I had to share with you all this wonderful vegetable called "Bitter Melon." I had gestational diabetes with my pregnancy and was placed on a diabetic diet. During which I dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 but back to 12 towards the end thank to water. If you know any diabetic or trying to be healthy in general please add this to your diet.
What is bitter melon?
Bitter melon, bitter cucumber or karela bitter melon is also a good source of nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and phosphorus. Findings from both human and animal studies have demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect of concentrated bitter melon extract, meaning it helps to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels and regulate the body’s use of insulin. In many ways, bitter melon extract acts just like insulin that the body produces naturally.
Does it really reduce blood sugar levels? Yes it does my sugar dropped 80 points with just using 1 bitter melon. So this is a great vegetable to add especially for diabetics.
A report printed in the International Journal of Microbiology states that powdered bitter melon has been used in Ayurveda for centuries “for dusting over leprous and other intractable ulcers and in healing wounds, especially when mixed with cinnamon, long pepper, rice, and chaulmugra oil.” Additionally, studies have identified anthelmintic agents within bitter melon, a group of anti-parasitic compounds that help expel parasitic worms and other internal parasites from the body. Anthemintics work by killing parasites internally, without causing significant damage to the host (the person or animal carrying the parasite).
There’s evidence that bitter melon extract can help reduce stomach and intestinal disorders, decrease kidney stones, help prevent liver disease and improve liver function, help treat parasitic worms that enter the GI tract, reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (including colitis) and improve overall digestive health. Research done at Annamali University in India showed that extract from bitter melon increased levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, helping to improve detoxification and prevent liver damage.
Extracts of bitter melon have been shown to increase metal chelating, promote detoxification, prevent lipid peroxidation, and inhibit free radical damage which contributes to cell mutations and tumor growth.
How to use Bitter melon?
Cut into half, remove seeds and cook or juice with it. Add to soups, stir fry and any food.
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