Plant atlas Short
Bitter Gourd Matched Placebo in a Cochrane Review
Thai Bitter Gourd · มะระขี้นก · Momordica charantia
Thai Bitter Gourd — มะระขี้นก (ma-ra-khee-nok) — Momordica charantia.
A Cochrane review found bitter gourd and placebo results indistinguishable for blood-sugar control. You eat the fruit. It provides vitamin C, folate, and fiber. Fiber adds bulk to meals, can help with fullness, and can slow carbohydrate absorption as part of a mixed diet. Kaeng Juead Mara Khi Nok stuffs bitter gourd with pork and simmers it in a clear broth, served with jasmine rice. Yam Mara Khi Nok tosses blanched bitter gourd with fresh shrimp and pairs it with rich curries or crispy fried fish. The small, deeply ridged gourds attract pests, so protect the crop closely. If you take diabetes medication, use caution because bitter gourd may lower blood sugar further. During pregnancy, avoid it unless your doctor says otherwise. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Kaeng Juead Mara Khi Nok — แกงจืดมะระขี้นก (gaeng-jued-mara-kee-nok)
Yam Mara Khi Nok — ยำมะระขี้นก (yam-mara-kee-nok)
Source: Ooi CP, Yassin Z, Hamid TA (2012). Momordica charantia for type 2 diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev CD007845. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD007845.pub3 (PMID 22895968)
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: vitamin C, folate, fiber
Research context
Bitter gourd may modestly help blood sugar, but controlled trials is mixed and inconclusive — Cochrane Review, 2012