The Top 10 Health Benefits of Bitter Melons (Karela, Ampalaya)

Bitter Melon, there are other kinds but proteins are all the same.

What are bitter melons?

Bitter melon (karela, ampalaya) or momordica charanti (scientific name), is an herb that is used in some countries like Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa to help control blood sugar level and maintain a healthy system. The Chinese used this fruit as part of their diet on a daily basis to “clean” their system by consuming it every day. There are tons of benefits for this fruit. This is considered a fruit because it has seeds, but some people think it’s a vegetable for cooking. Vegetable in general, usually consist of leaves, stalks or roots from plants. And because it’s a melon it is already a fruit. Very similar in nutrients to those of dandelions.
There are many issues that can arise from high blood sugar levels. It can also be a problem if it is too low. Diabetes is probably one of the biggest issues from high blood sugar and from diabetes other issues will also arise. Why treat a disease when you can be free from it by eating right and exercising. There are numerous ways to slowly bring your sugar level back to normal and all it takes is some dedication. If you are unable to do this then your only solution is to be on medication without any options for a cure and will not be completely free from it. We often make a lot of excuses because we feel that we have given up and maybe let some higher power determine our fate. Why do that when some changes can be this simple.

What it looks like inside, seeds and some loving :)

What makes a bitter melon special?

Bitter melon has an excellent source of nutrients, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of banana, twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, manganese, zinc, folic acid, alkaloids, peptides, steroidal saponins, fiber, phosphorus and vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 than most vegetables and fruits. Think of it like this, you need to eat one bitter melon daily along with every meal for about two months to decrease your diabetes from advancing and hopefully reverse it just as fast. The taste is acquired for this type of veggie/fruit. There are many recipes in cooking bitter melon as well as lowering the bitter taste of it. To remove or lighten the bitterness of a bitter melon just remove the seeds, cut it thinly than salt it and make sure they are all covered in salt. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, than squeeze out the liquid and rinse it out.

A bitter melon can be preserved by slicing it and heating it in an oven at 400 degrees till it's dry.

What can a bitter melon do?

Since there are way too many benefits of eating bitter melon, let’s take a look at the more important ones such as:

Top 10 Reasons (there are more)

1. Diabetes - One of every ten adults suffers from this disease, and it’s becoming a bigger problem every day. One way this fruit can help is by regulating the blood sugar level. We all know when the level is too high it means bad things to come. But when you see a doctor, most will prescribe medicine to lower it. And what happens when you are all out of meds? You go and get more. This is only prolonging the problem. Controlling blood sugar level is the only way to be diabetic free with minimal damage to the entire system. When insulin receptors become ineffective or does not function as it should, it is called a down regulated insulin receptor. Using bitter melon in the diet can help reverse the insulin resistance effect. Bitter melon helps diabetics to treat insulin resistant without medication. This is an important role in prevention and treatment of type II diabetes which is also known as insulin-independent diabetes. This can also prevent further diabetic complications that are cause by chronically high sugar concentrations. This can lead to blindness, kidney diseases, stroke, heart attack, and diabetic feet. Eating bitter melons or drinking the extract or even taking the pill form in many cases can reverse the effectives of diabetes.
2. Cancer – Eating or drinking the juice from the melon can help prevent certain types of cancer. It is also known to decrease and kill leukemic cancer cells, according to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It can stop cancer cells from spreading and this can increase chances of a full recover. But the diet must be consistent for this to be in an effective way to treat this disease otherwise it will not work.
3. AIDS/HIV – The disease that brings scare to most, this is a disease that is becoming a wide spread issue. The first case which was discovered in the United States among gay men in 1981, but the disease itself has been around far longer than that. In the Belgian Congo in 1959 there was a Bantu man had died from an unknown illness which made this man the first known case for HIV. Bitter melon glycoprotein beta-momorcharin helps inhibit synthesis of macromolecules in splenocytes, embryos, and tumor cells. This protein also retards the effects of HIV by using the protein to deactivate the ribosome function in HIV infected cells by stopping protein synthesis and eventually kills the cells which are infected.
4. Antioxidant – Antioxidants help protect us, it’s a cell which prevents damage taken from free radicals. Free radicals can come from natural environmental toxins which are common. There are also those from pollution and smoking, and some byproduct from normal metabolism. It has been proven that it will boost the immune system.
5. Asthma – Very high number of positive results has come back with patients that have suffering from a chronic cough and bitter melon in this case has helped with releasing sputum that is accumulated within the respiratory tract and lungs. Many who have used bitter melon extract or eaten it regularly belief that it helps relief them of asthma.
6. Skin – Acne or wrinkle skin? The chemical or serum within a bitter melon has been known to be used for acne and wrinkles. Because of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties this can aid in acne issues.
7. Digestion – Helps with digestion of food by producing digestive enzymes.
8. Weight loss - Low calorie and carbohydrate with definitely help with dieting and also strengthen your immunity.
9. Injury or wounds – It helps with controlling the blood flow to help heal wounds faster and also prevent any infection.
10. Constipation – It works wonders on constipation without having to cause diarrhea.

Bitter Melon Substitute

 

And than...

It's a huge trade off, a little bit of bitter melon daily and you can resolve some issues that are fairly life threaten without having to keep chugging pills. And if this is added into your diet on a daily basis it can also help with the immune system and allergies. It will not work with just one night eating bitter melon or drinking bitter melon juice. It will take some time for it to show some results and therefore a lot of patience would be required. Just like any natural healing or strengthener, the effects just happen without knowing.

IMPORTANT:

Bitter melon has its benefits and also its side effects. Some are listed below.

• When pregnant it is important not to eat bitter melon or its supplements, it can cause an unwanted abortion. Chances are low but why risk something that can be avoided.
• If you are hypoglycemic do not use supplements, eating is fine just maintain a reasonable portion.
• Too much bitter melon or bitter melon supplement can cause stomach pain and diarrhea.

There is little to list for side effects but it's better to know than not. It’s a major food source for some countries and widely consumed in Asia. Because its widely used most of the important side effects are listed, the less common ones are basically just overeating. Just avoid over taking supplements, those are entirely different if over used because they are concentrated and dosage is by far different than the fruit itself.
Thanks for checking this out, please comment.

Other links of interest

• Reversing Diabetes Without the Use of Drugs
  Diabetes is easily a disease that has its grip on many people of all ages. Medications can sometimes have side effects and might cause other issues while treating another. Natural methods has been a choice of many in resolving health issues. Diabetes