Diabetes is one of the top health diseases all over the world. This is where a person’s blood sugar rises above normal because the body either cannot utilize or doesn’t have the capability to produce enough amount of insulin that helps regulate and send glucose (or sugar) into our bodies’ cells. This could cause serious complications such as kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, or even amputations (mostly on lower extremities).

image not mine

However, a lot of experts nowadays say that there is a way to fight diabetes and that is through Ampalaya (a.k.a. bitter gourd or bitter melon). Aside from the fiber and nutritional contents like potassium and iron, its fruit also contains vicine, charantin, and polypeptide-p (which is said to aid with the lowering of blood sugar). Thorough lab tests and researches were made and have confirmed that the bitter taste that everyone hates is actually the main component of the plant that helps lower blood sugar.

In the Asian countries like here in the Philippines, Ampalaya has become one of the popular dishes served as main course. Although there are still those who refuse to eat the fruit and while the taste is undeniably bitter, as its name implies, there are a lot of supplements made from Ampalaya these days such as teas or capsules for a more convenient way of taking in the plants’ benefits without the bitter after taste.