Every summer, cooling and fire-reducing bitter melon is a popular seasonal vegetable. This summer, many beauty-conscious women have found a special way to consume bitter melon: filling empty capsules with bitter melon powder and taking them like pills.
Currently, in some trendy shops, bitter melon powder, which is believed by young women to aid in weight loss, has replaced face masks and become a popular skincare product. Similarly, other powders used for weight loss, such as lotus leaf powder and green tea powder, have been placed on the shelves of pharmacies. Furthermore, winter melon powder for freckle removal, lemon powder for whitening, jujube powder for nourishing blood, papaya powder for breast enhancement, and red bean powder for beautifying legs... there are many varieties sold as powders, all promoting the benefits of natural food for beauty and weight loss. The price per 100 grams ranges from a few yuan to over ten or even tens of yuan.
"The nutrients in vegetables consist of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Grinding them into powder can retain certain nutritional components," says Dr. Feng Lei, a nutritionist. Eating vegetables in powder form is indeed a "convenient" method, as this way the vegetables can be absorbed by the body without being thoroughly chewed. "Because these powdered foods are concentrated, they absorb water and expand in the stomach, which can easily lead to a feeling of fullness."
However, there is no scientific consensus on the actual efficacy of these plant powders. Women who consume these powders for beauty should do so in moderation. For instance, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, bitter melon is considered a "cold" food, and excessive consumption can harm the stomach.