Bitter Melon - Asian Vegetable with Health Benefits

Bitter Melon, also known as bitter gourd, is a vegetable widely used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine for its potential health benefits, especially in managing blood sugar levels.

Bitter Melon FAQ

Image credit: flavorboulevard.com

What is bitter melon used for?

Its scientific name is Momordica charantia ( M. charantia ). This plant grows in India and other parts of Asia—with a traditional use for diabetes (high blood sugar). Bitter melon contains several substances like phytosterols and terpenoids. These substances may be responsible for bitter melon's medicinal effects.

Where does bitter melon come from?

The bitter melon plant comes from the gourd family called Cucurbitaceae. Its scientific name is Momordica charantia ( M. charantia ). This plant grows in India and other parts of Asia—with a traditional use for diabetes (high blood sugar). Bitter melon contains several substances like phytosterols and terpenoids.

Is bitter melon good for diabetes?

Thanks to its potent medicinal properties, bitter melon has long been used by indigenous populations around the world to help treat diabetes-related conditions. In recent years, several studies confirmed the fruit’s role in blood sugar control ( 6 ).

Is a bitter melon the same as a cucumber?

It's known by many names: bitter gourd, bitter squash, kerala, balsam pear, and goya. And like its cousin, the cucumber, the bitter melon is a gourd that comes from the cucurbitaceae family and shares a family tree with melons, pumpkins, squash, and courgettes. But perhaps unlike its cousins, the bitter melon is ugly.

What do bitter melons look like?

Hence, the fruit of the bitter melons -- and sometimes the tender leafy shoots -- is harvested while young and then stuffed, pickled or sliced into a variety of menu items. Also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear, bitter melons are harvested prior to seed hardening and are of a uniform pale green with a warty appearance.