09/06/2018 / By Janine Acero
Contrary to its name, the bitter melon is, in fact, sweet for your health.
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is an herbaceous annual vine that has fragrant yellow flowers and produces an elongated fruit that is harvested for food while immature. The oblong fruit resembles a wrinkly cucumber with white or green skin, which gradually turns to yellow or orange, and white flesh. The bitter melon got its name from the taste of its fruit, which gets more bitter as it ripens.
Chinese varieties of bitter melon are long and relatively smooth, while Indian varieties have more textured skin.
Bitter melons grow well in wet, tropical areas such as Asia (India, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), South America (the Amazon basin, Brazil, and Guyana), the Caribbean, and East Africa. People have used bitter melons in traditional medicinal practices throughout Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
Bitter melon contains many nutrients. The unripe fruit is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as phosphorus and iron. Additionally, bitter melon contains phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids, cucurbitane-type triterpenes, and insulin-like peptides, which put it on the list of foods that can help manage diabetes symptoms. In animal studies, bitter melon supplementation has been shown to have anti-hyperglycemic effects.
Even though bitter melon is primarily used to treat diabetes symptoms, it has also been used to help relieve gastrointestinal problems, such as peptic ulcers and colic, as well as stimulate menstruation in women. It also acts as an antiviral treatment for measles and hepatitis.
In India, it has been used for a wide range of health issues. It is consumed as an anti-parasitic agent, laxative, and contraceptive, as well as a galactagogue (to increase breast milk flow). It is also used to treat eczema, gout, jaundice, kidney stones, inflamed hemorrhoids, pneumonia, psoriasis, rheumatism, fever, and scabies.
Before you grimace at the thought of drinking juiced bitter melon, you may be glad to find that it has a wide range of nutritional benefits to offer. Bitter melon juice contains numerous nutrients, including iron and magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber and contains twice the calcium of spinach, the beta-carotene of broccoli, and the potassium of a banana.
Other nutritional benefits that you can obtain from drinking bitter melon juice include:
Needless to say, you don’t have to drink bitter melon juice on its own. You can reduce its bitterness by adding some honey or jaggery (cane sugar) to it or pair it with sweet fruits like apples or pears. You can also add lemon juice to lessen the harsh taste. A pinch of black pepper and ginger can also decrease the tartness.
Learn more ways to enjoy the benefits of bitter melon at Superfoods.news.
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Tagged Under: bitter melon, blood glucose, colic, folk medicine, food as medicine, gastrointestinal health, herbal medicine, menstruation, Momordica charantia, natural remedies, organics, peptic ulcer, plant medicine, traditional medicine, women's health