Ivy gourd or Kundru – can this vegetable help you manage type 2 diabetes?

Ivy gourd or Kundru – can this vegetable help you manage type 2 diabetes? 

New Delhi: Experts all over the world believe that a healthy diet and lifestyle can help prevent type 2 diabetes, and delay its onset for years in people who are more at risk. Experts also believe that a healthy diet and regular exercise, among some other lifestyle changes, can help in the management of diabetes and keeping blood sugar controlled, for people who have the disease. When the question of a “healthy” diet arises, people often find themselves confused.

However, while eating clean, home-cooked food sounds like a healthy diet, there are some vegetables, fruits, and food items that are more beneficial than others in keeping blood sugar managed. Certain characteristics of some food items help in keeping blood sugar low and diabetes controlled. One such vegetable is Kundru or Ivy gourd.

Ivy gourd is known by as many names as it has health benefits – many. Ivy gourd is called kundru, tendla, tindola, little gourd, tela kucha among many other names. Ivy gourd is a small, green vegetable with seeds in it, and is widely consumed in parts of India and the world. 

How can Ivy gourd help control diabetes?

Ivy gourd has been used as a remedy for various health problems like diabetes, asthma, constipation, high cholesterol and others. While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence available about the health benefits of the vegetable, limited scientific evidence, research and studies have been undertaken to find out how and why does it help treat or prevent certain conditions.

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According to a research review conducted in 2003, it was found that ivy gourd may be helpful and effective in the treatment of diabetes. The review found that American ginseng and ivy gourd had the strongest scientific support for their effectiveness in the treatment.

Another research in 2011 found that blood sugar levels of people who had ivy gourd for a meal were lower than those who had a placebo, which shows a link with reducing blood sugar levels.

Another research found that ivy gourd may help in reducing blood sugar levels, but did not recommend the use of any herbs or vegetables as a treatment for diabetes unless there was enough evidence.

However, here is why ivy gourd could be a suitable vegetable for a diabetic diet -

1. Ivy gourd contains fibre. Ivy gourd is a fibrous vegetable. Fibre plays an important role in keeping blood sugar levels low by reducing the rate at which sugar is released into the blood.
2. Ivy gourd also contains water which helps the body stay hydrated. The body can perform all its functions properly if it is hydrated.
3. Ivy gourd contains very few calories, which helps in keeping weight in control. Weight plays a very important role in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.