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Bitter melon — also known as bitter gourd or Momordica charantia — is a tropical vine that belongs to the gourd family and is closely related to zucchini, squash, pumpkin, and cucumber.
It’s cultivated around the world for its edible fruit, which is considered a staple in many types of Asian cuisine.
The Chinese variety is typically long, pale green, and covered with wart-like bumps.
On the other hand, the Indian variety is more narrow and has pointed ends with rough, jagged spikes on the rind.
In addition to its sharp flavor and distinct appearance, bitter melon has been associated with several impressive health benefits.
Here are 6 benefits of bitter melon and its extract.
Bitter melon is a great source of several key nutrients.
100 grams of raw bitter melon provides (1Trusted Source):
- Calories: 21
- Carbs: 4 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Vitamin C: 99% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin A: 44% of the DV
- Folate: 17% of the DV
- Potassium: 8% of the DV
- Zinc: 5% of the DV
- Iron: 4% of the DV
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 (6Trusted Source).
A 3-month study in 24 adults with diabetes showed that taking 2,000 mg of bitter melon daily decreased blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c, a test used to measure blood sugar control over three months (7).
Another study in 40 people with diabetes found that taking 2,000 mg per day of bitter melon for 4 weeks led to a modest reduction in blood sugar levels.
What’s more, the supplement significantly decreased levels of fructosamine, a short term marker of long-term blood sugar control (8Trusted Source).
Bitter melon is thought to improve the way that sugar is used in your tissues and promote the secretion of insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels (9Trusted Source).
However, research in humans is limited, and larger, more high-quality studies are needed to understand how bitter melon may impact blood sugar levels in the general population.
