Although proper diet and exercise should never be exempt from a weight loss plan, there are natural substances, many of which have been used for thousands of years, that when added to diet and exercise can speed the progress of weight loss. One such example is bitter melon, a vegetable common in Ayurvedic medicine.

A Look at Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Indian form of health care that has been practiced as early as 5000 B.C. Even today it is the trusted medical philosophy for the people of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Its methods of treatment focus on the restoration and maintenance of physical, mental, social, and spiritual harmony.

Bitter Melon

The bitter melon vegetable is a member of the squash family, native to Southern Asia but also consumed in Central and Southern America for its anti-malarial properties. It looks much like a large pickle, being green and warty on the outside. Traditionally, bitter melon is served in soups, fish and pork entrees, as a stuffed vegetable, or in salads. Its bitter taste makes it less delectable to the western palate.

However, its health benefits are nothing to sneer at. It is rich in iron, dietary fiber, has twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of bananas, and twice the beta carotene of broccoli, and contains phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamins B1-B3.

Ayurveda

In Ayurvedic medicine, being over weight is a sign that the body’s systems are out of balance and can be fixed by resetting the mind/body’s ability to regulate itself. It isn’t just a matter of adjusting food intake, but also restoring proper digestion and metabolism. It is believed that bitter melon is just one food that can do this by enhancing your ‘digestive fire’.

In Modern Terms

While the idea of ‘enhancing your digestive fire’ may seem a bit out there, there is actually some scientific truth behind the idea. When we eat our ultra-processed boxed meals, frozen entrees, and fast food, the simple carbohydrates these foods contain get broken down into glucose very quickly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise sharply and the pancreas to go into insulin-producing overdrive.

This surge in insulin causes blood sugar levels drop, often below normal. Your body interprets low blood sugar as a need for energy, causing you to be hungry again. The chemical compounds in bitter melon prevent these sharp rises and falls in blood sugar, by performing functions similar to that of insulin.

Incorporating Bitter Melon into Your Diet

While you probably won’t find bitter melon in the produce section of your local grocery store, you can find it at most Asian grocery markets (typically in bigger cities). Bitter melons can be stuffed with rice and meat, much like a bell pepper, and then steamed or baked. They’re also good in salads, stir-frys, and salsas. Their bitter taste can be neutralized with the use of strong spices and herbs.

And if, like many, you don’t live near a place that supplies the actual bitter melon vegetable, you can get its extract in supplement form.

Sources:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/weight/weight_ayurvedic-remedies-for-obesity.htm
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/bitterm.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Bitter-Melon—Benefits,-Uses,-and-Research-for-Diabetes-and-HIV&id=78796
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31615/a_healthy_diet_with_bitter_melon_prevent.html?page=2