Bitter Melon

Has anybody eaten biter melon before? A lot of Asians eat it but some can't because of its bitter taste. I enjoy cooking it with soups and sometimes fried with eggs. There are actually some medicinal benefits too:

Bitter melon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bitter melon has been used in various Asian and African herbal medicine systems for a long time.[6][7][8] In Turkey, it has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly stomach complaints.[9][10] The fruit is broken up and soaked in either olive oil or honey.
[edit]Active substances

The plant contains several biologically active compounds, chiefly momordicin I and momordicin II, and cucurbitacin B.[11] The plant also contains several bioactive glycosides (including momordin, charantin,charantosides, goyaglycosides, momordicosides) and other terpenoid compounds (including momordicin-28, momordicinin, momordicilin, momordenol, and momordol).[12][13][14][15][16] It also contains cytotoxic(ribosome-inactivating) proteins such as momorcharin and momordin.[17]
[edit]Anticancer

Two compounds extracted from bitter melon, α-eleostearic acid (from seeds) and 15,16-dihydroxy-α-eleostearic acid (from the fruit) have been found to induce apoptosis of leukemia cells in vitro.[18] Diets containing 0.01% bitter melon oil (0.006% as α-eleostearic acid) were found to prevent azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.[19]
Researchers at Saint Louis University claim an extract from bitter melon, commonly eaten and known as karela in India, causes a chain of events which helps to kill breast cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying.[20] [21]
[edit]Antihelmintic

Bitter melon is used as a folk medicine in Togo to treat gastrointestinal diseases, and extracts have shown activity in vitro against the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans.[7]
[edit]Antimalarial

Bitter melon is traditionally regarded in Asia as useful for preventing and treating malaria.[citation needed] Tea from its leaves is used for this purpose also in Panama and Colombia. In Guyana, bitter melons are boiled and stir-fried with garlic and onions. This popular side dish known as corilla is served to prevent malaria. Laboratory studies have confirmed that species related to bitter melon have antimalarial activity, though human studies have not yet been published.[22]
[edit]Antiviral

In Togo, the plant is traditionally used against viral diseases such as chickenpox and measles. Tests with leaf extracts have shown in vitro activity against the herpes simplex type 1 virus, apparently due to unidentified compounds other than the momordicins.[7]
Laboratory tests suggest compounds in bitter melon might be effective for treating HIV infection.[23] As most compounds isolated from bitter melon that impact HIV have either been proteins or lectins, neither of which are well-absorbed, it is unlikely that oral intake of bitter melon will slow HIV in infected people. Oral ingestion of bitter melon possibly could offset negative effects of anti-HIV drugs, if an in vitro study can be shown to be applicable to people.[24]
[edit]Cardioprotective

Studies in mice indicate bitter melon seed may have a cardioprotective effect by down-regulating the NF-κB inflammatory pathway.[25]
[edit]Diabetes

In 1962, Lolitkar and Rao extracted from the plant a substance, which they called charantin, which had hypoglycaemic effect on normal and diabetic rabbits.[26] Another principle, active only on diabetic rabbits, was isolated by Visarata and Ungsurungsie in 1981.[27] Bitter melon has been found to increase insulin sensitivity.[28] In 2007, a study by the Philippine Department of Health determined a daily dose of 100 mgper kilogram of body weight is comparable to 2.5 mg/kg of the antidiabetes drug glibenclamide taken twice per day.[29] Tablets of bitter melon extract are sold in the Philippines as a food supplement and exported to many countries.[29]
Other compounds in bitter melon have been found to activate the AMPK, the protein that regulates glucose uptake (a process which is impaired in diabetics).[30][31][32][33][34]
Bitter melon also contains a lectin that has insulin-like activity due to its nonprotein-specific linking together to insulin receptors. This lectin lowers blood glucose concentrations by acting on peripheral tissues and, similar to insulin's effects in the brain, suppressing appetite. This lectin is likely a major contributor to the hypoglycemic effect that develops after eating bitter melon.[citation needed] As bitter melon is extremely bitter if eaten raw, it must be cooked to make it palatable.
[edit]Weight loss

In combination with Chinese yam, bitter melon has been shown to contribute to weight loss. Over a period of 23 weeks, those eating the diet containing bitter melon lost 7 kilos.[35]
[edit]Other uses

Bitter melon has been used in traditional medicine for several other ailments, including dysentery, colic, fevers, burns, painful menstruation, scabies and other skin problems. It has also been used asabortifacient, for birth control, and to help childbirth.[7]

[Podshell]

I have had it at Krsna temples, they deep fry it until crispy , you have it in a side dish with a bit of salt. Lovely stuff, I wish I could grow it.

Yes, I've eaten it. My partner is Asian--supposed to be good for colds. I'm not really fond of it though.

[knightofalbion]

More on bitter melon's anti-breast cancer role

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8530730.stm

[Berry]

I used to eat bitter melons. I remember my relatives saying that they are good for us because of their anti inflammatory properties. We would stir fry them with a bit of garlic, salt, and soy sauce. Soy sauce takes away some of the bitter taste but soy sauce isn't very healthy.

Originally Posted by Berry

I used to eat bitter melons. I remember my relatives saying that they are good for us because of their anti inflammatory properties. We would stir fry them with a bit of garlic, salt, and soy sauce. Soy sauce takes away some of the bitter taste but soy sauce isn't very healthy.

I prefer seasoning sauce.

[Berry]

Originally Posted by serenesam

I prefer seasoning sauce.

What seasoning sauce do you use?

Originally Posted by Berry

What seasoning sauce do you use?

This one:

http://importfood.com/sagm0705.html

[norseman]

I am most interested concerning the connection between Bitter Melon and diabetes. Anyone got any personal knowledge of this ?

[Berry]

Originally Posted by serenesam

This one:

http://importfood.com/sagm0705.html

Thanks, this one has no preservatives!