Bitter Melon Tea
Just What Is Bitter Melon Tea?
What is bitter melon tea? For that matter, what is bitter melon? Bitter melon is quite well known throughout Asia, and in some areas of the Eastern Pacific, but is not so well known in the west. In recent years, bitter melon supplements and bitter melon tea have appeared on the market. As is the case with many teas and supplements, a number of benefits have been claimed. Some of these claims appear to be valid, while others may be more on the doubtful side.
The Riper, The More Bitter - The bitter melon itself makes for a rather interesting story. The bitter melon is considered by many to be the most bitter tasting of all vegetables. When ripe, the flesh of the fruit is essentially inedible, yet the bitter melon has many culinary uses, stretching from the Philippines, to China, and throughout Southeast Asia into India and Pakistan. In some cases the bitterness is reduced to something more palatable by cooking and mixing the fruit with other ingredients. As far as the raw fruit is concerned, it is actually rather sweet and not particularly bitter at all when not ripe. The bitter melon is peculiar in the sense the riper it is, the more bitter its flesh becomes.
While the flesh of the ripe melon may be too bitter to eat, the pith is actually rather sweet, and the seeds may be eaten as well. As one might expect, bitter melon tea can be brewed from the leaves of the vegetable, though tea brewed from the pith or the seeds is considered to contain much more in the way of healthy benefits.
The two primary benefits associated with bitter melon tea is that it is very good for the digestive system, and is quite effective in the treatment of diabetes. The tea, being rather bitter in taste, is said to stimulate digestion, a property shared by many bitter tasting foods and herbs. Bitter melon juice, when ingested in large quantities can have some rather significant side effects, and is not recommended for pregnant women. The tea would not be as apt to produce these side effects, though possibly erring on the side of caution, pregnant women are advised not to drink it.
Anti Diabetic Properties - As far as its role in the fight against diabetes is concerned, bitter melon tea, as well as the juice, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the purpose for many years. It appears to play a role in controlling blood sugar levels, a claim apparently backed up by scientific evidence. Scientific studies also have indicated that bitter melon is beneficial in promoting normal pancreatic cell function, as the plant contains insulin-like properties. Much has been written about the anti-diabetic properties of both the juice and the tea. A closer study of some of these findings is suggested before relying upon the tea either as a cure for diabetes or as a powerful agent in treating the disease.
Enjoy Simply As A Nice Tasting Beverage - Whether bitter melon tea is made from the leaves, seeds, or fruit of the plant, or a combination of them, bitter melon tea, like most true herbal teas is caffeine free. It can be enjoyed as a healthy beverage whether the medicinal claims are to be believed or not. One can usually find bitter melon tea bags in the market place. Brewing the tea is no different than brewing most other kinds of tea found in tea bags. The tea bag is simply placed in a cup of water that has been brought to a boil and allowed to steep for several minutes. Two or three minutes usually suffice to make a nice cup of tea.