1. The efficacy of bitter melon

Bitter melon has the effects of clearing away heat, nourishing blood and replenishing qi, nourishing the kidneys and spleen, nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. It is useful in treating dysentery, sores, heat stroke and prickly heat. It has certain effects on diseases such as excess and conjunctivitis. Bitter melon has a high vitamin C content, which can prevent scurvy, protect cell membranes, prevent atherosclerosis, improve the body's stress ability, and protect the heart. Momordica charantin in bitter melon is known as the "fat killer" and can reduce the amount of fat and polysaccharides. Promote diet, reduce inflammation and reduce fever: The bitter melon glycosides and bitter elements in bitter melon can increase appetite, strengthen the spleen and appetizer; the alkaloid substance quinine contained in bitter melon has the effects of diuresis and blood circulation, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, clearing the heart and improving eyesight; lowering blood sugar: bitter melon The fresh juice contains bitter melon glycosides and insulin-like substances, which have good blood sugar-lowering effects and is an ideal food for diabetic patients.

Bitter melon fruit is rich in protein, sugar, minerals and various vitamins. In particular, the vitamin C content is particularly outstanding, which is 14 times that of cucumber, 5 times that of winter melon, and 7 times that of tomatoes. According to analysis, every 100 grams of fresh fruit contains 3 grams of carbohydrates, 0.9 grams of protein, 0.2 grams of fat, 18 mg of calcium, 29 mg of phosphorus, and 84 mg of vitamin C. In addition, it also contains iron, vitamins A, B and inorganic salts. The special glycosides contained in bitter melon are bitter in taste and cold in nature, which can stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, promote appetite and help digestion. In addition, it also has detoxification and other effects, and is deeply loved by the masses.

2. Comprehensive recipe of bitter melon

Chilled plum and pickled bitter melon

Ingredients: plum and bitter melon

Method:

1. Put an appropriate amount of plums into a pot, add a large bowl of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer over medium heat until the water is reduced by more than half. Turn to high heat to get a thick juice. Let cool.

2. Cut open the bitter melon, dig out the seeds and white inner membrane, cut the bitter melon into small pieces with a diagonal knife, put it into boiling water, blanch it for 1-2 minutes, take it out, rinse it and let it boil. cool down.

3. Drain the bitter melon, mix with the cooled plum juice, and marinate in the refrigerator for 10-20 minutes.

Pumpkin stuffed with bitter melon

Ingredients: 1 bitter melon, 100 grams of pumpkin, sugar

Method:

1. Wash the pumpkin. Peel and slice the pumpkin, put it into a high-temperature container, cover it with plastic wrap, poke a few holes with a toothpick, put it in the microwave on high heat for 5 minutes, take it out, use a spoon to mash the pumpkin into a puree, add an appropriate amount of sugar and stir evenly.

2. Wash the bitter melon and cut it in the middle. Use chopsticks to remove the pulp in the middle, blanch it in boiling water for 2 minutes, take it out and put it in cold water.

3. Place one end of the bitter melon in the palm of your hand, put pumpkin puree into the other end with a spoon, press the pumpkin puree with chopsticks until the bitter melon is filled with pumpkin puree, and cut the bitter melon into pieces with a knife. Slice evenly and enjoy.

Honey bitter melon

Ingredients: 1 bitter melon, 10 wolfberry seeds, oil, salt, sugar, honey, water

Method:

1. Wash the bitter melon, cut it in half, remove the pulp, and cut the bitter melon into slices diagonally.

2. Bring water to a boil in a pot, add a little salt, a few drops of cooking oil, pour in the bitter melon, blanch until it changes color, take it out and put it in cold water.

3. Take a bowl, add appropriate amount of honey, white sugar, and boiled water, honey:sugar:boiled water=1:1:1, stir evenly.

4. Drain the bitter melon slices and put them into the prepared honey juice. Rinse the wolfberries with clean water, put them into the bitter melon, and stir evenly.

Rock sugar, hawthorn and white jade bitter melon

Ingredients: white jade bitter melon, dried hawthorn, rock sugar

Method:

1. Put dried hawthorn and rock sugar Add a small amount of water to a pot, boil the rock sugar until the soup turns red, and let cool.

2. Cut the white jade bitter melon, scoop out the pulp, slice it, and blanch it in boiling water.

3. Add rock sugar hawthorn juice to the blanched bitter melon slices.

3. Bitter melon is a first-class anti-cancer melon

Bitter melon has the effects of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, nourishing blood and replenishing qi, nourishing the kidneys and spleen, nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. Li Shizhen, a great medical scientist in the Ming Dynasty, called it a "first-class melon" and a rare anti-cancer melon.

Western medicine experts have proven that the anti-cancer effect of bitter melon comes from a quinine-like protein, which is an active protein that can activate immune cells. It uses immune cells as a "setter" to remove cancer cells or Other abnormal cells are killed. Bitter melon seeds contain a protease inhibitor that can inhibit the secretion of proteases by tumor cells, thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells.

At the same time, the fruit of bitter melon is also rich in protein, sugar, minerals, various vitamins, etc. In particular, the vitamin C content is particularly outstanding, which is 14 times that of cucumber, 5 times that of winter melon, and 7 times that of tomatoes. In addition, it also contains iron, vitamins A, B and inorganic salts. Bitter melon contains special glycosides that are bitter in taste and cold in nature. They can stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, promote appetite and help digestion.

4. Can bitter melon be eaten raw?

Yes. Experts believe that if bitter melon is eaten raw, its nutritional intake will be more comprehensive. In addition, studies in recent years have found that bitter melon contains adiponin. Eating it raw has the effect of losing weight, but it must be eaten raw 2 to 3 pieces a day to be effective. . China Eat Network reminds me: Bitter melon is cold in nature when eaten raw, so those with spleen deficiency and cold stomach should not eat it raw. In addition, pregnant women should eat it with caution.

Bitter melon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is the fruit of the annual climbing herb Balsam pear. Leaves are alternate, palmate, 5-7 deeply lobed. Flowers are small, unisexual, monoecious, yellow. Not more than 2 cm long. The fruit is spindle-shaped, with knob-like bulges, orange-yellow when ripe, bitter in taste, bright red in the flesh, and sweet in taste. It is cultivated throughout China.

Bitter melon tastes bitter, and southerners eat more of it as a vegetable. Bitter melon can be eaten in summer and autumn. It is used as a meal with moss. It is delicious but not bitter. Cantonese people in China slice bitter melon into slices, dry it and store it in the sun for medicinal purposes. This is the dried bitter melon used to treat colds in summer.

Use bitter melon to make home-cooked dishes, such as "Fried Frog with Cold Melon", "Bolid Melon Spare Ribs", and "Stuffed Cold Melon", all of which have a meaningful taste.