Bitter melon is native to tropical Asia and gets its name from the bitter taste of its flesh and pulp. Interestingly, when cooked or stir-fried with other foods, such as in bitter melon with pork, the bitterness does not seep into the meat, earning it the honorable name "Gentleman's Vegetable." Although young bitter melon is bitter, the mature fruit is sweet. This is because the bitterness of the young melon comes from a glycoside, which is extremely bitter. As the fruit ripens, the glycoside breaks down, and the bitterness disappears. The red, gelatinous substance around the seeds is as sweet as honey, and children often scramble to eat it.
In traditional medicine, bitter melon is considered bitter in nature. When eaten raw, it is cold in nature, and when cooked, it becomes warm. Raw bitter melon clears summer heat, reduces fire, relieves fever, and alleviates restlessness. Cooked bitter melon nourishes the blood, supports the liver, moistens the spleen, and tonifies the kidneys. It can eliminate pathogenic heat, relieve fatigue and exhaustion, clear the mind, and improve vision. It can help with symptoms such as summer heat-induced thirst and fever, dysentery, and heat rash. In folk medicine, bitter melon is often consumed in the summer to clear heat, remove summer heat, improve eyesight, and detoxify. Furthermore, bitter melon is rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C, nearly three times the amount found in tomatoes. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can improve the body's stress response and reduce the risk of cancer. Additionally, bitter melon contains momordicoside, various amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, carotene, and B vitamins.
In the summer, people are prone to heatstroke. Coupled with frequent rain and damp heat, regularly eating bitter melon is extremely beneficial to the body. Bitter melon can be stir-fried or used in soups; it has a clean, refreshing, and bitter taste with a lasting aftertaste.
However, when eating bitter melon, one should be careful not to damage the Qi of the spleen and lungs. Despite the hot summer weather, one should not consume too many bitter foods. It is best to pair them with pungent foods (such as chili, pepper, scallions, and garlic) to prevent the bitterness from affecting the heart and to help tonify the lung Qi.