Bitter
Melon Health Benefits
 What
bitter melon
health benefits can you expect? - There is growing interest in the
health benefits that are contained in this vegetable.
In addition to being highly nutritious, it's packed full of substances
that experts belief can help in preventing and treating cancer, diabetes and viral infections such as
HIV/AIDS.
Facts
on Bitter Melon
Bitter
melon is a common vegetable that is eaten in India and many Asian
countries. As the name implies, it taste bitter and many westerners may
not like eating it.
This vegetable is packed with nutrition and vitamins. It is a rich
source of many essential nutrients:
- high in iron
- high in dietary fiber
- twice the beta carotene of broccoli
- twice the calcium of spinach
- twice the potassium of bananas
- magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus and manganese
- vitamin A, C, B1, B2 and B3
Research
studies to support the bitter melon health benefits
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
Bitter melon is
found to contain an insulin-like protein (polypeptide P) that is shown
to lower blood
sugar levels. This is verified in both animal and human studies.
HIV/AIDS
Researchers found that
bitter melon contains a protein (MAP30) that shows antiviral and
anti-cancer effects in lab studies. This protein stops the HIV and
herpes virus from multiplying and infecting other healthy cells.
Cancer prevention and cure
There
is also growing interest in using bitter melon in cancer therapy.
Studies done in lab suggest that the MAP30 protein is able to stop
cancer by reducing the number of growth factor receptors in cancerous
cells.
Bitter Melon
Side Effects and
Precautions
Generally,
most people taking up to 1 gram of bitter melon three times daily do
not experience any side effects. However, higher doses seem to cause
upset stomach and diarrhea in some people.
Eating the bitter melon
fruit, taking the extract or drinking bitter melon tea is known to
lower blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar levels more
frequently, especially when you start or stop taking this vegetable.
Do not take during pregnancy as it may have abortative properties.
Dosage
to Use
The effective dosage to use
to treat diabetes is currently unknown. Adjust the amount you take and see its effects on your blood sugar levels.
Juice - Drink up to
50 mL (about 2 oz) of bitter melon juice daily.
Tincture - Take 5
mL two or three times daily.
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