Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is the edible fruit of a tropical vine. It's most commonly grown in the Indian sub-continent, although its specific origin isn't known. Bitter melon is one of the bitterest tasting vegetables as per its name, although the pith does become sweet when the fruit is completely ripe.
Preparation
Bitter melon should be purchased while the fruit is generally light-green but beginning to turn yellow. The fruit is best eaten when it's fully ripe and turns completely orange. The seeds should be removed and the fruit soaked in salt water with the skin intact to remove any remaining bitterness.
Serving Size
The serving size of the bitter melon is 124 grams or about 4.37 ounces. This value is used because it's the approximate weight of 1 cup of the raw fruit.
Calories
A serving of bitter melon contains about 5 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber and 1 gram of protein. Each gram of carbohydrates has 3.75 calories, so a serving of bitter melon has 18.75 calories from carbohydrates. A gram of dietary fiber averages about 2 calories, so a serving of bitter melon has 2 calories from fiber. Each gram of protein contains about 4 calories so a serving of bitter melon has 4 calories from protein. A serving of bitter melon therefore has a total of about 25 calories.
Daily Values
Bitter melon provides 4 percent of the daily requirement for dietary fiber and about 2 percent of the daily requirement for carbohydrate. It also provides less than 1 percent of the daily requirement for protein.
Insignificant Sources
Bitter melon has no significant fat and therefore no significant calories from fat or significant amounts of cholesterol. It's also has no potassium and only 10 grams of sodium, making it a very poor source of these elements.
Vitamins and Minerals
Bitter melon is an excellent source of vitamin C and 1 serving provides 70 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C. Bitter melon only provides about 2 percent of the RDA for vitamin A, calcium and iron.
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