Bitter melon leaves may be used in making teas, extracts and tinctures that may be taken best as a hot beverage. (Photo Credit)

Benefits of Bitter Melon Tea To Your Body

Bitter melon, or originally bitter gourd, is a tropical plant with a long history of being used as an herbal medicine. Momordica charantia is native to Africa, Asia and South America which people usually eat fresh or made into fresh tea.

Bitter melon is also called cerasee, balsam pear, or Karela, as reported in Live Strong. The plant resembles a small, warty cucumber best known for its power to decrease sugar levels in the blood. But experts want to remind people that self-medication using bitter melon is not advised until a doctor advises the patient to.

There is no trash with bitter melon since its fruit, stem and leaves can be used to make teas, extracts, and tinctures. Herbal stores commercially sell bitter gourd tea bags, extracts and powder form for easier tea making since it is known for its antioxidant properties and cancer prevention.

Anti-cancer Properties

Some chemicals in bitter melon have anti-cancer properties as concluded in a study published in the journal Cancer Research in 2010. They found that it inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells in laboratory medium, but there is still no conducted clinical trials to support this claim.

Bitter Melon for Diabetes and Weight Loss

Since bitter melon is known for decreasing blood sugar level and increasing the degradation of glucose in the body, then it is a good remedy for diabetes. The plant has already been listed at the University of Maryland Medical Center for managing diabetes. Some scientists call bitter melon as the “vegetable insulin” but studies remain inconclusive since results vary from one person to another.

The Life Hack said that bitter melon promotes weight loss when taken with proper diet and exercise. The plant has very low-calorie levels which make it good in maintaining a healthy weight. But its lack of calories is balanced with its high nutrient components and these are the benefits of bitter melon tea to diabetes and weight loss aspirants.

Anti-oxidant Properties

Bitter gourd promotes an overall healthier immune system that fights off infections and disease. There are several bitter melon tea recipe benefits that focus on increased immunity. Furthermore, it decreases the damages done by free radicals. A study published in Phytotherapy in 2005 found out that taking bitter melon tea in higher temperature increases the antioxidant activity occurring inside the body.

Precautions

Although bitter melon promotes a number of healthy benefits, the SF Gate still reminded readers that there could be some potential side effects when taking the plant. Some people reported that they experience side effects when taking it alongside certain medications. And other studies showed that it promotes abortion on animal studies making it inadvisable for pregnant women.