22 Amazing Benefits and Uses of Bitter Melon/Bitter

Gourd for Skin, Hair and Health

1. Respiratory disorders:
Fresh pods are an excellent remedy for curing respiratory problems like asthma,
cold, cough, etc.

2. Liver tonic:
Drink one glass of Bitter Melon juice daily to heal liver problems. Keep
consuming this continuously for a week to see results.

3. Immune system:
Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against
infections. This also helps to build your immunity.

4. Acne:
Consuming Bitter Melon can help to get rid of acne, blemishes and deep skin
infections. Bitter melon is useful in treating blood disorders like blood boils,
scabies, itching, psoriasis, ring-worm and other fungal diseases. The free radicals
in it are also useful for anti-ageing.
Consume juice of bitter melon mixed with lemon on an empty stomach daily for 6
months or till you get the required results.

5. Diabetes:
Bitter melon juice benefits to overcome type 2 diabetes. It has been a part of the
Chinese and Indian ancient medicine for a long time but only recent research has
proven that it is no folk lore. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability
of a cell to absorb the sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due
development of resistance to insulin. In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb
the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of insulin produced. The absorption of sugar
occurs due to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in the cells. Bitter

gourd activated these kinases due to which the absorption of sugar increases. And
hence aids in bringing diabetes in control.
Green juice for diabetics: cucumbers, green apples, bitter melon, celery, green
capsicum (bell pepper). Bitter melon contains certain chemicals that are like
insulin which help to reduce blood sugar levels.

6. Constipation:
Bitter melon helps in easy digestion as it contains fibre properties. The food is
digested and waste is thrown out of the body which helps in curing indigestion and
constipation problems.

7. Kidney and bladder:

Bitter melon helps to maintain healthy liver and bladder. It is also useful in curing
kidney stones.

8. Heart disease:
Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. They help to reduce the bad
cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduce the chances of
heart attacks. Also it is known to lower blood sugar levels that help in maintaining
good heart health.

9. Cancer:
Bitter Melon can prevent cancer cells from multiplying.

10. Weight loss:

Bitter Melon contains antioxidants, which help to flush out your system. This
improves your metabolism and digestive systems thus helping you lose weight
quickly. The two other major factors that aid in weight loss is the calorie control
and filling components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are
low on calories which allows you to consume more quantities of them. Filling
component in this vegetable is water. We know that water is a universal
suppressant of hunger. And the pods of this vegetable contain on the whole 80-85%
water.

Skin Benefits for Bitter Melon:

The appearance of your skin is largely determined by what you put inside your
body. In other words, getting proper nutrition is a pre requisite for healthy and
damage free skin. Being a natural blood purifier, bitter gourd helps in improving
the appearance of your skin. It provides the following benefits to your skin:

11. Prevents Skin Problems:

Regular consumption of bitter gourd helps in keeping your skin glowing and free
from blemishes. It also helps prevent acne thanks to its blood purifying properties.

12. Skin Infections:

Bitter melon benefits in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and
psoriasis. Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in improving psoriasis
condition as well as other fungal infections like ring worm and athletes foot.

13. Anti-ageing:
Bitter gourd contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. By fighting and
eliminating the harmful free radicals, it helps to prevent wrinkles by slowing down
the ageing process. It also protects the skin from damage by Suns ultraviolet rays.

14. Healing Qualities:

Bitter gourd helps in controlling blood flow and clotting, causing wounds to heal
faster, preventing further infections.

Hair Benefits of Bitter Melon:

Bitter gourd is a great home remedy for your hair. Besides being beneficial for
your skin and health, bitter gourd juice is also effective in treating hair problems
and promoting longevity. It is beneficial for your hair in the following ways:

15. Shiny Hair:

To impart a natural shine to your hair, you can mix a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice
with yoghurt and apply on your hair. Wash off after sometime. This will make your
hair shiny and beautiful.

16. Dandruff:
Dandruff is a common problem and is mostly caused due to the consumption of
unhealthy food and exposure to pollution. To ward off dandruff, you can prepare a
hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice and cumin seeds. Regular usage of this pack
will rid you of dandruff within a month.

17. Split Ends:

If you are troubled by split ends, you can apply raw bitter gourd juice to your split
ends and then comb gently. This should be done twice a week to get rid of split
ends.

18. Dry and Itchy Scalp:

To combat dryness of scalp, you can rub a fresh piece of bitter gourd on it and
massage your scalp in a circular motion. Then rinse off with clear water. To combat
itchiness, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice with either
avocado or banana and apply it on your scalp. This should be used at least once a
week to get rid of itchy scalp.

19. Hair Loss:

Bitter gourd juice helps in reducing hair-fall naturally. All you need to do is mix
bitter gourd juice with a dash of sugar and use this paste on your hair to get good
results.

20. Rough and Tangled Hair:

If you have rough and tangled hair, you can pour a cup of bitter gourd juice and
allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hair. This will help
smoothen your hair texture and make it soft and shiny.

21. Grey Hair:

Bitter gourd can also treat premature greying of hair. You can apply freshly
squeezed bitter gourd juice on your grey strands. Doing this once in every ten days
will reduce grey hair growth.

22. Oily Hair:

Increased intake of oily food can cause the accumulation of excess oil in your hair.
If you have oily hair, you should first limit the consumption of oily food. You can
apply a mixture of bitter gourd juice and apple cider vinegar to remove excess oil
from your hair.