Bitter gourd (melon) is perhaps the secret vegetable of the Okinawa Islander longevity! Although the bitterness of Bitter-melon might turn some people away from, it can really sweeten your health because of its disease preventing and health promoting phyto chemical compounds. Bitter melon is a temperate /tropical vegetable probably originated in South-East Asia. Like other members of the Cucurbitaceae family, this plant is a fast-growing, trailing or climbing vine with thin stems and tendrils and requires trellis to support the climbing vine. The vegetable is very low in calories, providing just 17 calories per 100g. Nevertheless, its pods are rich in phytonutrients like dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants.
Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd
Aids in Digestion
Bitter Gourd has antihelminthic or anthelmintic compounds. This property is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and can kill parasitic worms inside our body. Bitter gourd reduces the amount of glucose that is released into the blood by inhibiting the enzymes that break down disaccharides to two monosaccharides (e.g. glucose).
Bitter melon is also one of the best remedies for diabetes. It has the ability to increase the insulin sensitivity in our body. The charantin compound of this fruit keeps the amount of glucose low, that’s why if you think that you are already experiencing hypoglycemic, do not eat this fruit or its leaves. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability of a cell to absorb the sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due development of resistance to insulin. In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of insulin produced.
Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. They help to reduce the bad cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduce the chances of heart attacks. Also it is known to lower blood sugar levels that help in maintaining good heart health.
It is an excellent source of health benefiting flavonoids such as ß-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, and zea-xanthin. It also contains a good amount of vitamin A. Together; these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging, cancers and various disease processes.
It might be unbelievable but bitter melon also contains Vitamin-C. Vitamin C is good in eliminating free radicals. Free radicals are source of malignant cells, so help yourself in eating Vitamin-C rich food to avoid the production of free radicals in your body. Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against infections. This also helps to build your immunity.
Loss of Weight
Bitter Melon contains antioxidants, which help to flush out your system. This improves your metabolism and digestive systems thus helping you lose weight quickly. The two other major factors that aid in weight loss is the calorie control and filling components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are low on calories which allow you to consume more quantities of them.