During a casual chat in an Oriental grocery store, an elderly Chinese proprietor shared a health secret with a customer struggling with diabetes and medication side effects. He gestured to an unusual bumpy green vegetable resembling a cucumber and recommended, "Try bitter melon!"
Bitter Melon is known for its culinary and medicinal qualities and is predominantly grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. It can be stir-fried, incorporated into soups, or consumed as a tea. Its intense bitterness can be challenging for some palates, but it's available in tablet or extract forms for those hesitant about the taste. Besides being a nutrient powerhouse packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it's also low-calorie.
This green vegetable houses two vital compounds, Polypeptide-P and Charantin, known to decrease blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes patients. While Polypeptide-P functions similarly to plant insulin, Charantin aids in reducing blood glucose levels. Notable institutions like the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center suggest that regular consumption of Bitter Melon could either mitigate the risk of diabetes or make its management smoother. But a word of caution: those on diabetes medication should seek medical advice before introducing Bitter Melon to their diet due to potential excessive blood sugar reductions.
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