Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear, is commonly grown in tropical areas and used as a food as well as a medicine.
It belongs to the gourd family and has a warty texture. It tastes very bitter. In fact, it is the most bitter among all edible vegetables.
The pods can be light to dark green in color and have oblong or oval shapes with a pointed tip at the blossom end. The inner flesh is white with rough-edged seeds. The seeds turn red when ripe.
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The nutritional value of this vegetable includes protein, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, vitamins A, C and several B vitamins.
It also contains a good amount of dietary fiber and is low in calories. It also has linolenic acid (an essential, omega-6 fatty acid) and oleic acid (an unsaturated fat).
Bitter melon is used in cooking for its bitter flavor, usually in stir-fries, soups and curries. You can even brew tea from the fruit, leaves and stems of the plant or drink bitter melon juice.
Steps to make bitter melon juice
Wash 1 or 2 medium-size bitter melons under cold running water.
Slice them down the center with a sharp knife, then scoop out the seeds and white flesh with a spoon.
Cut the green flesh of the melon into small pieces.
Soak the pieces in a glass of water for 20 to 30 minutes.
Blend the soaked bitter pieces along with the water.
Strain the juice to remove any solid pieces.
Add honey, black pepper powder, lemon juice or ginger juice for taste.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of bitter melon.
1. Controls Diabetes
Bitter melon helps control diabetes due to its blood glucose-lowering effect. It has three active substances with anti-diabetic properties, including charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p.
It helps increase pancreatic insulin secretion and prevents insulin resistance, making it beneficial for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.
According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, a 2,000 mg daily dose of bitter melon significantly reduced blood glucose levels among people with Type 2 diabetes. However, the hypoglycemic effect was less than that found with a 1,000 mg/day dose of metformin.
Drink ½ to 1 cup of bitter gourd juice on an empty stomach each morning.
You should also include one dish made with bitter gourd daily in your diet.
Note: Do not forget to take your diabetes medications as directed by your doctor. Also, keep monitoring your blood sugar level.
2. Purifies Blood
Bitter melon also works as a natural blood purifier. Impure blood can cause symptoms like constant headaches, allergies, fatigue and weakened immunity.
Bitter melon helps in cleansing or detoxifying impurities in the blood. This helps in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to toxemia. It even imparts a “glowing” effect on the skin and keeps the skin free from problems like acne, psoriasis and eczema.
Add a little lemon juice and honey to a glass of fresh bitter melon juice. Sip it slowly on an empty stomach daily for six months.
3. Supports Liver Health
Bitter melon has hepatic properties, making it highly beneficial for your liver health. It promotes the filtering functions of your liver, which helps cleanse the blood of impurities, and aids in removing harmful toxins from the liver.
A properly functioning liver reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, jaundice and other health issues.
Drink a cup of bitter melon juice at least once a day to keep your liver healthy.
4. Lowers Cholesterol
This healthy vegetable also helps lower your level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or the ‘bad’ cholesterol).
Moreover, its phytonutrients and antioxidants help increase your level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or the ‘good’ cholesterol) and improves your LDL/HDL ratio.
A low bad cholesterol level automatically reduces the risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.
Include bitter melon in your diet or take a supplement after consulting your doctor.
5. Boosts Immunity
Regular intake of bitter melon can also help reinforce your immune system and improve the body’s ability to fight disease. Its antioxidant property works as a powerful defense mechanism against illness.
It even protects the body from free radical damage that interferes with the immune system.
Include bitter melon in your diet to prevent serious diseases.
You can also drink 1 to 2 cups of bitter melon tea daily to boost your immunity. To prepare the tea, steep 4 to 5 bitter melon pieces in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes.
6. Protects against Cancer
Another health benefit of bitter melon comes from its anti-cancer properties. The antioxidants in it help fight free-radical damage that can cause numerous types of cancer. It is helpful in preventing or reducing the risk of cervical, prostate and breast cancers.
Researchers analyzed the anti-tumor activity of bitter melon in a 2010 study published in the Pharmaceutical Research journal.
They concluded that bitter-melon-related products induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis without affecting normal cell growth. This helps in the treatment of different types of cancer.
To help ward off cancer, include bitter melon in your diet or drink its juice on a regular basis.(top10homeremedies)
The pods can be light to dark green in color and have oblong or oval shapes with a pointed tip at the blossom end. The inner flesh is white with rough-edged seeds. The seeds turn red when ripe.
Sponsored links
The nutritional value of this vegetable includes protein, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, vitamins A, C and several B vitamins.
It also contains a good amount of dietary fiber and is low in calories. It also has linolenic acid (an essential, omega-6 fatty acid) and oleic acid (an unsaturated fat).
Bitter melon is used in cooking for its bitter flavor, usually in stir-fries, soups and curries. You can even brew tea from the fruit, leaves and stems of the plant or drink bitter melon juice.
Steps to make bitter melon juice
Wash 1 or 2 medium-size bitter melons under cold running water.
Slice them down the center with a sharp knife, then scoop out the seeds and white flesh with a spoon.
Cut the green flesh of the melon into small pieces.
Soak the pieces in a glass of water for 20 to 30 minutes.
Blend the soaked bitter pieces along with the water.
Strain the juice to remove any solid pieces.
Add honey, black pepper powder, lemon juice or ginger juice for taste.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of bitter melon.
1. Controls Diabetes
Bitter melon helps control diabetes due to its blood glucose-lowering effect. It has three active substances with anti-diabetic properties, including charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p.
It helps increase pancreatic insulin secretion and prevents insulin resistance, making it beneficial for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.
According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, a 2,000 mg daily dose of bitter melon significantly reduced blood glucose levels among people with Type 2 diabetes. However, the hypoglycemic effect was less than that found with a 1,000 mg/day dose of metformin.
Drink ½ to 1 cup of bitter gourd juice on an empty stomach each morning.
You should also include one dish made with bitter gourd daily in your diet.
Note: Do not forget to take your diabetes medications as directed by your doctor. Also, keep monitoring your blood sugar level.
2. Purifies Blood
Bitter melon also works as a natural blood purifier. Impure blood can cause symptoms like constant headaches, allergies, fatigue and weakened immunity.
Bitter melon helps in cleansing or detoxifying impurities in the blood. This helps in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to toxemia. It even imparts a “glowing” effect on the skin and keeps the skin free from problems like acne, psoriasis and eczema.
Add a little lemon juice and honey to a glass of fresh bitter melon juice. Sip it slowly on an empty stomach daily for six months.
3. Supports Liver Health
Bitter melon has hepatic properties, making it highly beneficial for your liver health. It promotes the filtering functions of your liver, which helps cleanse the blood of impurities, and aids in removing harmful toxins from the liver.
A properly functioning liver reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, jaundice and other health issues.
Drink a cup of bitter melon juice at least once a day to keep your liver healthy.
4. Lowers Cholesterol
This healthy vegetable also helps lower your level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or the ‘bad’ cholesterol).
Moreover, its phytonutrients and antioxidants help increase your level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or the ‘good’ cholesterol) and improves your LDL/HDL ratio.
A low bad cholesterol level automatically reduces the risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.
Include bitter melon in your diet or take a supplement after consulting your doctor.
5. Boosts Immunity
Regular intake of bitter melon can also help reinforce your immune system and improve the body’s ability to fight disease. Its antioxidant property works as a powerful defense mechanism against illness.
It even protects the body from free radical damage that interferes with the immune system.
Include bitter melon in your diet to prevent serious diseases.
You can also drink 1 to 2 cups of bitter melon tea daily to boost your immunity. To prepare the tea, steep 4 to 5 bitter melon pieces in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes.
6. Protects against Cancer
Another health benefit of bitter melon comes from its anti-cancer properties. The antioxidants in it help fight free-radical damage that can cause numerous types of cancer. It is helpful in preventing or reducing the risk of cervical, prostate and breast cancers.
Researchers analyzed the anti-tumor activity of bitter melon in a 2010 study published in the Pharmaceutical Research journal.
They concluded that bitter-melon-related products induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis without affecting normal cell growth. This helps in the treatment of different types of cancer.
To help ward off cancer, include bitter melon in your diet or drink its juice on a regular basis.(top10homeremedies)
