Bitter Melon Health Benefits – Discover Why it Could Be Your Life Saver!

Many of you will likely say, bitter what? Getting this reaction is not strange since bitter melon isn’t a very popular food. What is bitter melon? True to its name, it’s actually a melon type fruit that is bitter. It resembles a cucumber with gourd-like bumps and has a very bitter taste, or simply put, a lumpy, shriveled up cucumber.

If you believe that natural is always better, then boost your health and manage diabetes among other things by consuming more bitter melon, as long as doing so is not contraindicated or harmful to your health. It’s not always necessary to resort to drugs or other therapeutic regimens when what you need for your optimal health can be included in your diet.

Now, let’s find out how you can indulge your sweet tooth with bitter melon.

What is Bitter Melon?

Scientific Name: Momordica charantia

Common Names: Bitter melon, Bitter squash, Bitter gourd, Balsam-pear, Wild cucumber
Other Names (Past and Present)
Chinese: ku-gua/p’u t’ao
Filipino: ampalaya/parya
French: assorossie
German: wunderbalsamfel
Guyana: carilla
India: Karela (various dialects)
Italian: balasamini lunghi
Japanese: nigauri/tsurureishi
Sanskrit: karavella
Spanish: calabasa china
Shuri-naha (indigenous Okinawan language): goya
Vietnamese: kho qua

Plant Description

The bitter melon plant is a tropical and subtropical vine and a member of the Cucurbitaceae family which is native to Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. It is famous for its extremely bitter yet highly nutritious fruit.

Bitter melon is an herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine that can grow as long as 16 ft. or 5 m. in length. It has simple, alternate leaves that measure around four to twelve cm. across with three to seven leaves that are deeply serrated. Every plant bears individual male and female yellow flowers.

The bitter melon fruit has an oblong shape and a noticeable warty exterior, similar to a pockmarked cucumber. It is hollow when cut in half and has a thin layer of flesh around the central seed cavity which is full of big, flat seeds as well as a pith. Bitter melon is usually eaten while it’s still green or almost turning yellow. At this point, the flesh of the fruit is crunchy with a watery texture, just like chayote, cucumber, and bell pepper, albeit it is very bitter in taste. The skin is both tender and edible. Remove the pith and seeds before cooking it since it is seldom eaten raw because of its extremely bitter taste. The taste of bitter melon is described by many as something unpleasant and chalky.

As the bitter melon ripens, it becomes even more bitter and the skin becomes tougher. The pith turns red and in this state, it can now be eaten raw. Once it is fully ripe, bitter melon appears orange and mushy, exposing seeds in a bright red pulp.

Bitter Melon Varieties

Different types of melon around the world include:
China – oblong, 20-30 cm. in length, pale green and with a tapering end and a slight undulating warty exterior
India – green to white, narrow with pointed ends and a surface full of jagged triangular ridges and teeth
India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan – 6-10 cm. and often served stuffed

Overall, it has two main varieties, the first one that is pale green in color, oblong, and up to 20 cm. long. The other one is much smaller, oval, dark green in color and shorter than 10 cm. in length. They both have white seeds when unripe and red seeds when it ripens. When it ripens, it becomes even bitterer and turns reddish-orange in color.

Bitter melon grows best in hot and humid climates like Asia and South America. Bitter melon contains 17 calories for every 100 grams of weight. It’s a close relative of cantaloupe, casaba, honeydew and muskmelon.

History of Bitter Melon

Bitter melon originated in India and was later introduced to the people of China during the 14th century. It has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes worldwide since ancient times. Bitter melon is native to India and certain places in Africa which later spread to China, the Philippines, Japan, and other Asian countries through trade. It quickly reached the shores of Eastern and Northern Europe. Although the more appropriate name for it is bitter gourd, the term bitter melon stuck in English speaking countries even if it’s not at all related to melons. It’s also the reason why there are different varieties of bitter melon because it is now grown in many parts of the world.

Ancient Uses for Bitter Melon

Bitter melon was used as an ancient remedy for the following physical ailments:

• GI problems
• Skin infections like scabies (Ayurvedic medicine)
• Burns
• Asthma
• Tumors
• Colic
• Hypertension
• A dry cough, throat problems, bronchitis, and chronic cough (Chinese medicine)
• Sprains, fractures, and slow-healing sores
• Painful menstruation
• Viral infections
• Heal wounds
• Malaria (Asia and Africa)
• Childbirth

Nutritional Properties of Bitter Melon

How is Bitter Melon Beneficial?

The plant has a chemical in it that mimicks the effects of insulin, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. Bitter melon contains charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-P. These are the three established compounds enabling bitter melon to lower blood sugar levels. They work by increasing glucose uptake as well as glycogen synthesis in the muscles, adipose tissues, and the liver to boost glucose tolerance. Also, bitter melon contains lectin. This chemical lowers blood sugar concentrations and curbs the appetite by acting on the peripheral tissues, just like what insulin does to the brain. Lectin is likewise considered to be a crucial factor, apart from the three compounds above, that triggers a hypoglycemic effect after consuming bitter melon.

Four glycosides, known as cucurbitane triterpenoids, were isolated by researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and Garvan Institute of Medical Research from the fresh bitter melon. They are responsible for activating the AMP-activated protein kinase enzyme which regulates GLUT4 translocation and triggers a hypoglycemic effect.

Healing Properties of Bitter Melon

At the very least, bitter melon has 32 active chemicals including:

• Lycopene
• Lutein
• Mormordin
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Quinine
• Vicine
• Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C,
• Zeaxanthin

Health Benefits of Bitter Melon

• Treats blood disorders – Mix 2 oz. fresh bitter melon juice and some lime juice. Before eating, sip it slowly each day for four to six months to treat blood disorders.
• Treats cholera in its early stages – Take two teaspoons of bitter melon leaf juice along with two teaspoons of white onion juice and a teaspoon of lime juice. Sip this each day until you are well again.
• Reduces blood glucose in diabetics – Bitter melon has hypoglycemic effects because it is rich in the phytonutrient charantin. (1)
• Boosts energy and stamina level – Drinking bitter melon juice on a daily basis has been shown to boost energy, stamina and improve sleeping patterns.
• Relieves eye problems and improves vision – Bitter melon is good for overall eye health because it is high in beta-carotene and other healing properties.
• Relieves gout pain – As a liver cleanser, bitter melon cleanses the blood of toxins, relieves gout pain and enhances blood circulation.
• Treats hangover – Drinking bitter melon juice can help cure a hangover by cleansing and repairing the liver after consuming alcoholic beverages. It promotes liver purification, restoration, and nourishment and helps clear the system of alcohol.
• Treats piles – Extract at least three teaspoons of bitter melon juice from the leaves and mix it in a glass of buttermilk. Drink this concoction each morning before eating. Do this for a month. To speed up healing, make a paste from its roots and apply it on the piles so your condition improves.
• Improves psoriasis – Drinking bitter melon juice regularly helps treat psoriasis by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme guanylate cyclase as well as other fungal infections like athlete’s foot and ringworm.
• Cures different skin conditions – Daily intake of bitter melon helps cure eczema and prevents the appearance of blemishes and acne. Also, bitter melon enhances skin texture and adds a natural glow. Moreover, bitter melon has been proven to be effective to heal various skin eruptions, burns, chapped skin, and hemorrhoids.
• Manages respiratory disorders – At least 2 oz. of fresh bitter melon juice along with a touch of honey mixed in water and consume each day can improve asthma, pharyngitis and bronchitis.
• Treats toxemia – The healing properties of bitter melon can get rid of the toxins in your blood by simply drinking 2 teaspoons of bitter melon juice each day for liver cleansing and treating jaundice.
• Prevents constipation – Bitter melon is rich in cellulose, which is an excellent source of fiber that helps prevent constipation. It contains cellulose which acts as a GI agent and stimulates gastric juices secretion. As a result, it not only relieves you of constipation, but dyspepsia as well.
• Metabolizes fat – Bitter melon stimulates the liver to secrete more bile juices to facilitate fat metabolism.
• Boosts the immune system – Drinking at least a glass of bitter melon juice each day boosts immunity and helps the body fight infections. It can also help cancer patients by improving the immunity of their cell function.
• HIV/AIDS adjunct treatment – Bitter melon contains alpha and beta-momorchardin proteins that can inhibit the HIV infection, as indicated by a test-tube study that was published by the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. Experts advise consuming bitter melon to treat HIV or combine it with other AIDS treatment. A separate study revealed that recombinant MAP30 from bitter melon is an anti-HIV plant protein helpful for managing acute infections and also the chronically-infected cells of HIV patients. (2)
• Treats Herpes – According to in vitro studies conducted in 1996, bitter melon contains MAP30 and GAP31 (both anti-HIV proteins present in bitter melon) that inhibit the reproduction of the herpes virus and reduce the ability to form plaque (patches of irritated skin). (3)

Bitter Melon for Diabetes

Many people often ask if bitter melon is good for diabetics. The answer is yes. Bitter melon is often associated with diabetes because of its blood glucose lowering effects. (4) Bitter melon has hypoglycemic properties because of the presence of charantin, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids that work to lower both urine and blood sugar levels without causing the blood insulin levels to spike. It has earned the title “vegetable insulin” because bitter melon has always been associated with diabetes management.

For further proof of bitter melon’s effectiveness in the treatment of diabetes, Chinese, German, and Australian researchers conducted a study on bitter melon and diabetes and found that it contains four compounds that activate the enzyme which transports glucose from the blood and into the cells. The enzymes are known as AMPK, which can also be activated during exercise. Another 2013 study identified these four cucurbitane glycosides present in bitter melon increased AMPK activity mediating fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake. (5)

The journal, Chemistry and Biology, published an article on March 2008 stating that AMPK directs glucose transporter molecules to the cell’s surface, thereby helping supply the cell with glucose from the blood. Another report from Science Daily indicated that the same rationale applies to why patients with Type-2 Diabetes are urged to exercise as part of their treatment regimen.

In 2003, Diabetes Care published a systematic review citing several human studies that prove bitter melon can indeed lower blood glucose levels. (6) There were a couple of short-term, placebo-controlled metabolic studies reporting that bitter melon was able to lower blood glucose. Meanwhile, more open-label and uncontrolled trials reported excellent glycemic control after test subjects consumed bitter melon for a span of seven to 11 weeks. The biggest human study involving bitter melon was conducted in India and published in the Bangladesh Medical Research in 1999. One hundred patients consumed bitter melon pulp in an aqueous suspension and had an oral glucose tolerance test taken an hour and two hours after the bitter melon extract was given. The results were lower than the results taken the previous day, indicating that bitter melon is a promising supplement for diabetes.

Bitter Melon for Cancer

A 2010 study done in the U.S. showed bitter melon extract was used to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. The results of the study disclosed that the bitter melon extract resulted not only in cancer cell growth suppression but most importantly, in apoptotic cell death. (7)

Another 2010 study conducted by American Association for Cancer Research on breast cancer and bitter melon suggests that bitter melon extract prevents the proliferation of breast cancer cells by modulating cell cycle regulatory genes resulting in apoptosis. (8)

Also, another study that determined the effects of bitter melon on cervical cancer revealed that its intake can boost the natural killer (NK) cell count in both the treatment and the control group of cervical cancer patients who are undergoing radiotherapy. (9) The body needs more NK cells because they fight off cancer cells.

Precaution

Too much bitter melon can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Be cautious when giving this to infants, children or people with low blood sugar because it can cause their blood sugar to drop even lower. Diabetic patients should consult their doctor to monitor their reaction and the stability of their blood sugar. Pregnant women should consult their doctor before consuming large amounts of bitter melon because it has been found to be an abortifacient or have abortive properties. The same thing applies to nursing or lactating women. Lastly, bitter melon is a known emmenagogue, meaning it increases menstrual flow among women.

Bitter Melon Supplements and Vitamins

Aside from including bitter melon in your diet, traditional practitioners suggest drinking it as a tea by boiling its leaves and stems. If you can’t tolerate drinking the recommended 50 ml. of fresh bitter melon juice once daily, or don’t feel like including it in your diet because of its bitter taste, take bitter melon supplements to enjoy all the health benefits bitter melon offers.

Another way to make bitter melon juice is by washing the bitter melon and peeling off its skin. Peeling the skin is optional. Next, cut it into fine pieces and put it into the juicer. Add some lemon to mask its bitter taste.

A study conducted by the Department of Health in the Philippines determined that taking 100 mg. of bitter melon/kg. of body weight lowers blood glucose levels by up to 2.5 mg./kg. of the drug glyburide, a sulfonylurea drug that diabetic patients take twice a day. Bitter melon pills are now sold in the country as a supplement and also exported to other countries.

Bitter Melon Dosing

Bitter melon tea tastes better and isn’t as bitter as the plant. Some say it tastes better than green tea. Since most bitter melon supplements are available as an extract, dried, juiced, or as a powder, it may be that manufacturers have used all parts of the plant. If you decide to buy bitter melon supplements, the daily dosage recommendation is anywhere from 200 to 900 mg. of the powder or extract and 50 to 100 ml. of juice thrice a day. Since there are different preparations and dosages, it may be tricky to determine the exact recommended daily dose for bitter melon. This confusion can also result in experiencing unwanted side effects.

Bitter Melon Side Effects

Bitter melon, like any bitter-tasting plant, stimulates digestion but exacerbates ulcers and heartburn. According to traditional reports and clinical experience, this side effect rarely happens since bitter melon is just a mild inflammatory mediator.

Common side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Headaches

Adverse reactions:

• Miscarriage
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Hypoglycemic Coma
• Liver inflammation

Bitter Melon Drug Interactions

Use bitter melon with care or consult your doctor before taking bitter melon if you are on:

• Diabetes medications (chlorpropamine, insulin, glyburide, or phenformin)

Bitter Melon Recipes

Bitter melon is a seriously underappreciated veggie that might take some getting used to, but it is packed with lots of nutrients the body needs to live a long, healthy, and quality life in the years to come. If you are looking for a recipe that can lure even the pickiest of eaters to try bitter melon, try the following recipes and hope it works.

Despite its awful bitter taste, many cuisines embrace bitter melon. Most Asian dishes with bitter melon in it counteract the bitterness of the bitter melon with sweet, spicy or savory ingredients.

Indonesians consume bitter melon in various ways such as in salads, cook it in coconut milk, or stir-fried. Vietnamese stuff it with ground pork and add it in soups or steamed dishes. Thais use powerful birds eye chilies with bitter melon and add generous amounts of fish sauce, too. The Chinese stir fry bitter melon together with ground pork and black beans and add dried red chilies afterward to taste.

Preparing to Cook Bitter Melon

Before cooking, preparing the bitter melon is crucial so the dish turns out palatable at the very least. Cut it in half and remove the bitter melon seeds together with the fibrous core. To eliminate the bitterness, blanch the bitter melon in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Some recipes specify that you should blanch it first before actually cooking it.

It is not necessary to peel the skin because it is edible. Even though bitter melon seeds are hard, they are edible, also. Bitter melon recipes usually call for it to be curried, stuffed, or pickled but you can cook it any way you like, from main dishes, desserts, to bitter melon smoothies. It is commonly cooked as bitter melon soups or stir-fried, but can also be steamed. To mask its bitterness, you can add chili peppers, garlic, fermented black beans and coconut milk.

Cooking Tips:

• Similar to eggplant, you can sprinkle salt on its flesh to decrease the bitter taste. Remove the core and sprinkle it with lots of salt. Let it sit for ten minutes. Rinse it and cook it as you like.
• Blanching is another way to consume it. As mentioned earlier, you can blanch the bitter melon to make it less bitter by removing the core, slicing it and then boiling it in a pan with salted water. Remove it after a minute and drop in ice cold water. Not only does blanching decrease bitterness, but improves its color too.
• Another way to make bitter melon less bitter is by lightly pickling it. For one bitter melon, boil a cup of white vinegar. Add two tablespoon each of salt and sugar and one teaspoon of turmeric. Bring it to a boil and add the slices of bitter melon. Boil for another couple of minutes. Remove, drain, and then cool. Cook as you like.

I. Bitter Melon Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 sliced bitter melon
• 1 cup sliced mushroom
• ½ cup chopped cilantro
• 1 cup vegetable bouillon

Preparation:

• Boil three to four cups of water in a small to medium pot.
• Add bouillon.
• Wash and remove the bitter melon seeds and slice.
• Add it to the boiling broth.
• Add mushrooms.
• Cook for five minutes.
• Add the chopped cilantro.
• Put some chopped cilantro leaves on top of the soup.
• Serve with ground pepper as desired.

II. Sautéed Bitter Melon (Filipino Ginisang Ampalaya)

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Ingredients:

• 2 large and sliced bitter melon (ampalaya)
• 2 l eggs
• ¼ kilogram ground pork
• 1 tomato
• 1 onion
• Salt and pepper
• Vegetable oil
• ½ sachet Maggie Magic Sarap (seasoning)
• ¼ cup water

Preparation:

• Put a small amount of vegetable oil in a pan for sautéing.
• Sauté the onion.
• Add the tomatoes and cook one minute.
• Add the ground pork one minute.
• Cover the pan.
• Cook until the ground pork is brown.
• Add bitter melon.
• Add water.
• Cover and wait until the water dissolves.
• Add beaten eggs.
• Add Maggie Magic Sarap.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

III. Bitter Melon Pickles

Ingredients:

• 2 bitter melon
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 100 ml. vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 red chili pepper

Preparation:

• Cut the bitter melon across and scoop out the seeds.
• Cut it into 5 mm. slices.
• Sprinkle with salt.
• Wait 30 minutes.
• Once it has wilted, strain and pour hot water over it.
• Put this in a container.
• Add seasonings.
• Allow it to marinate.
• Chill it in the refrigerator.
• Add marinated sliced onion if you wish.

IV. Bitter Melon Juice with Ginger, Honey, and Lemon

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Ingredients:

• 2-3 small bitter melon
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ cm. ginger
• ½ to 1 l
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup ice cubes

Preparation:

• Clean the bitter melon. cut it in half and remove the seeds.
• Blanch if necessary to decrease the bitterness.
• Put the ice cubes in a blender.
• Add the chopped bitter melon.
• Blend for 20 seconds.
• Add lemon juice, ginger (powder or grated), and honey to taste.
• Pour through a cheesecloth to strain.
• Drink this as a smoothie.

If you want to make a bitter melon juice instead, just use a juicer rather than a blender and put the ingredients in one at a time and add the lemon juice and honey in the glass afterward.

Additional Tips:

• When you buy bitter melon, choose unripe ones. They are best for cooking with their bright green skin, tender seeds, and white flesh.
• Don’t buy bitter melons that are already orange or have soft spots because they are already ripe and extremely bitter.
• Before storing, wash them in cold running water. Dry with paper towels before storing in a plastic container.
• Bitter melon can last for three to five days when stored in your fridge’s vegetable crisper drawer.
• Bitter melon will ripen immediately when stored at room temperature or alongside other fruits or veggies and make it very bitter.

Conclusion

Not all good things come in great packages. Sometimes, it’s in the form of a bitter and warty-looking vegetable you’d never eat raw even if you’re life depended on it. With a little bit of culinary help, bitter melon can be tolerable and palatable for many. It’s worth eating this bitter-tasting veggie for all the nutrients it has and science backs it.

If you don’t mind having a bit of a gastronomic adventure and are willing to eat anything that can boost your health and treat different ailments, it’s worth giving bitter melon a try. Nature has provided us everything that our body and health will ever need. They might not be packaged nicely, but they definitely do a good job.

As to how you can indulge your sweet tooth with bitter melon, that’s kind of obvious. When you no longer have to worry about spiking blood sugar, you can definitely indulge your sweet tooth then. Just remember to eat it in moderation or end up with a toothache instead.

Other Sources

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http://bittermelon.org/
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http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/
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