I believe that most of us are familiar with Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and cook it, but I’m not sure we fully understand its health benefits when consumed raw.

One major benefit is that studies suggest it may help reduce high blood pressure, although further research in humans is still ongoing.

🎯How it lowers high blood pressure:

📌ACTS LIKE A DIURETIC.

Usually, the first group of drugs given for high blood pressure are diuretics, e.g., furosemide and Bendroflumethiazide. It has mild diuretic effects (helps the body remove excess salt and water).

📌BLOOD VESSEL RELAXANT(VASODILATION).

Vasodilators work by:
Relaxing(dilating) blood vessel muscles.
Making vessels wider for the easy flow of blood.
Reducing the resistance of blood vessel walls to blood flow. All these result in lowering blood pressure.
Bitter leaf relaxes blood vessels in the same way.
It also increases the production of NITRIC OXIDE (NO), which relaxes the blood vessels because of its high content of flavonoids – phytonutrients.

📌RICH IN POTASSIUM.

This balances out the high sodium that raises blood pressure and relaxes the vessels.

📌AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.

Blood pressure is elevated due to inflammation and oxidative stress. Bitter leaf is high in antioxidants that reduce this.

In studies carried out in cats, the extract significantly lowered systolic, diastolic and arterial blood pressure.

Other Health Benefits:

📌Lowers blood sugar levels.
📌Lowers bad cholesterol.
📌Protects the liver.
📌 Anti-cancer.

All these are based on lab and animal studies.

How to get the best out of it:

📍Bitter leaf juice (fresh leaves juiced or squeezed).
📍As a herbal infusion.
📍As a tea.
📍Cooked, but remember that cooking for long destroys many nutrients.

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