If you have a sweet tooth, then it’s going to take some serious convincing to get you to drink bitter melon juice. Before the name of the juice scares you off, you should probably understand why people include it in their diets.
Bitter melons (also known as bitter gourds) are available in farmers markets. But, they still aren’t as popular in American recipes as they are in certain Asian and Caribbean cuisines.
Most people find them inedible when raw; however, marinating them in salt water, lemon juice, tomatoes or yogurt before using them, helps get rid of the excessive bitterness.
Why Do People Drink Bitter Melon Juice?
Bitter melon has over 90 percent of the daily recommended vitamin C intake. What this means is that your body will have an advantage when it comes to healing your wounds, disease prevention, and bone formation.
The fruit has a significant amount of vitamin A and fiber. It’s also perfect for pregnant women because it has folate, which is essential for growth and development. You can count on its powerful anti-oxidant compounds to protect your cells against damage.
Bitter melon has twice the potassium found in bananas, beta-carotene in broccoli, and calcium in spinach. It also has a lot of other essential nutrients.
Drinking bitter melon juice also has the following benefits:
- You will get glowing skin and lustrous hair.
- The juice has liver cleansing properties.
- It can cure hangovers.
- Some people fit it in their weight loss plans. It is low in carbohydrates, fats, and calories.
- The juice will help lower bad cholesterol.
You’ll be able to maintain your blood sugar levels.
It has cancer-fighting properties.
How to juice bitter melon and make it less bitter:
- Wash the bitter melon
- Peel the bitter melon, then remove the seeds and the core.
- Cut it into pieces and soak for a few minutes. Use some salt in the water or juice from half a lemon when soaking.
- Put the bitter melon in a blender and blend until smooth.
5 Nutritious Bitter Melon Juice Recipes
1. Bitter Melon – Karela Juice
You can have this juice in the morning or evenings as per your preference. Karela juice will help energize you whenever you feel fatigued. It also comes highly recommended for people who have diabetes because it lowers blood glucose levels.
You will need:
- 2 bitter melons (seeded)
- ½ teaspoon of black salt
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 inch of ginger
- 2 tsp. of lemon juice
- Honey to taste
- A pinch of black pepper (optional)
- A few mint leaves (optional)
To prepare the juice:
- Wash the produce.
- Cut the bitter melon.
- Juice the bitter melon and the ginger. If you feel the juice is too concentrated, you can dilute it by adding some water.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
- Check the concentration, salt, and flavor levels and adjust as required.
- Serve and enjoy.
2. Bitter Melon Turmeric Smoothie
You will need:
- ½ bitter melon (small to medium-sized)
- 1 green banana (unripe)
- 1 tsp. of grated turmeric
- 1 pear
- 1 tbsp. of grated ginger
- 2 tbsp. of olive oil (from your preferred brand)
- ½ tsp. of cinnamon powder
- Sweetener (1 tbsp. of raw honey or 2 stevia leaf or 1 tbsp. of maple syrup)
- 3 cups of water
To prepare the smoothie:
3. Bitter Melon And Water Melon Juice
You will need:
- 2 liters of ginger ale
- 3 cups of seedless watermelons (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup of coconut milk
- ½ cup of raw bitter melon (cored and seeded)
- A pinch of salt
- 4 ice cubes
- Honey to taste (optional)
To prepare the juice:
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
4. Bitter Melon And Apple Juice
The amazing thing about this juice is that it will improve your skin and benefit your hair as well.
You will need:
- 2 red apples
- 2 bitter melons
- 1 cucumber
- 1 tbsp. of lemon juice
- 4 pcs. of ice cubes
- Salt to taste
To prepare the juice:
- Wash the fruits and vegetables.
- Peel the bitter melon, then remove the seeds and the core.
- Cut it into pieces and soak for a few minutes. Use some salt in the water or juice from half a lemon when soaking.
- Put the bitter melon in a blender and add the rest of the ingredients (apart from the ice cubes).
- Strain the juice and blend again with the ice cubes.
Serve and enjoy.
5. Spiced Mango And Bitter Melon Smoothie
Most Challenging Thing About Bitter Melon Juice?
The juice can be too much for you to handle if you prepare it directly, without adding other ingredients. If you’re planning to drink it as it is, make sure you soak the bitter melon first before you prepare the juice. You don’t want to cringe excessively every time you think about having a glass of the juice.
Wrap Up
It’s always good to try out new flavors, especially if the juice comes with some added health bonuses. Not all the bitter melon juice recipes we have listed are bitter. In fact, the majority include added sweeteners that will make it easy for you to enjoy the fruit.
