Healthy Bitter Melon

The bitter melon (also known as bitter gourd) looks like a cucumber but with ugly gourd-like bump all over it. The scientific name of Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon is ‘Momordica Charantia’ Bitter Gourd, also called Bitter Melon, has an acquired taste. The plant is grown mainly for the not fully formed fruits although the young leaves and tips are edible.

Bitter Melon seed has hard skin and needs warm/wet soil conditions during germination. Though it has a bitter taste it is widely used in Cooking especially Indians.Its an healthy vegetables ,it having more healthy benefits . Young bitter gourds which do not have hard seeds are the best for cooking. If the seeds are not tender they are mostly removed before cooking. This Vegetable is usually not mixed with other vegetables because of its bitter taste.

Nutritional Benefits

Bitter gourds are very low in calories but dense with valuable nutrients.  It is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, C, 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 gourd benefits:

• Bitter gourd is used as herbal medicine for diabetes. It has hypoglycemic or insulin-like compound, known as "plantinsulin". It reduces the blood and urine sugar levels. For best results diabetic should take the juice of about four or five fruits every morning on an empty stomach.

• Bitter Melon is very helpful in variable the Blood Sugar Levels and as a Diabetic Cure. It is also used to care for hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and substandard metabolism of carbohydrates. It is also said to increase the body's resistance against infection.

•  Bitter gourd is proven effective in treat blood disorders like blood boils, itching, scabies, psoriasis, ring-worm and other fungal diseases.

• Bitter melon aids digestion and can be used by those with digestive disorders and constipation.

• Bitter gourd can help improve eye problems and improving eyesight.

• Bitter gourd juice is beneficial in the treatment of a threaten because of its detoxifying property. It also helps cleanse, repair and nourish liver.

• Regular utilization of bitter juice is known to improve skin condition.

• Bitter gourd stimulates our digestion and can be very potent in people with dyspepsia and constipation.

•  Bitter melon is helpful in the treatment of intestinal worms and diarrhea.

• It is also said to improve the exemption, hence can help to prevent common colds and fevers.

• It is very low in carbohydrates, hence can be included in the diets of people who need to follow a carbohydrate restricted diet such as in diabetes and polycystic ovarian diseases. Hence is a very good vegetable to be served with cereals.