BITTER MELON – A MEDICINE FOR ALL AILMENTS.

BITTER MELON (Momordica Charantia) known by different names such as Ampalaya, Balsam pear, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd, Foo gwa, Karela, La-kwa, etc. Momordica charantia is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae  widely grown for edible fruit, which is among the most bitter of all vegetables. Bitter melon or Bitter gourd is the English names for the plant and its fruit. It looks like a cucumber but with ugly gourd-like bumps all over it.

As the name implies, this vegetable is a melon that is bitter.  There are two varieties of this vegetable:  One grows to about 20 cm long, is oblong and pale green in color.  The other is the smaller variety, less than 10 cm long, oval and has a darker green color. Both varieties have seeds that are white when unripe and that turn red when they are ripe.  The vegetable-fruit turn reddish-orange when ripe and becomes even bitterer. Bitter gourd thrives in hot and humid climates, so are commonly found in Asian countries, Africa and South America.

Westerners may not be so used to bitter melons, so may find difficult to consume.  But they may try to take this, at least for all its healthful virtues! It is now-a-days available in dried and powdered forms in the leading stores.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS-

Bitter gourds are very low in calories but, it is an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3, C, Calcium, magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and has high dietary fiber.  It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of a banana.

Bitter melon contains a hypoglycemic compound. It has another insulin-like compound known as polypeptide P which have been suggested as insulin replacement.

HEALTH BENEFITS-

Bitter melon is one of the best vegetable-fruit that helps improve diabetic and toxemia conditions.

The fruit, leaves, seeds, etc. of the plant of Bitter Melon can be used by cooking, or by making juice, or dried powder and it is very beneficial in curing many ailments.

DIABETES MELLITUS:  Bitter melon contains a hypoglycemic compound
(a plant insulin) that is highly beneficial in lowering sugar levels in blood and urine.  Bitter melon juice has been shown to significantly improve glucose tolerance without increasing blood insulin levels.

CANCER:   Bitter melon extracts may provide benefits for cancers as they have shown anti-cancer activities in a study of Swiss albino mice. A significant decrease in tumor burden was observed in short and long-term treatment.

HIV: There have also been studies done that show benefits to people carrying the HIV virus. The bitter melon has been shown to help with negative reactions to HIV medications.

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS:  Take two ounces of fresh bitter melon juice and mix with a cup of honey diluted in water.  Drink daily to improve asthma, bronchitis and pharyngitis.

MENOPAUSE AND PERIOD IRREGULARITIES OF WOMEN: Regularly taking Bitter melon juice in the morning in the empty stomach may solve your menopause problems such as Hot flashes, and other discomforts.

BLOOD DISORDERS:  Bitter gourd juice is highly beneficial for treating blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to toxemia.  Mix 2 ounces of fresh bitter gourd juice with some lime juice.  Sip it slowly on an empty stomach daily for between four and six months and see improvement in your condition.

TOXEMIA:  Bitter gourd contains beneficial properties that cleanse the blood from toxins.  Sip two teaspoonfuls of the juice daily to help cleanse the liver.  Also helpful in ridding jaundice for the same reasons.

PILES:  Mix three teaspoonfuls of juice from bitter melon leaves with a glassful of buttermilk. Take this every morning on empty stomach for about a month and see an improvement to your condition.  To hasten the healing, use the paste of the roots of bitter melon plant and apply over the piles.

CHOLERA:  In early stages of cholera, take two teaspoonfuls juice of bitter gourd leaves, mix with two teaspoonfuls white onion juice and one teaspoonful lime juice.  Sip this concoction daily till you get well.

ENERGY:  Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice has been proven to improve energy and stamina level.  Even sleeping patterns have been shown to be improved/stabilized.

EYE PROBLEMS:  The high beta-carotene and other properties in bitter gourd makes it one of the finest vegetable-fruit that help alleviate eye problems and improving eyesight.

HANGOVER:  Bitter melon juice may be beneficial in the treatment of a hangover for its alcohol intoxication properties.  It also help cleanse and repair and nourish liver problems due to alcohol consumption.

IMMUNE BOOSTER:  This bitter juice can also help to build your immune system and increase your body's resistance against infection.

PSORIASIS:  Regular consumption of this bitter juice has also been known to improve psoriasis condition and other fungal infections like ring-worm and athletes feet.

CONSUMPTION TIPS-

Choose unripe bitter melons that are firm, like how you would a cucumber.  Avoid those that have turned orange or have soft spots.  Ripe bitter melons can be excessively bitter.

Clean your bitter melon under cold running water and brush with a soft vegetable brush.  To prepare, slice the melon length-wise and scoop out the seeds.  To lessen the bitter flavor, soak it in salt water for about half an hour before juicing/cooking.

The smaller variety is bitterer than the bigger one.  To help make bitter gourd juice more palatable, take it with honey, or add carrot or apple juice.  For diabetics, drink the juice with green apple juice.

CAUTION-

Do not consume more than two ounces of bitter melon juice, or more than two melons a day.  Excessive consumption may cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea.  Diabetics taking hypoglycemic drugs will need to alter the dosage of their drugs if they consume bitter melon on a regular basis.  Please consult your doctor.

Pregnant women should avoid taking too much bitter gourd or its juice as it may stimulate the uterus that may lead to preterm labor.