Bitter Melon Tea is also known as bitter gourd or Momordica charantia is a tropical vine that belongs to the gourd family and is closely related to zucchini, squash, pumpkin, and cucumber. It’s cultivated around the world for its edible fruit, which is considered a staple in many types of Asian cuisine. The Chinese variety is typically long, pale green, and covered with wart-like bumps. On the other hand, the Indian variety is more narrow and has pointed ends with rough, jagged spikes on the rind. In addition to its sharp flavor and distinct appearance, bitter melon has been associated with several impressive health benefits.
The most notable benefits of bitter melon tea may include its ability to prevent chronic diseases, lower cholesterol levels, regulate diabetes, aid in cancer prevention, stimulate the immune system and help the metabolism, among others.
There are some side effects to drinking this tea that must be considered, including dangerously low blood sugar, liver complications, severe allergic reactions, decreased fertility, headaches, vomiting, and nausea. Most of these side effects can be avoided if you drink the tea in moderation. Before including this beverage in your diet, speak to your doctor about any potential reactions the intake of this tea could lead to.
What is Bitter Melon Tea?
Bitter melon tea is also known as bitter gourd tea in many parts of the world. Scientifically known as Momordica charantia, the plant produces gourds that resembled fat, bumpy cucumbers. They also change color to a yellow-orange when they are ready to be harvested. The tea, unlike many other herbal remedies, is produced by steeping multiple parts of the plant, including the seeds, fruit, and leaves.
The impressive list [rx] of health benefits of bitter melon tea is mainly due to the high concentration of vitamin A, vitamin C, B-family vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, as well as the phenolic compounds.
Bitter Melon Tea Benefits
Drinking bitter melon tea is great for people with diabetes, slow metabolism, high cholesterol levels, a weak immune system, digestive issues, or a risk of cancer.
Possibly Rich in Vitamin C
With possibly high levels of ascorbic acid, bitter melon tea can be very helpful for stimulating the immune system. Vitamin C can increase the production [rx] of white blood cells, and can also act as an antioxidant within the body, suppressing oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals.
May Have Anticancer Potential
Several studies, including the 2016 paper published in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, highlight the anti-cancer properties of bitter melon. The tea, made of the fruit and other parts of the vine, may be packed with the same advantages. [rx]
Compounds found in bitter gourd may include cucurbitane type triterpenoids as well as karaviloside III. Both these compounds are said to have exhibited anticancer properties during independent researches. The study also brought to light the potential of karaviloside III to be developed as a chemotherapy agent for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis or carcinoma, and protection against both diseases. [rx]
May Help Fight Chronic Disease
The high antioxidant levels found in bitter melon tea may make it ideal for preventing chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, as well as autoimmune diseases. As a full-body tonic, this tea has a wide variety of applications in human health. [rx]
May Help Increase Metabolic Activity
The rich supply of B-family vitamins found in bitter melon makes this tea excellent for stimulating and optimizing the metabolic activities of the body. This can result in a more efficient hormonal and metabolic function, including passive fat-burning. [rx]
May Improve Heart Health
Bitter melon tea is known to have been connected to lower triglyceride levels in the body, which can mean less harmful deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. This can help to prevent atherosclerosis, as well as coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. [rx]
May Regulate Diabetic Symptoms
One of the possible uses of bitter melon tea maybe for the regulation of diabetic symptoms. According to a study published in the Journal of Lipids, compounds like vicine and charantin are able to lower blood sugar levels by regulating carbohydrate metabolism. This may prevent spikes and drops in glucose levels that can be dangerous to diabetic patients. However, further studies are required to conduct more double-blind randomized experiments with bitter melon extracts in diabetes patients as well as in the obese population. [rx]
May Improve Digestion
This herbal tea has been traditionally used to treat stomachaches, inflammation in the gut, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. This can also help to optimize digestion and increase nutrient uptake while eliminating symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. [rx]
May Help Detoxify the Body
Although an excess of bitter melon tea can result in liver damage and inappropriate amounts can eliminate inflammation of the liver. This not only keeps the liver functioning well but can also moderate liver-induced skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. [rx]
May Improve Vision Health
Notable levels of vitamin A mean that this herbal tea can also be excellent for improving vision health. Vitamin A is derived from beta-carotene and acts as an antioxidant that can prevent macular degeneration and slow the development of cataracts.
Dosage and Preparation
There is not enough evidence to determine an appropriate dose or range of doses for bitter melon. The appropriate dose for you may depend on factors including your age, gender, and medical history
Health experts advise consumers that supplements labeled as natural are not always safe or effective. It’s important to check with your healthcare provider to determine an appropriate dose for you. If you do choose to use this supplement, look for a product with a seal of approval from a third-party organization that provides quality testing, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, or NSF International.
How to Make Bitter Melon Tea?
Bitter melon tea is quite easy to prepare, and only requires a dried bitter melon (gourd), hot water, and honey to sweeten the flavor, if desired. Most recipes call for dried bitter melon leaves or a dehydrated bitter melon itself, but you can also use a fresh bitter melon if you have one on hand. The preparation of this tea is quite unique and can be made with leaves, seeds, and fruit since there are valuable nutrients in all three. First, chop up the dried/fresh bitter melon and thoroughly wash the slices. Then, you are ready to brew!
Bitter Melon Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups of dried (or fresh) bitter melon
- 2 cups of water (filtered)
- 1 tsp honey or sugar (if desired)
Instructions
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To make bitter melon tea, bring the water to a boil in a pot and then add the chopped bitter melon.
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Then, put the lid on the pot and let it boil for 10 minutes at medium heat.
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Turn the heat off and take the pot down from the stove. Allow it to steep for an additional 10 minutes without a lid on top.
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Now strain the mixture into a teapot or glasses
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In the end, add a teaspoon of honey or sugar, if required, and enjoy the hot beverage!
If you want to turn down the bitterness of the vegetable, soak the chopped bitter melon for 1/2 an hour before going ahead with the recipe. You can also parboil it for 2 min. Once done, set it aside, pour off the water, rinse it properly and then proceed ahead with the recipe. It would also be advisable for you to consult a doctor for the exact dosage if you are undergoing treatment for cholesterol or diabetes.
Side Effects of Bitter Melon Tea
The side effects of drinking bitter melon tea include dangerous allergic reactions, liver failure, heart conditions, extremely low blood sugar, and a variety of gastrointestinal effects. While these are rare, they can be quite severe, and depending on your medical history and current prescription medications, it would be wise to speak with a doctor before adding this powerful tea to your daily health regimen.
- Diabetes – The ability of bitter melon tea to lower blood sugar can be good for diabetics, but it can also cause hypoglycemia if you are also taking blood sugar-lowering medication. Diabetics should not use this herbal remedy without first consulting their doctor, particularly if they are prescribed as diabetes medication.
- Liver Health – Used over short periods of time, bitter melon tea won’t damage your liver, but extended use can increase liver enzymes, which can then lead to other complications in the body, such as atherosclerosis or inflammation of cardiovascular tissue. If you have pre-existing liver conditions such as cirrhosis, the use of this tea should be monitored very carefully. [13]
- Allergic Reaction – There is a unique enzyme in the body that helps to keep blood cells in the right shape; if you are deficient in this enzyme, you are susceptible to an allergic reaction from a unique compound that is found in bitter melon, called vicine. This comes in the form of a severe allergic reaction, which can potentially be fatal and is characterized by nausea, vomiting, jaundice, convulsions, coma, and even death. [14]
- Pregnancy – The powerful active compounds in bitter melon tea can induce menstruation, which is dangerous if you are pregnant, as this can cause premature labor or miscarriages. It may be safe to take this tea in the final trimester, or as a labor stimulant, but it should be used with extreme caution at any time during pregnancy.
- Inflammation – Some of the other side effects of this tea include inflammatory conditions in the body, such as gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, nausea, cramping, headaches, and fever. If you experience any of these side effects, you should discontinue the use of this tea.
How To Make Bitter Gourd Tea
You can easily make bitter gourd or bitter melon tea at home. All you need for the herbal concoction is some dried or fresh slices of bitter gourd, some water, and optionally, any natural sweetener like honey or agave syrup. The tea may also be made from dried leaves of bitter gourd, but you may use the gourd itself as it’s more easily available. All you need to do to make this tea is bring the water to a boil in a pot and add the dried or dehydrated karela slices to it. Let the water boil for 10 minutes on medium heat so that all the nutrients of the bitter gourd seep into it. Remove the water from the flame and let the slices steep in it for some more time. Filter the contents of the pot out into a teapot or individual cups. Add some honey or other sweetener to it, to give the tea some taste, and voila! However, it’s best to avoid the sweeteners, if the tea is being consumed primarily to regulate blood sugar levels.
Bitter gourd may have some side effects for, say, people suffering from hypoglycemia. This is why it is recommended that you consult a physician before adding this tea to your diet.
From Where To Buy
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