Bitter Melon, also known as the Bitter Gourd or Momordica Charantia is a bitter vegetable native to Asia and is used in Asian cooking. It has been used in Indian medicine to treat diabetes, and is now making a scene on the cancer front.
Not only does the Bitter Melon have the ability to affect how glucose travels through the body by inhibiting glucose transport, it has the ability to cause apoptosis, or cell death, in cancer cells. Bitter Melon has proven to be effective against breast, lung, prostate, bladder, colon, liver, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, leukemia and other cancers.
In regard to breast cancer, the following study showed very promising results. When breast cancer cells were exposed to Bitter Melon’s extract, 80% of the cancer cells died within 48 hours, and none of the normal cells were affected. You can see more information about this study here.
In addition to it’s cancer fighting by tumor reduction and prevention of metastasis, it activates AMP-Kinase receptors in the body. By this activation, and glucose inhibition, it allows the body to lose body fat. Not a bad side effect for many of us.
Here is some more information regarding Bitter Melon’s affect on cancer and you can find links to the numerous studies on this amazing natural compound at the bottom.
According to the following article, Bitter Melon has great potential for treating diabetes and use for it’s chemotherapeutic affects on cancer cells without affecting normal cells within the body.
