Bitter Melon CONTROL DIABETES: Effect on BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS & Bitter Melon Can Help Treat DIABETES

Surprising Benefits of Bitter Melon for Diabetes. How to Use Bitter Melon to Lower Blood Sugar http://bit.ly/2li5Yjw. Bitter melon, also called bitter apple, bitter gourd or bitter cucumber, is a vine-grown vegetable that can range in color from dark green to white and can grow between three to twelve inches tall. Diabetes Health reports that several compounds in bitter melon may have glucose-lowering properties http://bit.ly/2haqDBL and they include polypeptide P, vicine, and momordin and charantin, which are glycosides. The juice and pulp can be eaten and an injectable compound made from this vegetable has also been tested. There's no traditional dose established for bitter melon. You should always consult your doctor before using bitter melon as a supplement to help control diabetes http://bit.ly/2gDgahD. Step 1 The easiest way to consume bitter melon is by adding it to a stir-fry. Add several slices to your favorite vegetables and cook quickly over high heat. The taste of bitter melon is very bitter, so you may consider also adding sweeter vegetables such as onions, baby corn or green bell pepper. Step 2 Buy bitter melon supplements http://bit.ly/2lgTPvt, which are available in capsule form from Asian grocery stores, health food or natural food stores. Look for 500mg capsules, which should be taken twice a day with meals or as directed on the package. Step 3 Monitor your glucose levels http://bit.ly/2yKCL6F closely. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that bitter melon has a significant hypoglycemic effect http://bit.ly/2z7rM7O, but that further studies are needed to verify this. Tips Bitter melon may also help prevent certain types of cancer http://bit.ly/2h99Xus, fight infections http://bit.ly/2yLEKax and lower fever http://bit.ly/2z7IVhN. Warnings Bitter melon may induce menstruation and is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. Some people suffer from gastrointestinal distress after consuming bitter melon. The red coating around the seeds may cause vomiting. Dosage of Bitter Melon for Diabetes Forms of Bitter Melon Bitter melon is available in many different forms. Fresh melon is often sold in specialty Asian markets and can be eaten as a fruit, made into juice, or consumed as a decoction or tea by boiling pieces of the melon in water. All of these have a very bitter taste, as the melon's name suggests. Alternatively, bitter melon can be purchased as a dietary supplement, in the form of an extract, powder or tincture. Bitter Melon Dosages Suggested dosages for bitter melon vary widely, depending on the source of the information and the form consumed. For example, tincture dosages range from 10 to 50 ml per day, encapsulated dried powder dosages range from 1 g per day to more than 10 times that amount, and standard extract dosages range from 300 to 600 mg per day, according to a paper published in the February 2002 issue of the "Alternative Medicine Review." If consumed as a juice, dosages range from 50 to 100 ml per day, according to a paper published in the July 2011 issue of "Today's Dietitian." However, there is insufficient evidence from clinical trials to substantiate any of these dosages, and the use of bitter melon is not currently recommended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Contraindications Pregnant and lactating women should not consume bitter melon. The active chemicals in bitter melon can be transferred through breast milk. The plant has been documented to reduce fertility in both males and females and is contraindicated in pregnancy as it may have abortive properties. Any part of the plant is also contraindicated for people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, a genetic disorder that causes red blood cells to break down in response to illness, medication or certain foods, including bitter melon. Finally, bitter melon should not be given to children, as the covering on the seeds can cause vomiting, diarrhea and death. There have also been two pediatric case reports of hypoglycemic coma and convulsions after ingestion of bitter melon tea. Other Warnings and Precautions Bitter melon is generally thought to be well-tolerated in adults, although no large-scale studies have evaluated its safety. Side effects can include diarrhea, stomach pain, abdominal bloating and flatulence. Because larger clinical trials are needed to better understand the effect of bitter melon on blood sugar, it should not be used as a substitute for any diabetes medication prescribed by a doctor. Bitter melon should also not be combined with other diabetes medication, since the additive effect could cause low blood sugar. Always check with your doctor about any complementary or alternative health approaches you are considering, and do not discontinue or change the dose of any medications you are currently taking without your doctor's approval.