The Karela in English may have different names for the vegetable, but all the other aspects of the Karela fall into the same circle as its English counterpart. Karela is a common vegetable in many parts of India due to its popularity; there is a large quantity of kerala being made every single year to meet the ongoing demand of consumers.
While the benefits certainly exist, it is information that has driven many people to choose Karela over the majority of vegetables because the health benefits are numerous with Karela.
And the bottle gourd taste might not be for everybody, but the people who are used to it and have eaten it in droves will prefer to take the bottle taste of Karela any day over other vegetables. In India, the vegetable is very popular as many buy it on a daily basis because of the sheer number of nutrients it offers to our body.
There are also other aspects of Karela that also makes the vegetable interesting in the market. This article will go through all the aspects of Kerala, including Karela in English name, and how Karela helps fight against multiple common symptoms in our body.
| English name | Bitter gourd |
| Binomial Name | Momordica charantia |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Order | Cucurbitales |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus | Momordica |
| Species | M. charantia |
| Clade | Tracheophytes |
| Clade | Angiosperms |
| Clade | Eudicots |
| Clade | Rosids |
Karela in English
Karela in English is called Bitter gourd vegetable; the bitter taste of the vegetable is one of the popular reasons behind the consumption of Karela. Different states in India might have names for the vegetable in a discussion. The popularity of the vegetable has come from many decades of consumption. The market certainly
The popularity of the Karela vegetable comes from the range of benefits it offers to our bodies. The color of the vegetables is brown, and they are known for their bitter taste. In many parts of India, Karela vegetables go through many steps before it reaches the mouth of any person.
Since it carries a bitter taste, direct consumption might only be suitable for some people. Hence there are different techniques that go into play to make the vegetable more appealing. Most people will stick to Kerala since it is the popular name for Bitter gourd vegetables.
Highlights of Karela vegetable
While the benefits of Karela get praise, there are other things that you should know about them. This section will go through all the major highlights of karela vegetables.
- The nutrients and minerals numbers are pretty decently available in kerala.
- The taste of Karela is bitter and pungent; you can use many ways to make the vegetable more edible by using different cooking techniques.
- Karela is a very anti-inflammatory vegetable, making it perfect for dealing with inflammatory problems.
- Overconsumption might not be the best idea; Karela, despite its range of benefits, has its fair share of side effects that will create many problems in your body.
- You can easily cook the vegetable without adding too much effort to the cooking style.
The karela vegetable has a different meaning in the Indian household compared to its value in the outside world. Many Indian households do cherish the long legacy of Karela and its role in Indian traditional recipes.
Benefits of Karela vegetable
The healthy benefits of Karela vegetables will always be its highlight. The Karela in English or Bitter Gourd might not be backed up by years of research or studies for their claims. Everything you hear about bitter gourd might not have any legitimate research backing it up.
Before you read up about any benefits of bottle gourd or Karla, you need to take a look at the side effects and the list of factual evidence to back up the claim. It is better to do some bit of research beforehand; here, we are going to cover most of the benefits of Karela that are legitimately backed-up studies.
This section will be all about the benefits that come from Karela vegetables.
1. Nutrients present in Karela vegetables
Nutrients will always be a stealer for many people who want to make changes to their overall diet. Choosing the fruits and vegetables that carry a long list of vegetables will always be a preferred way to make a decent change to the diet routine. Here we are going to look at all the major nutrient values of Karela.
| Nutrients | Amount per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 357.31 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 24.53 g |
| Protein | 15.89 g |
| Fiber | 20.58 g |
| Calcium | 1034 mg |
| Fat | 21.11 g |
| Phosphorous | 329 mg |
| zinc | 5.67 mg |
| Iron | 13.65 mg |
| Omega-3 fats | 76.71 mg |
| Sodium | 28.58 mg |
| Potassium | 1692 mg |
| Folate (vitamin B9) | 51.79 mcg |
| Beta carotene | 746 mg |
| Vitamin A | 124.33 mcg |
| Magnesium | 273 mg |
| Manganese | 6.86 mg |
Bitter gourd carries a rich amount of Vitamin C, which will help with preventing disease, formation of bone, and wound healing. Kerala also comes with high vitamin A, making your skin health better and allowing your vision to be sharper.
2. Can help prevent cancer
The bitter melon extract was shown to be powerful in killing cancer cells in the stomach, colon, lung, and nasopharynx. Another study done on animals showed bitter melons exactly block the growth of breast cancer cells.
The studies done on bitter melon are done with a concentrated amount of bitter melon on individual cells in a laboratory. More research is needed to get a clear sight of the possible future of bitter melon effects against cancer.
3. Lowers blood sugar
A 3-month study showed 24 adults taking 2000 mg of bitter melon experienced decreased blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c. It took them three months to control their blood sugar level.
4. Helping with cholesterol levels
When your body acquires high levels of cholesterol levels, it will force your heart to work harder to pump blood which will then lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Studies on animals showed cholesterol helps decrease the risk of heart disease by cutting down the cholesterol level.
Only one study on human beings showed bitter gourd taking care of the LDL or, as it is known, bad cholesterol levels.
5. Perfect for weight loss
The high fiber aspect of Karela makes it a better choice for people who are watching over their weight. You will get around 2 grams of fiber in each 100 gm of serving. Fiber will pass through your body very slowly, which will help your body to feel fuller for a long time lowering the hunger for fast food.
6. Other lists of healthy benefits of Karela
Some people can get tired of eating the same old food over and over again. But here, the addition of multiple recipes will make your food more diverse. As there are thousands of recipes surrounding Karela, you can craft to make your overall diet more interesting.
Again the benefits of Karela are supported by animal studies; you will have a tough time if you want to look for human-based studies or evidence. More research needs to be done on bitter melons to find out other crucial benefits that the world doesn’t know about.
We might see in the future how bitter melon can be effective against other common or irregular symptoms in our bodies.
Side effects of Karela vegetable
Karela can add a lot of benefits to our bodies, but limited consumption is advised. You can’t go overboard and start consuming bitter gourd on a daily basis. There are certain side effects that will pop up if you start doing that. This section will cover all the side effects of Karela that you should know about before trying it out.
Excessive consumption of Karela or bitter gourd will put your health at risk of experiencing adverse effects. Here are some of the major side effects of Karela that could happen if you decide to raise the consumption of Karela vegetables.
1. Abdominal pain
Karela vegetables can lead to abdominal pain. If you are having problems with your abdominal, then you need to skip Karela from your diet.
2. Not for pregnant women
Pregnant women should also avoid consuming Karela, as it can lead to multiple long-term effects on health.
3. Blood sugar issues
Karlea does have its fair share of impact on the blood sugar in our body, so if you are having problems with your blood sugar level, then you need to consult a doctor before taking it without any precaution.
Underlying health consumption should be an issue that you need to think about before trying out something new to your diet. If you are already on medication, then you need to ask for advice from your doctor to see if your body is compatible with bitter gourd.
Nutrients in Karela vegetable
Karela in English translates to bitter gourd; while the name here is different, the vegetable they all point to is the same. You will find different names for bitter gourd in other states of india; the taste here will be very unpleasant.
It is the range of benefits that you get with Karela that forces people to start with the vegetable. Compared to most affordable vegetables, kerala does stand on its own as being one of the best vegetables you can add to your regular diet.
| Nutrients | Quantity | % of DV |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 17 Kcal | <1% |
| Carbohydrates | 3.70 g | 3% |
| Protein | 1.00 g | 2% |
| Total Fat | 0.17 g | 0.5% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.80 g | 7% |
| Vitamins | Quantity | % of DV |
|---|---|---|
| Folates | 72 µg | 18% |
| Niacin | 0.400 mg | 2.5% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.212 mg | 4% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.043 mg | 3% |
| Riboflavin | 0.040 mg | 3% |
| Thiamin | 0.040 mg | 3.5% |
| Vitamin A | 471 IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 84 mg | 140% |
| Electrolytes | Quantity | % of DV |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 5 mg | <1% |
| Potassium | 296 mg | 6% |
| Minerals | Quantity | % of DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 19 mg | 2% |
| Copper | 0.034 mg | 4% |
| Iron | 0.43 mg | 5% |
| Magnesium | 17 mg | 4% |
| Manganese | 0.089 mg | 4% |
| Zinc | 0.80 mg | 7% |
| Phyto-nutrients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carotene-ß | 190 µg |
| Carotene-alpha | 185 µg |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 170 µg |
As you can see, the amount of nutrition and protein bitter gourd packs within will absolutely have an impact on your overall health. Adding to your regular routine can be beneficial and will be very helpful in the future.
All about Karela vegetable
When you take a look at the gourd type of vegetable, most of them have the same kind of shape and appearance structure. But bitter gourd is a bit different compared to the rest. This section will go through all the nitty bit basic details of bitter gourd.
The appearance of Karela
The food here is going to be as long as 2 to 10 cm long. The exterior of the gourd will be as clean as some other gourds in the market, such as bottle gourds. Here the exterior will be a bit rough. Each plant will have yellow-colored male and female flowers.
Size of Karela
The size here will be decent, very small compared to bottle ground; you can expect the bitter gourd to be half of the size of a common bottle gourd. Some of the bitter gourds will show up in a smaller size.
Taste of Karela vegetables
The popularity of kerala vegetables comes from their taste; even if people never heard of it know kerala to be one of the bitter vegetables in the market.
The smell of Karela vegetables
The odor of kerala will smell like a cucumber which is part of the gourd family. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them when you go by the smell of the vegetable.
Cultivation area
A bitter gourd gets cultivated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, l, Odisha, Assam Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Types of Karela vegetable
There are more than 20 types of bitter gourd that you can find in the market, but when you narrow the search zone to India, you will find 8 of them to be very popular in the country. Here are some of the popular types of Karela available in the Indian market.
1. Pusa Do Mausmi
Perfect for the rainy season and spring and summer. Here the fruits are dark, long, and medium.
2. Coimbatore Long
Here, the Karela is long, tender, and white in color.
3. Akra Harit
Here, the fruits are attractive and spindle-shaped, with glossy green color on the exterior. They are very small in size.
4. VK-1 Priya
Here, the fruit will grow up to 35 to 40 cm long,
5. Phule Priyanka
This one is more of a Hybrid variety and comes with dark green fruits. The size of the fruits is going to stay between 20-25 cm long with tubercles.
6. Phule Green Gold
Here, the fruits are going to stay between 25 to 30 cm long./ The color here is going to be dark green tubercles.
7. Phule Ujwala
The fruits here are going to be between 18 to 20 cm long. The color of Karela here is going to stay dark green with tubercles.
8. Pride of Gujarat
The fruits here are small, round, and whitish-green in appearance. The weight of the fruit is going to stay between 8 to 10g.
These are the most popular varieties of bitter gourd that you can buy in the market. It can be difficult to find all of them in your local store; you will need to do a lot of research digging to find the store that has the type of bitter ground you are looking for in your diet.
Some photos of karela
Karela Recipes in the cuisine world
The English name for Karela might be different, but the difference here does translate to how we cook the dish in our household. The majority of Indians will have their own twist on the karela dish and its patience before cooking.
Since the vegetable is weirdly popular in the region, it is easy to say that you will have no trouble finding the Karela that you enjoy. You don’t have to stick to the default one; people have found a variety of ways to cook with bitter gourd without running its list of nutrients or minerals.
Common types of Karela recipes
Most of the karela recipes here are easy to follow by including Bitter gourd vegetables or Karela as a main key ingredient for the preparation of the dish. Other ingredients get added to make the taste better and lower the bitterness of the vegetable that it is known for. This section will cover some of the most popular Karela dishes available for you to try out.
Most of the items that include Karela as a main ingredient will have a more simple implication of the vegetable without too much effort. Most of the time, Indian households prepare to roast the Karela with another vegetable to make the bitterness less standing in the mouth.
- Karela sabzi
- Karela meeta
- Karela pakoda
- Karela chili
Indian households have come up with plenty of recipes that stray too far from the traditional understanding of Karela. Now the DHS has seen countless makeovers or experiments to make the bitterness go away, and the tastebuds will be left with good tasty food without dealing with the bitterness aspect of the vegetable.
You can apply your own method to cook with Karela; again, you don’t need years of experience to make it happen; a simple understanding of basic cooking will get you fine on the road.
Diverse amount Karela recipes
The Indian household has never had a shortage of Karela-related dishes as a main or side ingredient without using any chemicals. When you are consuming fast food, they certainly taste better than what you would have inside your house.
but at the same time, you will have to deal with the disadvantages of eating fast food. Karela will add a great variety to your overall diet by balancing taste and healthy nutrients on both sides of the scale.
The best thing about Karela is you don’t have to be a professional chef to get your way around the Karela recipes.; You only have to know the bare basics to get started in the world of taking care of bitter gourd dishes.
The recipes you will come across on youtube or many articles will be very simple and easier to do without putting way too much effort. That means you can do it within 10 minutes, a perfect diet plan for everyday meals.
But you should be aware of the side effects of Karela as well if the bitter gourd doesn’t sit well in your body. You will need to consult a doctor right away to get the problem solved.
Karela price in India and global market
The price of Karela will be under the affordable category, as the price here will stay under 50 rupees. The cost here stays consistent most of the time. A variety Of bitter gourds might accelerate the budget really fast; as long as you are sticking to the common variety, you will not have to worry about exaggerated prices.
Different forms of Karela products will have their own separate pricing to them. For example, a karela juice will go out for 250 rupees, which is far beyond the realm of the common karela price.
The products that use Karela vegetables will show up at the 200 rupees mark, but when you look over to premium types of Karela, the price might go up to 500 rupeesOrganic choices will also enhance the asking price for the vegetable.
Some of the organic items go on for twice as much as they would have cost if you chose the common variation of the vegetable. While organic has its own share of benefits, for cost, it sure drives them to higher numbers.
The cost of Karela will fluctuate a lot; in many parts of India, you will have a harder time finding Karela at the same asking price. By buying online, things could stay consistent without too much fluctuation. The cost of Karela all comes down to the quality of the vegetable and the brand name attached to it.
The fluctuation of the price will remain between 200 to 300 radars for commonly branded Karela vegetables. Again you don’t have to settle with a premium one; most of the bitter gourd variety shares the same type of nutrients inside.
It is better to start off slowly with a common variety of Karela vegetables before moving up the ladder.
The international price for Karela vegetables.
The international cost of bitter gourd will be sitting around $2 to $3 per kg as of May 2023. Again, the price does differ compared to the previous month or the week before, but the average asking price for Karela will stay under the $4 range.
Bitter gourd vegetables are popular for their benefits; you will oftentimes find many farmer brands competing against each other on the price and quality of the products they drop in the market.
The price will not stay the same; the Indian varieties will go for $3, while at the same time, you will find different varieties of bitter gourd that will easily break the asking price to $5 to $10.
Variation of bitter gourd does matter; the type you decide to purchase will have its demand and supply chain. If the demand is high, then you might encounter a high availability of vegetables, but that rarely becomes the case for premium-quality vegetables. Since most people want to consume the prime kind, the market raises the price too high.
If, locally, I can’t find Karela, then you need to hop online; here, the price can be a tad bit expensive since you will have to deal with multiple transportation costs that will bring the price up even higher compared to the average cost of the vegetable.
There are also other shenanigans that you will come across when you are buying from an online market. It is better if you stick to the local zone and get the best Karela for your diet.
- Karela vegetables in India are priced – from 30 rupees to 50 rupees
- Karela vegetable in Usa. – $3 to $5
- Karela vegetable in Europe – €3.85 to €5.25
- Karela vegetable in Canada – CA$2.75 to CA$2.85
- Karela vegetable in Australia – A$4.22 to $5.45
All the data was taken from the online market; the links are mentioned below to find the product from the aforementioned countries.
Where should I buy the Karela vegetable?
The popular vegetables in any market, whether local or foreign, will always have a wide range of supplies maintaining the stock. All the vegetable products will have different costs, but at the same time, the quality will also be different.
The cost of Karela compared to any vegetable pictures is the same old picture; you will not see any difference in Karela’s asking price compared to others. Karela vegetable dominates the Indian market because of its traditional and healthy usage of the vegetable.
The cost of bitter gourd will always fluctuate between 30 to 50 rupees; again, they are very cheap and easily available no matter what store you walk into your area. Most vegetable-related shops will often throw discounts and other coupons to bring the price down to an even lower number; the same rule applies to the world of online as well.
You will not have to deal with too much hassle; the cost of Karela is always going to be affordable. Make sure to pick the right store owner.
You will need to pick the store that offers fresh vegetables without any substance added. Switching to organic vegetables is always going to be a better choice if you don’t want to deal with any chemicals that come with vegetables nowadays.
They might cost twice as much as the regular vegetable, but they will be better for your health. But all the nutrients and other values that make Karela one of the most infamous vegetables in the market will stay the same without any drastic changes.
Conclusion
Karela in English is known for its own usage, but in India, it has become a household name. When you look at the range of benefits and nutrient value it has to offer, you will understand why Karela is a popular item or product going out in larger quantities online and in the local market. While the name of kerala is different in english than the native tongue, the key aspects of it stay the same.
While bitter gourd might not settle in the world of many people, you will need to consult a doctor before you decide to try it out. It will be far better if you go into the food, knowing it will have no bad reaction once it enters your stomach.
FAQ
The popularity of the Karela vegetable has given plenty of fast food people a more health-conscious mindset.
Where can I find Karela vegetables in India?
You can always visit your local grocery store or nearby mall to buy karela vegetables at an affordable price. The vegetable here is not expensive at all; while different varieties are present, the common variation of Karela or bitter gourd will be the popular or available one in the market.
Since the cost here is pretty low, you will have no problem finding an abundant amount of bitter gourd in the market.
Is Karela vegetable easy to cook for first-timers?
Since Karela is a common vegetable and has been in the Indian market for a long time, the vegetable is very simple to cook without putting any effort into it. Indian households have limited and simple dishes that can easily be cooked by anyone by putting in a little amount of effort.
Common karela recipes are popular since they are easier to cook with by anyone, as common karela recipes or dishes can be cooked in under 10 minutes by putting little to less effort into it. In short, yes, you can cook the bitter gourd easily without putting any effort into it.
What does Karela vegetable taste like?
The bitter taste of Karela throws most people away at first. But if you want to take care of your health and don’t want to deal with the taste of the Karela, then you can look for recipes that suppress the taste of the vegetable without letting it stay in your mouth for a long time.
The bitter taste is not for everybody, but there are ways you can cook food with a diverse range of species and ingredients to lower the bitterness of the bitter gourd.
Are Karela vegetables good for your health?
One of the reasons why kerala has grown to be a popular vegetable in the indian market is because of its nutrient factor. While you shouldn’t consume the vegetable on a daily basis, setting up a proper limitation is recommended so you will not have to deal with any of the major problems from it.
Benefits and multiple studies done on Karela do have positive effects on health. But more studies need to be performed to ensure how Karela will affect other major diseases in the world. But for now, you will have to see the vegetable as a decent amount of nutrient-filled vegetable. If you are allergic in any way, then make sure to stay clear of it.
Are Karela vegetables expensive?
They are indeed very cheap and affordable for anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much on food. If you have a strain on your budget, then keeping the spotlight on affordable healthy dishes is the best way to set up a diet plan for the long run. Bitter gourd is one of the many cheap vegetables that actually delivers on the nutrient content while keeping the price to a very minimal level.
