Bitter gourd, also known as balsam pear or false litchi, is a vegetable consumed in the summer to clear summer heat. It is an annual herbaceous plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, native to tropical Asia, and widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. It has a long history of cultivation in India, Japan, and Southeast Asia. In China, its cultivation history spans about 600 years, with its growing area expanding from south to north, and it is now found in most parts of the country.
Bitter gourd gets its name from the bitter taste of its flesh and pulp. When cooked or stir-fried with other foods, such as bitter gourd with braised pork, the bitterness does not infuse the meat, earning it the reputation of a "gentleman's vegetable."
【How to Choose】
When selecting bitter gourd, it is generally best to choose one with a smooth surface, large bumps, and a firm, not soft texture. Bitter gourd also comes in white and green varieties. The green ones are more bitter and suitable for cold dishes or salads; the white ones have a milder bitterness and are suitable for stir-frying or in soups.
【Nutritional Value】
Bitter gourd contains relatively high amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates among gourds. Especially, its Vitamin C content is as high as 84 milligrams per 100 grams, which is about 5 times that of winter melon, 14 times that of cucumber, and 21 times that of pumpkin, making it the highest among gourds.
Bitter gourd also contains dietary fiber, carotene, momordicoside, phosphorus, iron, various minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients.
【Medicinal Benefits】
(1) Bitter gourd is cold in nature and bitter in taste, with effects of reducing pathogenic heat, relieving fatigue, clearing the mind and brightening the eyes, and replenishing qi and strengthening yang. Fresh bitter gourd steeped in tea is effective for treating summer heat and fever, while dried bitter gourd consumed with tea is very effective for lowering blood sugar.
(2) Eating bitter gourd can help reduce "internal heat" (a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine). TCM believes that bitterness can expel heat, protect body fluids, and stimulate insulin secretion. Foods and herbs with a bitter nature are generally cold and cool in nature, using cold to treat heat to achieve balance. People who often eat bitter gourd are less prone to "internal heat" and diabetes.
(3) Modern medicine has discovered that bitter gourd contains a type of active protein that can effectively promote the body's immune cells to kill cancer cells, giving it certain anti-cancer properties.
(4) Bitter gourd contains a substance similar to insulin, which has a significant effect in lowering blood sugar. It is recommended by nutritionists and doctors as an ideal food for diabetic patients.
【How to Eat】
Bitter gourd can be stir-fried or used in soups. It is refreshingly bitter with a sweet aftertaste that lingers. If you dislike the bitterness, you can stir-fry it with chili to reduce the bitter taste. Alternatively, you can slice the bitter gourd, sprinkle some salt on it, let it sit for a while, then rinse off the salt. This will remove the bitterness. You can also cut the bitter gourd into cubes, cook it until tender, and then soak it in cold water.
【Contraindications】
Bitter gourd contains quinine, which can stimulate uterine contractions and cause miscarriage, so it should be avoided by pregnant women. Additionally, because bitter gourd is cold in nature, it is not suitable for people with a weak spleen and stomach.
Next, Xiaomei recommends a few secret recipes to make bitter gourd less bitter for you.
Minced Pork Bitter Gourd Chilled Bitter Gourd Crispy Bitter Gourd Rings Bitter Gourd with Egg