Juicing Book

Complete Guide To Juicing Fruits and Vegetables — Free To Read


Bitter Gourd Melon Juice (Balsam Pear / Wild Cucumber)


Traditionally Used For

  • Demulcent
  • Diabetes
  • Malaria
  • Stimulating Digestion

A Good Source Of

  • Iron
  • Vitamin C

Freshness Test

Relatively speaking, bitter gourd stays fresh for a long time. Saying that, just check to make sure there are no visible signs of damage to the bitter gourd.


Important

Although in Traditional Chinese Medicine the seeds are used for various health problems, it is suggested that you do not juice the seeds. The seeds contain vicine which can trigger favism in those that are prone to this problem. While chances of you juicing the red aril of the seeds are slim to none, it is just worth noting that the red arils are reportedly toxic to children.

Bitter gourd should not be juiced while pregnant.

Due to the fact that bitter gourd is a detoxifying food, start slow and with a small amount. Otherwise, you possibly overwhelm your body, especially your liver.

Read the information below about the Chinese herbal properties of bitter melon for more information.


General

Bitter gourd is extremely bitter. If you have never eaten bitter gourd before, then try eating a small amount first and you will then quickly discover just how bitter it is. This vegetable is called "Bitter Gourd" for a very good reason. Saying that, it's a rather healthy food to eat and is used in a lot of Asian dishes. Depending on where you are in the world, especially in Asia, bitter gourd may be found under different names such as ampalaya, the balsam pear, and also the bitter melon.

Bitter melon is a rather ugly looking vegetable and while it looks similar to a cucumber, the taste is very different.

Bitter gourd melon is also known wild cucumber and balsam pear.


Chinese Herbal Information

Properties:

Energy: cold
5 Elements: fire
5 Flavors: bitter

General Information:

Nothing to report.

Cautions & Suggestions:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said that the more bitter the food, the more detoxifying the food is. Bitter Gourd is said to be the "King of Bitter Foods". Need I say more?

Since bitter gourd is the "King of Bitter Foods", it is reportedly bad for people with weak stomachs as it can cause vomitting in some cases. On the other hand, bitter gourd has a strong yin (cooling) value and thus can help cool a hot (yang) body. You will notice below, that bitter gourd's traditional uses include such things as sun stroke. But more than that, the bitter gourd is said to help cool the internal region including the ability to help relieve constipation. Constipation, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine is a sign that your body is too hot, or, one might say the body has too much yang energy.

Benefits:

  • Constipation
  • Detoxification
  • Eye Pain
  • Eyesight
  • Liver
  • Pink Eyes
  • Sunstroke

Hatha Yoga

Have you been wanting to do hatha yoga (stretching) but have found it either too difficult or you are not that flexible? If yes, and even if no, watch Jesse do some pure hatha yoga routines.

Unlike flow yoga, each pose in pure or traditional hatha yoga is held for a few minutes. While holding the pose, you focus the mind on the stretch. When you focus the mind, that's when you find silence.

Jesse is not flexible — never has been and probably never will be flexible like others. But it doesn't matter. In pure hatha yoga, how flexible you are makes no difference. It's all about loving the pose and focussing the mind on the stretch.

If you want to learn pure hatha yoga, now you can by following Jesse on a series of hatha yoga routines.

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Random Questions That Have Been Asked:

  1. Is a pint of juice too much?
  2. My apple juice turns brown, is it okay?
  3. Can I freeze the juice and drink it later?
  4. Do you have a recipe that includes pears and beets?
  5. What's the difference between eating fruits and juicing fruits?
  6. Why are only apples the only fruit that can be mixed with vegetables while juicing?
  7. What is the healthiest juice I can make?
  8. I Got Ill, For A Short Time, While Juicing
  9. Do you have any tips for Cystic Fibrosis, asthma and respiratory illnesses?
  10. Can I juice carrot greens?
  11. Juicing and Weight Loss
  12. Warts and Juicing
  13. Juicing and Detoxification
  14. Hypoglycemia, General Detox and Colds
  15. Putting Vegetables On Ice Before Juicing
  16. What can help with my hemorrhoids, fissures and inflammation?
  17. Does pickling remove the benefits?
  18. How much juice should I drink?
  19. Blanching vegetables before freezing
  20. Can I freeze the juice and drink it later?
  21. I Got Ill, For A Short Time, While Juicing
  22. Juicing Gave Me An Upset Stomach
  23. How Can I Help Reverse Acne For My Son?
  24. How Much Nutrition Is In Pulp?
  25. Juicing Combination Review
  26. Receding Gums and Juicing
  27. My Husband Got A Stomach Ache From His Juice?
  28. What Vegetables or Fruits Can Help With Soft Stools or Diarrhea?
  29. Which Juices Would Be Good For Depression?
  30. How Can I Store Vegetables?
  31. Are There Harmful Side Effects To Juicing One Type of Juice Daily?
  32. Juice Combination For Liver, Kidneys, Bile and Overall Health
  33. Should some vegetables be cooked before juicing?
  34. What's the difference between eating fruits and juicing fruits?
  35. What is the healthiest juice I can make?
  36. Why are only apples the only fruit that can be mixed with vegetables while juicing?
  37. Can the body detoxify too fast?
  38. Juicing strategy for overall health and wellness.
  39. What are good juicing combinations? What juicing combinations should be avoided?
  40. What can I juice or do to help with my excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)?
  41. My apple juice turns brown, is it okay?
  42. Juicing while pregnant and breastfeeding (nursing).
  43. Do you have some tips for IBS, constipation and gallstones?
  44. How often should I juice to get enough nutrition?
  45. How important is a slow speed juicer compared to fast speed?
  46. What juice can help with arthritis and joint pain?
  47. Hypolycemia — blurred vision and tiredness while juicing.
  48. What juice will clean my colon of old fecal matter?
  49. Can I juice carrot greens?
  50. How long to wait after juicing before eating?
  51. What is your take on juice fasting?
  52. Can I drink more than 1/2 pint (1 cup) of juice per day?
  53. Is a pint of juice too much?
  54. Can juicing cause constipation and hemorrhoids?
  55. Did not realize that pears and beets are high in sugar!
  56. Do you have a recipe that includes pears and beets?
  57. Do you have any tips for Cystic Fibrosis, asthma and respiratory illnesses?
  58. Can I add Salba seeds to my juice?
  59. Can I juice beets everyday?
  60. Is it okay to store juice and drink it later?
  61. Please comment on a report that says beet juice can improve exercise endurance?
  62. Should I peel beets for juicing them or just wash them?
  63. What Do You Recommend for high blood pressure and high cholesterol?
  64. Is Eating Whole Fruit Okay Even Though It Is High In Sugar?
  65. Is It Okay To Mix Apples With Vegetable Juice?