Bitter melon is known scientifically as Momordica charantia, but more common names include bitter gourd, bitter cucumber and balsam pear. Though it can be found all over the world, bitter melon is used primarily in South America, East Africa, Asia and India. In these regions it has been used for centuries as medicine as well as food. Research validates the many medicinal uses of bitter melon.
Improves Diabetes
Insulin is a hormone in the body, released by the pancreas, that helps move sugar into the cells where it can be used. If your body does not respond properly to insulin you develop a condition referred to as insulin resistance, according to the National Institutes of Health and the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Insulin resistance greatly increases your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. When researchers in India tested the effects of bitter melon on rats, they found that it improved their insulin sensitivity. The results of the study, published in the April 2008 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition," state that after eating a high fat diet for two weeks, supplemented with servings of bitter melon, insulin sensitivity, insulin signaling and insulin resistance all were significantly improved.
Lowers Triglycerides
Triglycerides are described by MedLine Plus as a type of fat that is found in your tissues and blood stream. Too many triglycerides can cause hardening and narrowing of the arteries, increasing your chance of heart attack or stroke. Researchers in Mumbai examined the effects of an extract of bitter melon on triglyceride levels. The results of their study, published in the Sept. 24, 2007 issue of "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine," show that obese rats fed bitter melon extract had a significant drop in triglyceride levels. At the same time, bitter melon lowered overall cholesterol levels while increasing HDL, or "good," cholesterol levels.
Fights Cancer
Bitter melon shows promise as a cancer-fighting food. The June 2010 issue of "Pharmaceutical Research" reports that bitter melon stops the progression of cancer cells and induces cancer cell death without affecting healthy cells.
Fights Obesity
Obesity is not a case of being a few pounds overweight, but rather having too much body fat. The National Institutes of Health reports that obesity increases your risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Several studies show the positive effects that bitter melon has on fighting obesity. The January 27, 2011 issue of the "Journal of Nutritional Biochemisty" reports that after 12 weeks of supplementation with extract of bitter melon, mice that were fed high fat diets showed improvement in sugar metabolism and a drop in body weight. Another study performed by researchers in Hawaii, published in the June 29, 2010 issue of "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine" shows that juice from bitter melon actually stops the formation of fat cells. Researchers conclude that bitter melon should be considered as an alternative therapy in the treatment of developing obesity.
References
- National Bitter Melon Council: Better Living Through Bitter Melon: Bitter Melon Quick Reference
- NIH: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Insulin Resistance
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) Improves Insulin Sensitivity; MG Sridhar, et al.; April 2008
- MedLine Plus: Triglycerides
- "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine"; Experimental Evaluation of Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract; NP Fernandes, et al.; Sept. 24, 2007
- "Pharmaceutical Research"; Bitter Melon: Antagonist to Cancer; P. Nerurkar, et al.; June 2010
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