Health Benefits of Bittergourd Tea

Health Benefits

Some of the amazing health benefits of bittergourd tea:
Antiseptic and antibacterial:  Thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, drinking this bitter tea may gradually help clean-up the gut flora by removing pathogens and parasites, thus improving various fungal or yeast infections.
Blood sugar level:  Bittergourd tea is drunk regularly to help manage blood sugar levels. Drinking this special tea stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin and insulin receptors, making it a healing beverage for individuals suffering from diabetes.
Digestion:  The bitter taste of this melon stimulates stomach acids and supports a smooth digestion. This makes it suitable and beneficial for consumption by individuals who suffer from acid reflux that is usually due to low stomach acid.
Fever:  Due to its alkalizing and cooling effect, bittergourd tea may also be helpful to relieve fever.
Gout:  Bittergourd is alkalizing and has long been known to be beneficial for improving blood circulation. It helps clean up a toxic blood and provides great relief to gout sufferers.
Hemorrhoids:  A study has shown that drinking bittergourd tea regularly may be helpful for shrinking hemorrhoids.
Immune system:  Due to its antibacterial properties, bittermelon is powerful in healing the gut where the immune system is. It’s high vitamin C content as an antioxidant is beneficial for neutralizing free radicals and preventing damages to our cells.
Liver health:  Bittergourd has hepathic properties, which means that it promotes liver health by improving on its filtering functions, cleansing the blood of toxins and removing impurities from the liver for elimination. This makes it useful also for healing from jaundice and relieving from the effects of hangover.
Psoriasis:  Psoriasis is a skin disorder that is very closely linked to the high sugar content in the blood system. Having a “clean diet” and daily drinking bittergourd tea may be helpful to improve this condition.
Respiratory health: The high antioxidant and antibacterial content of this bitter melon may be helpful for improving the respiratory health such as asthma, bronchitis and wheezing.
Vision health:  Bittergourd has high content of beta-carotene and vitamin C, making this drink highly beneficial for improving vision health, particularly long-sightedness and astimagtism.

How to Make Bittergourd Tea

You can use dried bittergourd leaves, or dehydrate fresh bittergourd and pack them away in airtight container to be used when needed. Bittergourd tea bags may also be used (you can find them at your local health food store).
In the absence of any of the above, you may also use fresh bittergourd:  Cut the gourd into smaller pieces (no need to remove seeds as they also contain medicinal properties) to be used for boiling the tea.

Method:

• Wash and chop up the dried bittergourd or leaves to get about 6-8 tablespoons.
• Boil about 16oz (about 0.5L) of pure drinking water in a stainless steel pot, and add the dried bittergourd/leaves. If using fresh bittergourd, use about two cups of chopped up gourd for the same amount of water. Multiply the amount if making more.
• Simmer at low to medium heat for about 10 minutes with the lid on.
• Turn off fire, remove pot from stove and let steep for about 10 minutes.
• Strain the leaves and pour tea into a vacuum flask.
• Sip it warm throughout the day.