Bitter melon or Momordica charantia , its scientific name, is cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. It is characteristic for its fruit edible and also because its seeds are used to make some medicines. But, can this fruit really bring us benefits? What are the properties of bitter melon?
What is bitter melon?
Although there are different varieties of bitter melon, the most common has an elongated fruit and has a peculiar warty or granulated surface . Its pulp is white and juicy, covered with a relatively thin layer around the central hollow cavity. Inside it are numerous seeds, whose appearance is flat and white -in the case of immature seeds-, and bright red when they have matured. The latter are also characterized by presenting a kind of edible berry
Bitter melons are rarely mixed with other vegetables as they provide an intense and very characteristic flavor , although this can be moderate by salting them and later washing them before consumption.
Its use is very common in Chinese, Indian and Japanese cuisine and is often used to be included in soups or as herbal teas.
What benefits can bitter melon bring?
Much is said about the properties of bitter melon due to its bioactive components . Many of these components could provide benefits for our health. But, to this day, there is no conclusive documentation that can serve as scientific endorsement of the benefits that have been imposed on it.
Bitter melon contains a chemical that acts like insulin to help lower blood sugar levels.
Most people declare bitter melon consumption as safe when used in the short term (up to 3 months), but some say that it could cause stomach upset in certain people if the amount of its intake is abused or if it is take for a long time.
So we could say that, officially, its long-term safety is unknown.
Due to the above, there are people who defend the benefits of this fruit and advise using bitter melon from to treat diabetes or stomach and intestinal problems; even to stimulate menstruation and many other conditions. However, there is not enough good evidence to support these uses.
conclusion
Bitter melon has been used in numerous civilizations and generation after generation due to its characteristic flavor and the possible benefits that this fruit could bring to improve the health of those who consume it.
Today, many authors have taken bitter melon as the protagonist of their research, but they have not been able to confirm with any clarity the benefits that many people bring to it.
Although it is true that its scientific support is not enough, each time it goes deeper into its bioactive components and the beneficial effect that they can provide . So it is not surprising that we will soon have news about this food.
