Relatively speaking, bitter gourd stays fresh for a long time. Saying that, just check to make sure there are no visible signs of damage to the bitter gourd.

Although in Traditional Chinese Medicine the seeds are used for various health problems, it is suggested that you do not juice the seeds. The seeds contain vicine which can trigger favism in those that are prone to this problem. While chances of you juicing the red aril of the seeds are slim to none, it is just worth noting that the red arils are reportedly toxic to children.

Bitter gourd should not be juiced while pregnant.

Due to the fact that bitter gourd is a detoxifying food, start slow and with a small amount. Otherwise, you possibly overwhelm your body, especially your liver.

Read the information below about the Chinese herbal properties of bitter melon for more information.

Bitter gourd is extremely bitter. If you have never eaten bitter gourd before, then try eating a small amount first and you will then quickly discover just how bitter it is. This vegetable is called "Bitter Gourd" for a very good reason. Saying that, it's a rather healthy food to eat and is used in a lot of Asian dishes. Depending on where you are in the world, especially in Asia, bitter gourd may be found under different names such as ampalaya, the balsam pear, and also the bitter melon.

Bitter melon is a rather ugly looking vegetable and while it looks similar to a cucumber, the taste is very different.

Bitter gourd melon is also known wild cucumber and balsam pear.

Properties:

Energy: cold
5 Elements: fire
5 Flavors: bitter

General Information:

Nothing to report.

Cautions & Suggestions:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said that the more bitter the food, the more detoxifying the food is. Bitter Gourd is said to be the "King of Bitter Foods". Need I say more?

Since bitter gourd is the "King of Bitter Foods", it is reportedly bad for people with weak stomachs as it can cause vomitting in some cases. On the other hand, bitter gourd has a strong yin (cooling) value and thus can help cool a hot (yang) body. You will notice below, that bitter gourd's traditional uses include such things as sun stroke. But more than that, the bitter gourd is said to help cool the internal region including the ability to help relieve constipation. Constipation, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine is a sign that your body is too hot, or, one might say the body has too much yang energy.

Benefits:

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