Bitter Melon (Karela) Juice: How To Make & Benefits

Drinking bitter melon juice is a popular way to lose weight and enjoy a major boost to your overall health.

What is Bitter Melon (Karela) Juice?

Bitter melon juice is the juice that is pressed from the bitter melon (Momordica charantia). In many preparations, the bitter melon is mixed with other milder vegetables to dilute the taste or sweeten it, as the taste can be rather strong and bitter. This fruit is also known as a bitter gourd as well as karela in India and dozens of other local titles. This fruit is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making it a very valuable addition to your diet, as it has been in tropical parts of the world for centuries. ^[1]

A glass of bitter melon juice can be easily made at home. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How to Make Bitter Melon Juice?

Before making bitter melon juice, you need to properly prepare the bitter melon and collect the other ingredients necessary to make this drink more enjoyable.

Karela Juice (Bitter Melon Juice) Recipe

This bitter melon juice is known to help manage blood sugar levels. 

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Course: Juice

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Bitter Melon Juice, Karela Juice

Appliance: Juicer

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1 serving

Author: Raksha Hegde

Ingredients

• 1 bitter melon
• water
• lemon juice to taste
• salt to taste

Instructions

• Wash the bitter melon and cut it in half lengthwise. You don't need to peel it. 
• Scoop out the seeds and the white flesh surrounding them with a spoon and discard.
• Place the bitter melon peel side down and cut it into bite-size pieces. 
• Add it into a juice along with enough water to have the consistency you like. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. The juice is bitter to taste; it's best to have it quickly when it's freshly made. 
  
  

Notes

You can make different versions of this juice by adding celery stalks or apple while juicing. You can also add honey. However, adding a fruit or honey will affect the way it helps manage blood sugar levels due to the natural sugar content in them. 

Benefits of Bitter Melon Juice

The many benefits of bitter melon juice include its ability to regulate blood sugar levels, improve the appearance of the skin, and detoxify the liver, among others.

Diabetes

According to a 2013 report published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, bitter melon has bioactive compounds such as charantin, polypeptide-p, and vicine that can lower blood sugar levels. However, human studies with a larger sample size need to be conducted to verify the benefits of bitter melon juice for people with diabetes.  ^[2]

Cholesterol

With high levels of potassium and iron, this beverage can improve circulation and reduce blood pressure, lowering the risk of high cholesterol. ^[3]

Skin Care

With its impressive content of vitamin C and vitamin A, this juice is known to improve the antioxidant levels in the body, which can boost circulation and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, leaving you with glowing skin. ^[4]

Weight Loss

Low in calories, but high in nutrients, this fruit can also help to inhibit the formation of fat cells when regularly consumed. ^[5]

Hangovers

The dense nutrients in this juice, along with its liver-cleansing properties, can eliminate toxins from the body rapidly and reduce the severity of hangovers.

Vision

Drinking bitter melon juice also helps improve eye health. High levels of vitamin A mean a lower risk of macular degeneration and cataract formations. ^[6]