According To Research, Regular Consumption Of Bitter Melon Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels

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JAKARTA - Pare or momordica charantia is believed to be able to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body being insensitive to insulin. Insulin plays an important role in controlling the amount of blood (glucose) that the body's cells get. This makes diabetics have high blood sugar levels.

Research from India found that bitter melon has antidiabetic properties that work to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. Active ingredients in such as charantin, alkaloids, vicine, and peptides are also reported to trigger better insulin-releasing activity.

Bitter gourd works in two ways to regulate blood sugar. First, the combination of chemical compounds in it is able to regulate the amount of glucose absorbed by the intestines into the blood after eating. Second, the chemical compounds present in bitter melon stimulate signals in muscle cells to take glucose from the blood and convert it into glycogen.

Research in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology states that a 2,000 mg dose of bitter melon within four weeks can reduce sugar levels in diabetics. While a report published in Chemistry and Biology in March 2008 revealed that the benefits of bitter melon can increase glucose and improve glucose tolerance.

To reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon, you can mix bitter melon with himalayan salt for a few minutes before processing. Then, wash the bitter gourd to remove the salt and the bitter gourd is ready to be cooked.