Bitter melon’s side effects

Bitter melon is a nutr­­­itious and medicinal vegetable which is popularly used for food and herb.

However, bitter melon should not be used freely due to its harmful side-effects for some certain kinds of people.

1. Persons with headaches:

Bitter melon contains a substance of vicine which may cause poisoning such as headaches, abdominal cramps, mild coma for sensitive people.

In addition, bitter gourd contains charantin, polypetid – P which are substances capable of limiting body’s glucose tolerance, reduce blood sugar level causing hypoglycemia and headache.

For these reasons, frequent headached people should limit eating bitter melon.

2. People with hypotension:

Eating bitter melon may lower body’s blood pressure hence this food is almost "contraindicated" with this kind of patient. In case you love bitter melon, just try a small amount.

3. People with liver/kidney problems:

Studies show that bitter melon may cause liver enzymes’ rising and potentially reshape the liver cells. So people with liver/kidney problems should not eat bitter melon which may cause flatulence and be too difficult to digest for them.

Vicine substances in bitter melon may cause favism, an acute syndrome manifesting with symptoms of headache, abdominal pain and coma.

Bitter melon plant can easily absorb metals in soil. Hence in case being planted in heavy metal contaminated soil, bitter gourd will be more likely to absorb a large amount of metal which is sufficient to cause harm to the human body.

4. Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding:

Bitter melon is considered a uterine stimulant which may lead to premature birth. Toxins in bitter melon may not be beneficial to the mother and fetus, cause dangerous hypoglycemia.

In addition, this kind of vegetable has very little fiber and fat which is not fit the diet of pregnant women and postpartum.

According to Tri Thuc Tre

Translated by Diệu Liên Hoa