Bitter melon is a popular Asian fruit and medicine. It is considered the most bitter of all fruits and vegetables.
It is an essential component of the Okinawan diet. Okinawa is one of the earth’s “Blue zones” which are areas and cultures known for superior health and extreme longevity. Overall, Japan’s number of centenarians is consistently the highest of any country in the world. The Okinawa lifestyle and diet are largely responsible for this achievement.
Here are 5 Key Uses for Bitter Melon:
- Bitter melon contains twice as much beta-carotene as broccoli, twice as much calcium as spinach, and twice as much potassium as bananas. It also contains 95% of your RDA of vitamin C.
- Bitter melon has long been used by indigenous cultures around the world to treat diabetes-related conditions. One study showed that taking 2,000 mg of bitter melon daily decreased blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c.
- Li Shizhen (1518-1593), one of the great Chinese herbalists, ranked bitter melon as the best melon on earth for its ability to Expel Heat, sharpen vision, improve liver function, support heart health, and relieve the body of toxins.
- Bitter melon is an excellent tea or juice for cooling down the effects of a hot summer’s day, including heat stroke symptoms.
- Bitter melon is very low in calories and high in fiber and nutritional value. One study found that consuming a 4.8g capsule of bitter melon extract daily over seven weeks led to a significant decrease in belly fat with an average of 0.5 inches being lost from around the waist.
Bitter Melon (Ku Gua), find out more about this popular fruit and how to use and enjoy it.
