BITTER LEAF: Sexual and other Health Benefits of Bitter Leaf.
Before the advancement and extension of medical science into the Africa continent, the Africans in the earlier century had always known a way of taking care of their health needs through the knowledge of various medicinal plants.
The high exposures to health sciences have not reduced the potency of most of these natural medications but of course the priority placed on medical science over natural medical plants and our limited knowledge to discovering the efficacies of those plants play a major role in while it is limping and gradually fading out.
Africa is blessed with enough plants that contain high volume of medicinal and nutritional values but the western worlds have a way of making us despise what we have and embracing theirs. I am not hereby saying that we should not take our health seriously with an advanced medical science but not to completely discard many of the plants which could prevent us from the urgent health issues that requires western medicines. Believe me, lots of health challenges which are still treated with local herbs are yet to get medical science solutions. Herbalist with enough knowledge of herbs does wonders in some cases if given the opportunity (note: herbalist is different from witch doctor).
Vernonia Amygdalina or Bitter Leaf as commonly known is a plant with a lot of health and nutritional benefits which is common to few African countries. It grows in season and out of season. Many use bitter leaf for medication only while many others use food like we do in Nigeria especially in the south East Nigeria where bitter leaf soup is many people’s favorite without which they would not patronize your restaurant. A well prepared bitter leaf soup with right proportion of adequate ingredients can put you in a good mood after eating and drinking a glass of water, the tastes that emanates from the throat is inexplicable.
Let us quickly go through the benefits of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) to our bodies and find out why you need to eat soup made with bitter leaf for at least three times a week. The following are the wonderful benefits of bitter leaf:
*Health Benefits of Bitter Leaf*
1. Boosts immunity: Bitter leaf contains compounds that help to enhance the activity of the immune system and increase the production of white blood cells that fight infections and diseases.
2. Reduces inflammation: The anti-inflammatory properties of bitter leaf make it effective in reducing swelling, pains and redness associated with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
3. Treats Malaria: Vernonia amygdalina has been found to possess anti-malaria properties. It is a potent anti-malaria agent used for the treatment of malaria fever.
4. Promotes digestion: Bitter leaf stimulates the digestive system, promoting the production of digestive enzymes and bile that improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
5. Manages diabetes: Bitter leaf helps to regulating blood sugar levels, making it a useful natural remedy for managing diabetes.
6. Fights cancer: Bitter leaf has been found to contain compounds that exhibit anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties, making it a potential natural remedy for preventing and treating some types of cancer.
7. Supports liver health: Bitter leaf helps to detoxify the liver and protect it from damage caused by toxins.
8. Fertility booster: to those guys who want to last forever on bed in the other room, bitter got your back very well. A study has proven that bitter leaf increases the sperm count in men due to the available vitamins in bitter leaf.
9. Manages High Blood Pressure: those who have high blood pressure can use bitter leaf to maintain a good blood pressure level and get some relief from high blood pressure.
10. Improve metabolic functions: bitter leaf contains high volume of vitamin B1 which is responsible for human body metabolic functions which removes the quantity of fatty acids and the fat storage in the body bring it to normal.
Though bitter leaf is a hobby to a lot of people but not even because of the knowledge of it’s benefits but just for the love of it.
Vernonia amygdalina is a valuable herb that offers various health benefits. However, like any other natural remedy, it should not be abused.
Thanks for reading!