How should bitter melon be consumed to lower blood sugar?

Eating bitter melon raw, drinking bitter melon juice, consuming bitter melon soup, stir-frying bitter melon, or mixing bitter melon with onion may help lower blood glucose levels. If any discomfort occurs after consuming bitter melon, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Eating Raw Bitter Melon

Cut the bitter melon into thin slices or strips and consume directly. Eating bitter melon raw better preserves its nutritional components, allowing substances such as momordicosides and insulin-like compounds in bitter melon to work more effectively.

2. Bitter Melon Juice

Cut the bitter melon into small pieces and extract the juice using a juicer. This method allows for rapid intake of the blood glucose-lowering components in bitter melon. If the taste is too bitter, it can be diluted with water. Notably, to maintain its blood glucose-lowering effect, it is not advisable to add sweeteners.

3. Bitter Melon Soup

Slice the bitter melon and cook it in soup. This method helps retain the nutritional value of bitter melon while complementing nutrients from other ingredients, enhancing both nutrition and flavor. For example, stewing bitter melon with lean meat or bones not only helps reduce blood glucose but also provides protein and other essential nutrients.

4. Stir-Fried Bitter Melon

Wash the bitter melon, remove the seeds, and slice it. Heat oil in a pan over fire, sauté ginger slices, then add the bitter melon and stir-fry until cooked. Season with salt and chicken-flavored seasoning. This cooking method preserves the nutritional content of bitter melon while reducing some of its bitterness, making it more palatable.

5. Bitter Melon Mixed with Onion

Cut both bitter melon and onion into fine strips. Blanch the bitter melon in boiling water, then rinse with cold boiled water. After draining thoroughly, mix with onion strips and season with sesame oil, salt, and sesame paste. Sulfur-containing compounds in onions help lower blood glucose; when combined with bitter melon, the hypoglycemic effect is enhanced.

Although bitter melon has certain blood glucose-lowering properties, it cannot replace medications. Patients should follow medical advice and use antidiabetic drugs such as insulin aspart injection, insulin degludec injection, or orlistat capsules as prescribed. In daily life, it is recommended to maintain adequate sleep, drink plenty of warm water, avoid staying up late, and engage in appropriate physical activities such as running or jogging, which are beneficial for disease management and recovery.