Some Facts About Ampalaya (Bitter Gourd)
Ampalaya [Scientific name: Momordica charantia]
How can bitter gourd (ampalaya) help our body?
Ampalaya is a remarkable health food. Historically, bitter gourd has been around for quite a long time, more than the time of the parents of our great grand parents, I believe. However it was only during the early 1940s that health information on ampalaya got into scientific literature. What we also know is that bitter gourd (or variety of bitter gourd) is heavily consumed by the Amazons and Brazilian indigenous people. So that this vegetable has a long history of being a safe food and a health tonic.
Although animal studies have shown that ampalaya lowers blood glucose, there’s still a lack of a “large enough study†that fully document the benefits of ampalaya. Be as it may, there have been “large enough†anecdotes that claim that ampalaya is beneficial in diabetes, alone or in combination with medicines prescribed by doctors. Even more interesting is the report that amplaya lowers the fat in our blood and makes us resistant to infections, both viral and bacterial. To some extent, historically, people have used the juice of bitter gourd as topical medicine for wounds. If this is not enough, know this: there are now reports that ampalaya can protect us from developing cancer in the same way our body naturally protects itself against emerging cancer cells. These would mean that ampalaya enhances our immune system to fight cancer and infections. Isn’t it that great? Why wait to get sick? Start taking ampalaya supplements as early as possible. Ampalaya is also rich in antioxidants that protect the cells of the body from damage of free radicals (metabolic by-products, usually waste).
How should we use it?
For people who are well, eating ampalaya as part of the diet is very important. However, one would soon succumb to boredom in eating ampalaya, so it becomes less interesting to eat and you may run out of recipes. If you can eat it raw, the better but better is bitter. So we get into the convenience of ampalaya in capsules. Not just 500 mg per capsule; as we know that is the minimum. Be informed of the products out in the market; choose the one that can give you more per capsule. Otherwise you end up popping up so many capsules a day.
The bottom line is: use ampalaya to prevent disease rather than a cure for disease. Curing disease is more expensive than preventing disease, so, for those who have a family history of diabetes and cancer, take ampalaya capsules now as part of your dietary supplement. Start bringing back what we lose in processed food.
Gud am po doc! Ask ko lang po sana kung ang madalas po ba na pag-inom po ng serpentina ay hindi makakaapekto sa liver?
Thank you po ng marami. God bless!
please let me know if I can be safe to amplaya plus, my gallbladder is removed, I am low blood but not that much, I always sleep late becoz of my work, I am beginning to have bad cholesterol, my blood sugar getting high too, I smoke,drink, no exercise.
I have a history of fatty liver might get from too much drinking alcohol.
Its very hard to have good health when you want to have or dreamt to have good wealth.
Anyway, advice me what herbal medicine should I take atleast help me boost my bad heath now. Reply ASAP, Your recommendation ill highly appreciated. Thank you.
Sir,
what will happen if I eat and put too much sugar on ampalaya ? Mawawalan po ba ng bisa sa katawan ng tao yun?
—No, meron ngang pickled ampalaya at may bisa pa rin yon. mas ok ang ampalaya juice with green apples if you can’t tolerate the bitterness of ampalaya
Is ampalaya leaf extract safe for 5-month old babies?
—There is no reason for you to give ampalaya extract to babies. The folkloric reason for giving ampalya extract, according to tradition was to remove the green colored stools. These stools are normal and will be eliminated by the baby with or without ampalaya extract. Better to give breast milk to increase immune defense of the baby.
Dear Dr. Emil,
Thank you very much for this very informative section of yours! I will make sure to visit this very often. I’ve learned so much.At present, I am reading a book about BIO IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY. iS THERE ANY PHYSICIAN PRACTITIONER REGARDING THIS IN THE PHILIPPINES AT THE MOMENT? yOUR REPLY WILL BE VERY MUCH APPPRECIATED. AM 52 YRS OLD, MENOPAUSAL, PRE DIABETIC AND ALWAYS FEELING VERY LEHTARGIC AND HIGHLY IRRITABLE. I WISH TO CONSULT ONE IT THERE IS.
SINCERELY, ALICE
dear doc emil,
parang gustong mamanhid ang aking kanang paa, ito po ba ay epekto ng aking type2 diabetes?. ano po bang gamot ang pwede dito.
i am an ampalaya grower, maganda ang ampalaya sa katawan pero meron kayong di alam tungkol sa mga commercial grower na kagaya ko. punong puno ng nakalalasong kemikal ang ampalaya na benibenta namin sa kadahilanang di namin sinusunod ang rekomendasyon na 15 to 30 days dapat ang antayin namin bago kami mag spray uli ng insecticide. kada 3 araw kami nag e spray ng chemical sa kadahilanang napakasensitibo ng ampalaya kahit sa mababang uri ng insecto. bago kami mag spray ay harvest muna at yun talaga ang dapat naming gawin. kahit na hugasan mo pa o ibabad ng matagal sa tubig ang ampalaya ay hindi parin ito safe kung tutuosin kaya hindi nga ako kumakain nito at hindi rin ako nabili. kung gusto mo talagang kumain ng ampalaya na walang nakakalasong kemikal ay ikaw na mismo ang magtanim para segurado. marami ring gulay ang masyado ring ginagamitan ng nakakalasong kemikal isa na rito ang cabbage at cauliflower na nangunguna sa listahan. pumapangalawa lang ang ampalaya.
PLEASE ADVISE ANY SIDE AFFECTS FOR HERBAL AMPALYA. MY SKIN IS DRY AND I HAVE LOST WEIGHT SINCE USING IT. I AM TAKING IT WITH THREE MEALS EACH DAY. EACH CAPSULE IS 500 MG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Can you help us? What is the procedure in making ampalaya tea? Thanks.
I have acid reflux disease. I feel my immune system is weak because i usually feel tired. what food supplement would you recommend for me to take regularly. my organs are ok, also blood test revealed normal figures. I worry too much about my hyperacidity that i developed tension headache. Pls recommend food supplements to take. thank you and God bless.
Thanks for your post. Never knew such a bitter thing could be so useful. ‘The bitter the better.’
better the bitter is that you know that is delicous if it is bitter.it is good to say that bitter the better.
DOC, WHAT IS THE BEST HERBAL REMEDY AND GOOD FOOD TO EAT FOR HYPERTENSION? PLEASE ADVISE.. THANKS AND BEST REGARDS…
doc my husband has allergy and arhritis, he takes medicine with steroid for this. can you recommend a herbal medicine to improve his condition and for him to stop taking the kind of medicine he had. he is also hypertensive.
In relation to myself am also hypertensive and i want to lose weight.
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Try taking turmeric tea. Prepare turmeric, locally known as “luyang dilaw” just like salabat. Take a cup or two daily. It could help lessen allergies.
Hi Doc.
My son is 10 years old. Is it ok for him to take ampalaya plus 3x a day?
Since our family has a history regarding type II diabetes and I ‘heard’ that there are a lot of children all over the world that are now being diagnosed as diabetics. His blood sugar is normal but I just want to make sure that it stays that way, and since ampalaya plus capsules are just vegetables in capsules and not a medicine, so, does it mean it’s OK? I just want to confirm po. Thanks in advance
I am curious about periwinkle or chichirika. is it safe to drink and if ever what disease really it can cure. some friends told me that it is a cure for cancer. My sister has just been operated (mastectomy rt. breast) I would appreciate if you can give me any herbal meds that will help boost her immunity. thank you very much
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Turmeric tea can help.
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Good day doc!..tanong ko lang po kung mabuti po ba ang pagkain ng kangkong araw? at saka po na total thyroidectomy na po ko, minsan hyperthyroid, minsan hypothyroid. wala po ba magiging epekto ang pagkain ko ng kangkong araw? Awaiting yours. salamat po and God Bless
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ang enduranz po ba available n sa mga local drugstore?like mercury drugtore?thankz
Good day doc! ano po mga herbal na medicine na pweding inuman kung may chronic kidney disease?Maraming salamat po.
Greetings doc! I just wanted to ask if there is any possibility for a lung scar to heal. I just had my x-ray and was found to have scar in my lungs. I submitted myself for sputum exams but the result is negative. I remember I had a bad case of pneumonia during my teens.
Im anemic, can i drink ampalaya tea everyday?
thanks and regards
where can you buy yacon syrup in cebu? i just found out about yacon and havent gone to supermarkets yet but hoping for a quick tip here? ive checked some forums and its mostly in luzon. would appreciate any reply. thank!
HEllo..Happy New Year!!! I would like to know if it is advisable for someone who is currently taking blood thinning medicines to eat raw ampalaya every meal. This person is diabetic that is why he needs to lower his blood sugar and he also has a heart ailment. Thank you.
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Eating raw ampalaya or other vegetables is ok. Only those on COUMADIN are restricted on all vegetables.
I am Hypothyroid patient, and have terrible stomach gas and immunity problem, i also sometimes have nerves catch in the stomach and hands, is bitter guard juice a cure for these probs at all?
My husband has a hypertension. The last time he ate ampalaya, his blood pressure went high. Is it possible that eating ampalaya caused his high blood pressure. Thank you..
hi doc, gusto ko pong malaman kung anong herbal plants pwedeng remedy for children’s diarrhea with fever..sa ngayon po gumawa ako ng tsaa may luyang dilaw, bawang at lemon grass. thank you.
Ano po ba ang herbal plants na puedeng inumin o kainin para tumaas ang hemoglobin at platelet. Pirming mababa ang hemoglobin at platelet ko. I am 64 years old na. Nag hemoglobin ko po ay 10.70 lang at platelet ay 172,000 lang. Thanks.
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Ok lang ang platelet mo. To help improve your hemoglobin, take dark leafy vegetables. Some of the vegetables rich in iron are: malunggay, spinach, kamote tops, broccoli. Also increase your intake of fruits high in Vitamin C to increase iron assimilation.
Ano po gamot sa HSV1?
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Supportive treatment kung complementary, eat more bitter gourd (ampalaya). You may also try applying honey on the cold sores.
Doc – I have an increased level of POTASSIUM, that is 5.38. According to some the normal level should 3.5 – 5.2. I have been taking some ibuprofen during that time that I had a CBC and also daflon 500 because i am suffering from hemorrhoids.
Should I worry with the level 5.38 of potassium i have in my blood? Are there medications to lower this or herbal alternative remedies maybe? Thanks.
Does ampalaya can help to increase the haemoglobin?
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Yes it can but only slight increase in iron to raise hemoglobin
what are the natural food and herbs to take for a swollen appendix?
i have a problem in my colon hindi ako makabawas kung hindi ako iinom ng biofitea a tea hassenna herbs .doc can you recommend me a herbal medicine that would help me in my problem.it cause pain and my bowel is not normal.im 26 yrs.old.i will wait your reply. thank you and more power..
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From Dr. Emil: Try a fiber solution, psyllium fibre supplementation
Is it still effective if I drink ampalaya plus after meal? because I have read that it has to be taken 10 minutes before meal. thank you
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From Dr. Emil: Better before meals. Or if you want 2 hours after a meal
How about hypertension?
Is it recommended to drink ampalaya with hypertension?
Is it beneficial?
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From Dr. Emil: Drinking Ampalaya juice is healthy and will not cause hypertension. I can in fact be beneficial for hypertensives with a high cholesterol/triglyceride levels.
wala po akong diabetes pero may history po ang famiy ko. can i take ampalaya plus for prevention?
Thanks po. And God Bless.
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From Dr. Emil: Yes you can take ampalaya plus to supplement your health.
good day. ano po po ba mas magandang inumin? ampalaya plus or ampalaya plus delite hernal tea?
salamat po.
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From Dr. Emil: They are better in tandem; for a regular intake of supplements, take ampalaya plus. In between, take the herbal tea. If you are already a diabetic, take ampalaya plus. If not a diabetic nor at high risk for diabetes, you can take regularly ampalaya plus delite herbal tea.
anu po ba gamot sa excessive sweating of hands and feet?
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From Dr. Emil: None, that’s genetic. Just keep dry using starch baby powder .
hi , im romeo abanado ( celpon # 09096334457) in bacolod city , philippines, my 43 yr wife is recovering frm stage4 breast cancer (with bone metastases) since june 2012,. i apply her whole body with antioxidants everyday, a big factor why she is recovering. she needs bon viva for bones (12pcs) & 360 pcs tamoxifen.we’re financially drained as it is 8 times we go bacxk to the hospital to hasten her recovery, anyone pls help us & we are also willing ti share our experience with applying antioxidants not only for cancer but other diseases as well.