The Sweet Effects of Eating Bittermelon
Bittermelon, also known as bitter gourd and Momordica charantia (M. charantia), is a fruit commonly grown in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. Despite its strong bitter taste, it has been traditionally used in cooking and is known to have natural medicinal effects. Recently, many studies have been exploring how bitter gourd may serve as a natural source of treatment for some of the most prominent health complications.
One article, in the Asian Plant Research Journal, written by Manjoo Rani, discusses three main effects that are associated with incorporating bittermelon into your diet: anti-diabetes, cancer prevention, and anti-viral/inflammatory properties. The fruit itself contains many bioactive components that are essentially health-promoting molecules. However, different parts of the gourd have demonstrated different types of effects. For instance, bittermelon extract exhibits anti-diabetic properties by lowering blood sugar levels. This hypoglycemic mechanism is due to bioactive molecules like charantin and polypeptide-P, which stimulate insulin production and inhibit two glucose-producing liver enzymes (fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase). They also promote glucose absorption by muscle cells, helping to balance blood sugar. For people with Type 2 diabetes, bitter gourd could serve as a supplement to conventional treatment.
One article, in the Asian Plant Research Journal, written by Manjoo Rani, discusses three main effects that are associated with incorporating bittermelon into your diet: anti-diabetes, cancer prevention, and anti-viral/inflammatory properties. The fruit itself contains many bioactive components that are essentially health-promoting molecules. However, different parts of the gourd have demonstrated different types of effects. For instance, bittermelon extract exhibits anti-diabetic properties by lowering blood sugar levels. This hypoglycemic mechanism is due to bioactive molecules like charantin and polypeptide-P, which stimulate insulin production and inhibit two glucose-producing liver enzymes (fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase). They also promote glucose absorption by muscle cells, helping to balance blood sugar. For people with Type 2 diabetes, bitter gourd could serve as a supplement to conventional treatment.
There are many ways to help implement bittermelon into your diet like creating a fruit juice or vegetable stir-fry to mask the strong and distinct bitter taste.
Image Source: Victor Ung
Beyond diabetes, bitter gourd has also shown a high potential for having cancer prevention factors. After testing this plant’s extracts on several oncology animal models, the researchers found that there were therapeutic effects on blood, skin, breast, lung, liver, cervical, brain, prostate, colon, and ovarian cancer. For example, they discovered that a compound called kuguacin-J, which can be extracted from the bittermelon leaves and seed, has cytotoxic effects against ovarian and cervical cancer cells. Through these modeled experiments, they were able to distinguish certain proteins in bitter gourd, such as MAP30 (Momordica antiviral protein 30), that can inhibit tumor growth by initiating cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) as well as disrupting further proliferation of these cells.
In addition to its anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties, bitter gourd contains antiviral proteins that have shown activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The MAP30 protein, which was earlier proven to suppress cancer, can also interfere with HIV’s ability to reproduce, stopping it from spreading in the body.
Bitter gourd’s high content of antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, also supports its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing inflammation and protecting cells from damage. This can be beneficial for preventing chronic diseases linked to inflammation, such as heart disease and certain cancers.
Despite its many potential benefits, bitter gourd should be used with caution. Pregnant women, for example, are advised to avoid it due to compounds that may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, individuals already taking medication for diabetes should consult their healthcare providers, as bitter gourd’s blood sugar-lowering effects may interact with prescribed treatments.
Bitter gourd holds considerable promise as a natural remedy and diet with various health benefits, particularly for managing diabetes and possibly supporting cancer treatments. As more clinical studies and research are conducted to find more natural forms of treatment, bitter gourd could become a valuable addition to both preventive health and treatment regimens, offering a plant-based solution to some of today’s significant health issues.
In addition to its anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties, bitter gourd contains antiviral proteins that have shown activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The MAP30 protein, which was earlier proven to suppress cancer, can also interfere with HIV’s ability to reproduce, stopping it from spreading in the body.
Bitter gourd’s high content of antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, also supports its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing inflammation and protecting cells from damage. This can be beneficial for preventing chronic diseases linked to inflammation, such as heart disease and certain cancers.
Despite its many potential benefits, bitter gourd should be used with caution. Pregnant women, for example, are advised to avoid it due to compounds that may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, individuals already taking medication for diabetes should consult their healthcare providers, as bitter gourd’s blood sugar-lowering effects may interact with prescribed treatments.
Bitter gourd holds considerable promise as a natural remedy and diet with various health benefits, particularly for managing diabetes and possibly supporting cancer treatments. As more clinical studies and research are conducted to find more natural forms of treatment, bitter gourd could become a valuable addition to both preventive health and treatment regimens, offering a plant-based solution to some of today’s significant health issues.
Featured Image Source: jcomp
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