Bitter melon - a precious medicinal food

According to traditional medicine, bitter melon is cold in nature, bitter in taste, enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians; has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling blood, and promoting urination.

Experts say that during the hot summer months to ensure digestive health should eat some foods with antibacterial effects.

Benefits of bitter melon

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) also known as bitter gourd, has many health benefits. According to traditional medicine, bitter melon is cold, bitter in taste, enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians; has the effect of clearing heat, cooling blood, promoting urination, clearing the heart and eliminating fire. If used regularly, it will help reduce skin diseases, making the skin smooth. Fresh bitter melon decoction has the effect of treating coughs, treating acne, treating prickly heat (drinking inside and applying outside). In addition, bitter melon also has many other effects such as: stimulating appetite, anti-inflammatory, reducing fever.

Bitter melon stuffed with meat

Bitter melon contains: momordicin, a mixture of charantin and protein, adenine, betanin, sugars β-Sitosterol-β-D-glucoside, 5,25-Stigmastadien-3β-ol-β-D-glucoside, vitamin B, and is very rich in vitamin C (ranking first in vegetables, melons, squash; 5-20 times more than cucumber, has the effect of preventing hemorrhage, protecting cell membranes)...

In which momordicin is a bitter glucoside (momordiccosid A, B, C, D, E) that has the effect of killing bacteria and viruses, helping the body fight against developing cancer cells. According to pharmacological studies, bitter melon also has the following effects:

- Anti-free radicals are the cause of aging and cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, lipid disorders, nerve damage, urinary tract infections, diabetes, and atherosclerosis prevention...

- Increases glucose oxidation, prevents glucose absorption into cells, inhibits the activity of glucose synthesizing enzymes.

- Has biological effects similar to insulin, helps the body increase insulin secretion, very good for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Fresh bitter melon eaten raw has the effect of lowering blood sugar, lowering blood fat, and losing weight very well. Bitter melon is also used as a very good skin care mask.

Some dishes and medicines from bitter melon

- Bitter melon tea: Use bitter melon, cut off the top, peel, wash, cut into thin slices, dry or dry. When using, steep in a covered pot of boiling water for about 30 minutes. Tea has a very good cooling and thirst-quenching effect.

- Bitter melon decoction: 1-2 fresh bitter melons, wash, cut in half, cook with water, boil for about 10 minutes, let cool and use instead of water, has the effect of clearing heat, brightening eyes, good for people with liver disease, eye disease and high blood pressure.

- Bitter melon juice: Wash bitter melon, remove seeds, marinate with white sugar for about an hour to let the sugar soak in, then put in a juicer to get the juice to drink.

- Bitter melon mixed with celery: One bitter melon, 200 grams of celery, soy sauce, crushed garlic, herbs, and spices to taste. Peel, remove seeds, cut into thin strips and blanch in boiling water, then rinse with cold water. Drain, mix bitter melon with celery and add spices.

- Bitter melon stuffed with meat: Choose three medium-sized bitter melons with evenly stretched thorns and still green. Use a sharp knife to cut one side (lengthwise), remove the seeds and core, wash clean. Mince 200 grams of lean meat (or pork belly) with spices (salt, MSG, pepper), shiitake mushrooms (wash clean, soak in hot water until soft), and finely chopped shallots. Wash the melons, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cm). Use a spoon to mash everything together, then stuff them tightly in the middle and flatten both sides. Boil water, put the melons in the pot.

- Vegetarian bitter melon soup: small bitter melon the size of a fist, a piece of white tofu, a small package of vermicelli, a few wood ear mushrooms, half an onion, a tablespoon of olive oil, a little salt, pepper, sugar, seasoning powder, a few long green onions to cook the soup.

- Bitter melon stir-fried with duck eggs: Wash the bitter melon, remove the seeds and core, cut into 2-3mm thick diagonal slices, wash and drain. Crack the duck eggs into a bowl, beat well, add seasoning. Heat oil, add the sliced ​​bitter melon into the pan and stir-fry until just cooked. Finally, add the duck eggs, stir-fry until the eggs are fully cooked.

- Bitter melon and jujube soup: wash three bitter melons, boil to get water, add 20 jujubes and boil for 10 - 15 minutes to clear heat, relieve thirst, and cure cough.

According to SK&DS