Thursday 2 January 2014

THE BETTER OF BITTER GOURD FOR YOUR HEALTH



Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) is a wonder vegetable, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae or cucumber family, suitable for cultivation in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is low in calories, high in nutrients and water content. Related to pumpkins, gourd, cucumbers, squashes, and melons; it acts as a body coolant in summer. The vegetable tastes bitter due to the presence of the compound Momorcidin. Bitter Gourd is a popular vegetable in the Asian countries and in other parts of world. It is consumed periodically as a side dish. Both the fruits and leaves are used in the traditional cuisine.

The mild bitter taste of the vegetable is pleasant to the taste buds and therefore, liked by many. This vegetable is a food of choice for the health conscious individuals, because of its medicinal values. For long, Bitter Gourd has been used as a folk medicine and in Ayurvededic tradition; to prevent and treat a number of body imbalances and diseases.