Diabetes can be a problem for people over 40, especially if they’re overweight or have a family history of diabetes. Foods we eat are converted to sugar and the sugar is used by your body for fuel. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls the amounts of sugar in the blood. Without insulin the body can not use or store sugar so it remains in the blood. Diabetes comes in two types.

Type 1:

The pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, therefore it must be injected. This disease can occur at any age but is more prevalent in children and teenagers.

Type 2:

The most common form of diabetes, when body cells become resistant to insulin. This reduces the amount of energy that can be used by the body from the blood stream at any given time. Think of diabetes as the body’s inability to get energy from the foods you eat.

Type 2 can be controlled through healthy eating habits (eating foods with more nutrients), weight control, and regular exercise. The worst thing we can do as NON DIABETICS is to put our bodies through the same stress by skipping meals and not eating for many hours. The results are almost the same. The body has no energy which is why so many people feel tired and complain of low energy level. The solution is not a pill. A good weight loss diet plan includes eating more often through the day so your body doesn’t starve.

Use these fitness and health calculators to calculate your body fat percentage, ideal body measurements, calorie needs, etc.

The best way to decide if you have diabetes is to have a blood test because symptoms tend to be vague and multi-faceted.

DON’T TREAT YOUR BODY LIKE DIABETES TREATS IT!

We actually put our bodies under a stress similar to that of diabetes by not eating THROUGH THE DAY. Eating large meals a few times a day particularly at night, floods the body with energy at a time when it’s not needed which quickly turns to fat.

If we knew how to listen to our body we would hear it telling us to feed it through the day when energy demands are higher and less at night when we are least active. That’s why it’s important to eat most of your food between 7a.m. to 4 p.m. when we’re most active. Of course this assumes a 9 to 5 work schedule.

DARE to break bad eating habits, change the way you eat and work with your body not against it. This approach is the smart way to a healthy weight loss diet program.

As the name suggests, bitter gourd is bitter in taste but has wide array of health and skin benefits. Because of its distinct taste, it is not often used in cooking but consuming the fruit may prevent many ailments as well as maintain a beautiful skin. It can be consumed by simply juicing it or pickled and even cooked. Here are some facts that will help you to know the health and skin benefits of consuming bitter gourd.

Health Benefits-

* Cures diabetes

Bitter gourd is found to be very helpful in curing type-2 diabetes. It has been used as a traditional medicine to combat the condition in a much safer way. Type-2 diabetes is caused due to inefficiency of cells to absorb sugar from the blood due to resistance to insulin. This condition generally leads to diabetes. Consumption of the juice extracted from bitter gourd may help in reversing insulin resistance and controlling diabetes.

* Prevents cancer

Various studies have found that the bitter tasting fruit may help in preventing certain cancers. It is known to kill cancer cells. It helps in cutting down the energy source of the cancer cells by affecting the glucose metabolism pathway. It has long been used in Chinese medicine without any probable side effects when consumed in right doses to prevent cancer.

* Relieves constipation

Since bitter gourd has high content of fibers, it helps in easing the bowel movements and also relieves constipation. It also helps in improving digestion and assists in combating symptoms of piles.

* Improves liver health

Bitter gourd juice is highly beneficial for the liver. It helps in cleansing it naturally by eliminating the toxins and purifying the blood. Consuming a glass of bitter melon juice everyday for a week may help in improving liver health effectively.

* Promotes weight loss

If you are looking for weight loss, bitter melon can prove to be very helpful. Firstly, the fruit has very low calorific value; this means you can consume it in more quantities. It also promotes metabolism and aids digestions, which helps in burning more calories in a natural way. Bitter melon is also makes you feel full and reduces the urge to eat more. If you want to restrict your calorie intake, consume the fruit and lose considerable weight.

* Prevents heart diseases

Bitter gourd is also helpful in preventing many heart diseases. It keeps the arteries free from clogging and hence boosts heart health. Studies show that consuming the bitter melon juice regularly helps in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood while maintaining the level of good cholesterol. In this way, it prevents heart problems including heart attack.

Skin benefits-

* Prevents Acne

Since bitter gourd helps in purifying the blood, it prevents formation of acne. People who consume the juice on a regular basis have found it very helpful in combating skin problems. It works from inside your body to provide a flawless glow to the skin. It is also useful in reducing blemishes and other skin conditions that are a result of toxins deposited in the body. Bitter gourd aids detoxification and hence prevents acne, blemishes and other skin issues.

* Fights infection

It also helps in fighting skin infections caused due to microorganisms. It provides relief from psoriasis and eczema when consumed on a regular basis. The juice is highly effective in treating fungal infections in the skin. It can be used to treat athlete’s foot and ring worm in a fast and natural way.

* Promotes healing of wounds

If you have wounds in your skin that does not heal, try bitter melon juice. The fruit has amazing capabilities to heal wounds in a naturally effective way. It also controls blow flow and clotting thereby making wounds heal faster.

* Prevents itchy scalp

Bitter gourd may also prevent a few scalp conditions like dandruff, dry and itchy scalp. Since it has a purifying effect on the body, it keeps the skin and scalp free from impurities and prevents most skin problems. For a faster relief from itchy scalp, bitter melon juice may also be applied topically on the scalp.

* Delays premature aging

Bitter melon is packed with antioxidants which help in boosting skin health. Antioxidants have a regenerative effect on skin. It helps in neutralizing free radicals that are one of the major causes for skin aging. Therefore, it keeps skin looking younger for longer and delays aging. The vitamin C present in the fruit helps in repairing the skin as well as protects it from probable damage. It prevents formation of wrinkles and fine lines when consumed regularly.

Author Bio :

Julia Taylor is a blogger for SkinTagFree who contributes her knowledge on various skin care issues. She actively attends affiliated seminars and networking events in the world of beauty. For more information visit https://www.skintagfree.com/what-are-skin-tags.html or you can follow her at Twitter