FOREVER KARELA

Momordica charantia

It is member of Cucurbitaceae family, known as Bitter melon, Bitter gourd, Balsum pear and Kareal. Bitter gourd is unique amoung vegetables because of its vertility as foodstuff and herbal remedy. The fruit and leaves of bitter gourd are excellent sources of lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. They are modest sources of Vitamin B and C and potassium. The principle constituent are lectins, charantin and momordine. Fruits have long been used in India as a folk remedy for Diabetes Mellitus. Lectins from bitter gourd have shown significant antilipolytic and lipogemic activities. It is light, bitter and cause vatta. It reduces kapha and pitta It enhances digestion, metabolism, blood circulation, immunity and robustness.It is useful in controlling blood impurities, jaundice, liver disease, skin ailments. It is helpful in limiting infection in the body and in regularizing the urinary tract.

It is contraindicated in pregnacy, women who are breast feeding. Overdosage of bitter melon juice can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.Bitter melon can increase the effects of diabete drugs (prescription medications as chlorpropamine, glyburide, or phenformin, as well as insulin) and lead to severe hypoglycemia. Bitter melon may have hypoglycemic effects. People with hypoglycemia should not take bitter melon, because it may trigger or worsen the problem.