Bitter. Melon's benefits may be surprisingly sweet. Also called bitter gourd, this bumpy green vegetable has long been used in Ayurveda to support blood sugar control, combat infections and address inflammation, high cholesterol and even cancer.
Laboratory studies suggest, it can fight like E coli, Salmonella, herpes viruses and even malaria parasites.and it is also points to potential anti-cancer properties, particularly in breast cancer, where it may interfere with how cancer cells grow and communicate. However, most of this evidence comes from lab and animal studies; large-scale trials in humans are still lacking.
Where bitter melon shows the strongest promise is in diabetes management as It contains several bioactive compounds — charantin (a plant steroid), polypeptide-p (a plant-derived insulin-like protein) and cucurbitanoids (a group of anti-inflammatory compounds) — which may mimic the effects of insulin, support its production, or improve the body’s use of glucose.
The bitter melon extract significantly lowered fasting blood glucose in people with type 2 after four weeks.
How it works isn’t clear. It may help the pancreas produce insulin, protect insulin producing cells, or increase sugar uptake by the muscles. But the effects can be powerful and when combined with diabetes medications, may cause blood sugar to drop too low. If you’re taking medication, it’s important to monitor your levels closely.
Animal studies have also linked high doses to miscarriage risk, so pregnant people should eat it in moderation.
