney stones.

Blood Pressure Control:

Bitter leaf contains potassium which helps regulate the blood pressure and keeps it under control. Millions of Nigerians suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is a health condition that requires medical treatment. So if you or any of your loved ones suffer from high blood pressure, you should give taking bitter leaf extract a try.

Weight loss:

If you are looking to lose weight naturally, bitter leaf consumption may help with weight loss for overweight and obese patients. It contains compounds that help suppress hunger and boosts metabolism.

Anti-Malaria and anti-microbial properties:

Our locals use bitter leaf to treat malaria in many parts of Nigeria. Recently, bitter leaf was found to possess anti-plasmodic properties that help to fight malaria.

Another study showed that bitter leaf extracts may contain antimicrobial abilities that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi and viral microorganisms.

Anti-Inflammatory properties:

Most people in Nigeria have this age long tradition of putting bitter leaf extract on open wounds to relieve pain, reduce blood loss and heal wounds.

In recent years, there is enough evidence from studies to support such practices as bitter leaf contains compounds like vernodalin and vernonioside that help to hinder the development of inflammatory enzymes.

This anti-inflammatory properties of bitter leaf helps reduce pain and inflammation in conditions like arthritis and asthma.

Boost immunity:

Bitter leaf may contain compounds that may help strengthen the immune system as demonstrated in this study. Some people call bitter leaf an immune booster as it is rich in a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids which work together to neutralize free radicals and protect the body against infection.

Contain Antioxidants

Bitter leaf contains antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals which cause tissue damage in the body.The antioxidants present in bitter leaf are able to neutralize harmful free radicals which usually contribute to tissue damage.

Removes bad cholesterol

Consumption of bitter leaf juice extract may help in lowering and removing the bad cholesterol from the blood and promoting a healthy heart.

Resolves digestive issue

Bitter leaf juice is used in traditional medicine to cure nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal problems etc. Chewing the stalk of biter leaf can also help to relieve constipation.

Handles Fertility issues

Bitter leaf has a huge benefit for both men and women in their reproductive years. It has been reported in this study that consumption of bitter leaf juice extract by men helped increase sperm count and improved sperm quality in men.

In women, bitter leaf juice extracts help regulate the menstrual cycles and relieve the symptoms of menstrual pain.

How to make bitter leaf juice

You can make your bitter leaf juice in the following easy steps:

Pour the bitter leaves in a bowl of clean water and add some salt to wash it thoroughly.
Dispose the first water and rinse in a clean water
Knead the leaves with both hands to extract the juice
Alternatively, pour into a blender with a glass of water and bend the leaves to the desired texture
Use a sieve or clean cloth to extract the juice and consume or store in the refrigerator

Potential Side Effects of Bitter Leaf Juice

Although Bitter leaf possess great health benefits, it is good to remember that as a herb, it may contain compounds that may cause a few side effects to some individuals. Consumption of Bitter leaf juice may cause diarrhea, stomach upset, and vomiting in some people.

Bitter leaf may also interact with medications that lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or other health conditions.

Bitter leaf juice may be unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. In traditional medicine, bitter leaf is used to induce breast milk production although there is no scientific evidence to support this claim or to know if it is safe for the infant’s health.

It is advised that pregnant and nursing mothers should speak with a qualified doctor first before they take bitter leaf juice.

Conclusion

Bitter leaf is an indigenous herb grown in Asia and some African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. It is usually consumed for its nutritional and medicinal purposes.

Bitter leaf contains nutrients such as Vitamins A, B1, B12, C, E and K. It also contains minerals, phytonutrients and bioactive compounds.

The health benefits of bitter leaf include, boosting immunity, blood sugar control, weight management, digestion and gastrointestinal relief, fertility, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, detoxification etc.

Overall, bitter leaf consumption is safe when taken in moderation but If you are pregnant, nursing a child or taking any medication, you may have to confirm with your doctor before taking bitter leaf juice extract as it may not be okay for the baby or interact with your medication.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bitter Leaf

1. Is it safe to drink bitter leaf juice?

Bitter leaf juice is generally safe for most people when consumed in moderation. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments like diarrhea, dysentery, stomach aches and other gastrointestinal issues. However, there are some potential side effects to be aware of especially when you are on medication or sick.

2. What diseases can you treat with bitter leaf?

Bitter leaf contains bioactive compounds that possess anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties that aids in treating diabetes, infections, kidney disease, liver cancer, etc.

3. Is bitter leaf good for the Kidney?

Bitter leaf is safe for the kidney when consumed in moderate proportion. It helps the kidney perform two major roles namely, detoxification and kidney stone prevention.

It supports a healthy kidney to remove toxins and waste products and also prevents kidney stone through increased urine outflow.

4. Is bitter leaf good for the skin?

Yes, bitter leaf is good for the skin because it contains antioxidants that help prevent tissue and organ damage. It also helps slow down aging, smoothens the skin and restores youthfulness.

5. Is bitter leaf good for weight loss?

Bitter leaf juice consumption will help you burn fat by removing the bad cholesterol from the body.

How Telemedicine can Help

Telemedicine offers the option of speaking or chatting with medical professionals online. The convenience and accessibility it offers makes it your best option in today’s world where it is not easy to book a doctor’s appointment anymore.

Telemedicine makes it easier and faster to consult a doctor from the comfort of your home. With your smartphone, you can speak or chat with a doctor in a matter of seconds.

You can equally talk to a specialist about your general health concerns, get your prescriptions, access second opinion or health counseling.

If you have any concerns or questions about taking bitter leaf or its juice extract, do not hesitate to talk to our doctors who are available online 24/7.

References

Journal of Diabetes Research. (2016). Antidiabetic Effect of Young and Old Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina.

Oseni et al. (2016). Vernonia amygdalina: An Underutilized Vegetable with Nutraceutical Potentials – A Review

Carolyn et al. (2015). Recent perspectives on the anticancer properties of aqueous extracts of Nigerian Vernonia amygdalina

Asante et al. (2019). Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic activity of young and old leaves of Vernonia amygdalina

Clement et al. (2014). Significance of Bitter Leaf (Vernonia Amagdalina) In Tropical Diseases and Beyond: A Review

Olutosin et al.(2023). Novel peroxidase from bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina): Purification, biochemical characterization and biotechnological applications

Ugbogu et al. (2021). The Phytochemistry, Ethnobotanical, and Pharmacological Potentials of the Medicinal Plant-Vernonia amygdalina L. (bitter Leaf)

Great et al. (2023). Biological and bioactive components of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina leaf): Insight on health and nutritional benefits. A review

Ebenezer et al. (2012). Antioxidative and Chemopreventive Properties of Vernonia amygdalina and Garcinia biflavonoid

Jamiyu et al. (2011) In vitro antidiabetes and antihypertension properties of phenolic extracts from bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del.). Journal of Food Biochemistry