HEALING FOOD
Featured Recipe: BITTER MELON STIR-FRY
* There are spectacular discoveries in the field of cancer research involving this humble, unpopular gourd, called the Bitter Melon, which has an almost resentful embittered taste. But don’t just give up, you’ll see that this gourd has “other” great health benefits to offer humanity.
According to Brittanica, “Bitter melon also called bitter gourd is a vine in the gourd family that grows through Southeast Asia and Africa. It is gnarled, covered in warts, and shaped like a rather pointy cucumber. It is picked when green before it ripens, while it is still hard.”
Antiviral and Antimicrobial
In those parts of the world, bitter melon has been traditionally used to aid in managing diabetes and osteoarthritis. Based on its own research, The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Heritage Garden Project supported the affirmation that bitter melon, which is actually a fruit but often used as a vegetable, has various medicinal properties. Let me quote:
“It is antimicrobial, antiviral, and can treat ulcers. A decoction of the root can treat dysentery, rheumatism, and gout. As an antioxidant, the fruit has the ability to lower bad cholesterol levels, which can reduce the risk of getting heart disease.”
“The antiviral components that have been extracted from the fruit have led to the treatment of HIV. They have been used to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as colitis, constipation, and intestinal worms. Bitter melons have also been used to treat psoriasis and liver diseases.”
Powerful Antioxidant
Another health information network called Healthline asserted that bitter melon is not only packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, Potassium, Zinc, and Iron – it is also a good source of catechin, gallic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid. These are very powerful antioxidant compounds that can help protect the cells against damage.
Colon, Breast, and Cervical Cancer
Another scientific study published in 2015 by one of the world’s foremost medical research centers, the National Institute of Health, under the US Department of Health and Human Services revealed the following findings:
The methanolic extract of bitter melon inhibited colon cancer stem cell proliferation by altering energy homeostasis and inducing autophagy.
Several cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides from bitter melon have also shown strong antiproliferative activity against human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells, human colon adenocarcinoma WiDr cells, human laryngeal carcinoma HEp-2 cells, and human medulloblastoma Daoy cells.
Importantly, bitter melon leaf extract is shown to inhibit P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux and to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in multidrug-resistant human cervical KBV1 carcinoma cells.
The above findings may sound too technical for ordinary ears, however, they only prove that there are serious studies being undertaken about the potential of bitter melon in the field of cancer treatments.
Cleveland Clinic.org also recently published an article written by a registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD who spoke highly of the bitter melon benefits and claimed that it is a nutritional powerhouse that offers a wide range of health benefits. This fruit is great for a low-calorie, high-fiber diet and is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. This humble gourd is a good source of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Zinc.
Lung and Nasopharynx Cancer
Czerwony claimed that scientists have used bitter melon extract in research to identify potential new cancer-fighting drugs. In one study, she said, high concentrations of bitter melon extract effectively treated stomach, colon, lung, and nasopharynx cancer cells in test tubes. And in another study, the extract suppressed triple-negative breast cancer cells in non-human models. However, she clarified that while these results are promising, more research needs to be done to determine the real-world implications.
Diabetes
Like the UIC Heritage Garden, Czerwony also mentioned that bitter melon has its own version of insulin, a chemical called polypeptide-P which may help regulate and lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Side Effects
There are bitter melon supplements available in the market today. However, the safest way to consume it is by cooking it, according to Czerwony. Since the supplements are more potent than the fruit and should be used with caution due to their side effects.
Consuming too much bitter melons according to UIC Heritage Garden can reduce sperm production in men and may lead to infertility.
In the same scientific study (above) conducted by the National Institute of Health, it was affirmed that bitter melon is a potential abortifacient and should not be used in pregnancy or in women of childbearing age who are trying to get pregnant.
Just like any other food, bitter melon should be taken in moderation. For precautionary measures, people with medical conditions should always consult a specialist before adding anything to their diet.
>>> See & Download Recipe: BITTER MELON STIR-FRY
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