Bitter Gourd Uses

Bitter gourds, also known as bitter melons, grow in hot and humid climates and can be found in Asian and South American countries. The fruit's green color turns a reddish shade of orange when it ripens. The flesh inside appears white when unripe and red when ripe. Both the fruit and its seeds possess reported medicinal purposes.

Nutrients

• Bitter gourds contain an array of important vitamins and nutrients. This low calorie fruit functions as a good source of vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and C. It also contains magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, iron and fiber. A serving of bitter gourd gives you more beta-carotene than broccoli, more calcium than spinach and more potassium than a banana. The fruit also consists of vicine, charantin and polypeptide-P. These compounds boost glucose uptake and enhance glucose tolerance, which are important when treating diabetes.

Uses

• While bitter gourd possesses no proven medical benefits, people do eat its fruit, seed and juice to treat certain medical ailments. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, bitter gourd may help prevent cancer, slow the growth of HIV and lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Bitter gourd also may help treat stomach and intestinal disorders, kidney stones, liver disease, skin abscesses and wounds. It may even boost your energy, ease a hangover, improve psoriasis and enhance your immunity. However, further studies and tests are needed to determine if bitter gourds possess any of these medical benefits.

Side Effects

• Consuming bitter gourd may cause some sides effects, such as low blood sugar, headache, fever, abdominal pain and even coma. In one case, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website reported that a 22-year-old man suffered from rapid, irregular heartbeats after eating crushed bitter gourd and drinking its juice. Also, a 40-year-old developed an acute gastric ulceration after ingesting homemade extract from a bitter melon.

Warnings

• Pregnant women should avoid consuming bitter gourd. It can cause vaginal bleeding, premature contractions and abortion. If you take medications to lower your blood sugar, do not eat bitter gourd since it might cause your blood sugar level to drop dangerously low. Bitter gourd consumption may affect blood sugar levels during and after surgery. Avoid eating the fruit at least two weeks before any surgery. Red arils -- the covering on the fruit's seeds -- are poisonous when consumed by children and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even death, so do not feed them to children.