Bitter melon is a weird fruit that you might never have seen unless you go to a tropical place or you work hard to find it in specialty shops, but it is certainly a great one to have on your shopping list.
Bitter melon is a plant from Southeast Asia and has been a natural solution for many medicinal uses. In modern science, it is known to aid in lowering inflammation and cholesterol and may lower your risk of certain cancers.
Here is everything you should know about this weird and unique fruit.
1. Bitter melon and diabetes
Bitter melon has been used within Asian countries as a diabetes remedy, according to a new study that shows its benefits. “The benefits of bitter melon have been linked to its high amount of antioxidants,” the study says. In a different research study, bitter melon was looked at for its protective power against diabetes and insulin resistance in obese rats. “Bitter melon greatly helped glucose tolerance as well as insulin sensitivity,” the scientists said.
2. Bitter mellon and cholesterol
Bitter melon, which is also called Bitter gourd, could be helpful for managing high cholesterol, according to research that fed different fruit parts to rats to find out which was better for reducing cholesterol. The animals who ate the flesh of Bitter Mellon and its seed extract had the best results, with their blood lipids and LDL going down. So if you are worried about high cholesterol, trying adding extract powder to a smoothie.
3. Bitter melon and weight loss
A high-fiber meal plan is important to losing weight and bitter melon features 2 grams of fiber for every 100 grams, which means it is a fiber superfood considering it has just 34 calories. Add some bitter melon to a salad for a very nutritiously dense meal.
4. Bitter melon and inflammation
Chronic inflammation is connected to a host of health problems, according to some studies, and bitter melon was proven to help lower your inflammation. The plant is said to have good anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial benefits, according to some research.
Author: Steven Sinclaire