Bitter Melon

A bitter melon is a green, lumpy, cucumber-shaped melon with a bitter taste. It's popular in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, but less so elsewhere. Bitter melon contains phytochemicals such as triterpenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which have been demonstrated in both test-tube and animal experiments to prevent the growth of several forms of cancer. It's also utilized in natural medicine to assist diabetics to drop their blood sugar levels.

4-week research discovered that taking 2,000 mg of dry, powdered bitter melon every day dramatically reduced blood sugar levels in diabetics — but not as much as a typical diabetes treatment. A bigger study showed mixed outcomes in humans and concluded that the data is insufficient to prescribe bitter melon supplements to diabetics. Bitter melon, like most bitter foods, is high in antioxidants, which help prevent free radical cell damage and may lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes.