Ingredient Spotlight: Bitter Gourd—Momordica Charantia Linnaeus

This vine bearing fruit is grown in the Tropics and Subtropical regions in places like Africa, Asia, and Brazil. It has been used as a herbal medicine and food for the treatment of various ailments including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. In this section we will explore the properties and nutritional aspects of this fruit/vegetable.

Composition:

This vegetable is rich in minerals, phytonutrients, and phenolic constituents. It has Vitamin C and A, phosphorus, and iron. It may be useful as an adjunct in our diets to help manage conditions like diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, etc. However, it is important to note that it must be viewed as a food and not as a replacement for traditional medicines.

Some important factors:

• It seems to help with the modulation of blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes and diabetes.

• Extracts from this fruit show good antioxidant and sugar modulation properties, which may be secondary to the phytonutrients in this fruit.

• It also may also help with metabolic dysfunction in conditions related to Obesity—this may be secondary to the modulation of gene expression.

• The fruit has been shown to have possible effects on the inhibition of adipocyte hypertrophy, the decreasing of visceral fat cell mass, and the increasing of HDL levels in experimental studies with lab animals.

In conclusion, this gourd has beneficial properties that we can explore further. As always, keep a focus on your health and live long and strong!