Health Benefits of Bitter Melon (Gourd)

Health Benefits of Bitter Melon (Gourd)

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.

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

• 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.

2. Purifies Blood

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

Drink a cup of bitter melon juice at least once a day to keep your liver healthy.

4. Lowers Cholesterol

Include bitter melon in your diet or take a supplement after consulting your doctor.

5. Boosts Immunity

• 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

To help ward off cancer, include bitter melon in your diet or drink its juice on a regular basis.

7. Aids Weight Loss

You can include bitter melon in your diet or take a supplement after consulting your doctor.

8. Kills Intestinal Worms

• Drink ½ cup of bitter melon juice on an empty stomach for a week.
• Another option is to crush 5 to 10 dried bitter melon seeds. Fry the crushed seeds in a little clarified butter and have it twice daily for a week.

9. Treats Hangovers

• Drink ½ cup of bitter melon juice after a night of binge drinking to reduce hangover.
• To help quit your drinking habit, mix 3 teaspoons of bitter melon in a glass of buttermilk and drink it once daily on an empty stomach for a few months.

10. Treats Hemorrhoids (Piles)

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in bitter melon make it a very good remedy for hemorrhoids, also known as piles.
It also contains dietary fiber that softens stools and increases the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. This in turn helps treat hemorrhoids as well as chronic constipation.

• Mix 2 to 3 teaspoons of juice extracted from bitter melon leaves in a glass of buttermilk. Drink it every morning on an empty stomach for about a month.
• Also, make a paste of the roots of the bitter melon plant and apply it topically to external hemorrhoids to reduce inflammation and relieve pain and bleeding.

Tips and Warnings

• When buying bitter melon, opt for fresh, young and tender bitter melons that are dark-green. Avoid those that have turned yellow or orange or have soft spots.
• Always rinse your bitter melon under cold running water before juicing or cooking.
• To reduce the bitterness, soak bitter melon pieces in salt water for 10 minutes and then use it for cooking.
• To improve the taste of bitter gourd juice, add honey, or carrot or apple juice.
• Do not consume more than 2 to 3 bitter gourds a day, as excessive intake can cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea.
• Pregnant women should avoid taking too much bitter gourd, as it may lead to preterm labor.