Suffering in summer is better than taking tonic food! Bitter melon and apple drink, eat bitterness but not fat

The bitterer the bitter gourd, the more nutritious it is? Nutritionists point out that there is a saying: "Eating bitter food in summer is better than taking tonic food." Although bitter melon is bitter, it tastes refreshing and sweet after being cooked properly. It is suitable for making soup, stir-frying, or serving cold. In particular, the bitterer the bitter gourd, the better, because the more momordicine it contains, the higher its nutritional value.

Hong Ruopu, a nutritionist at the Zhongxiao branch of Taipei Municipal United Hospital, pointed out that bitter melon is very nutritious, containing a variety of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, among which the vitamin C content ranks first among melons. In addition, the source of bitter melon’s unforgettable bitterness, momordica charantia, is a natural supplement that stabilizes blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids.

Eating bitter melon in summer is good for annealing and appetizing

At the same time, in the hot summer, bitter melon is a delicacy on the table. Although it tastes bitter, the special fragrance that comes with it is a unique appetite-inducing flavor. It is not only refreshing and heat-reducing, but also a good appetizer. The insulin-like ingredients it contains can help stabilize blood sugar and enhance the function of immune cells.

Among fruits and vegetables, bitter melon has the highest vitamin C content, which is 10 times that of tomatoes and 17 times that of apples. Vitamin C is a blood vessel scavenger. It can fight lipid oxidation, promote cholesterol metabolism, and maintain vascular elasticity. These multiple functions help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Nutritionists suggest that if you want to use bitter melon to lose weight, it is best to make it into bitter melon juice.

Bitter melon is an invisible killer of fat and helps in weight loss

Nutritionist Hong Ruopu emphasized that bitter melon is known as the "invisible killer of fat" and is a low-GI fruit and vegetable. 100 grams weighs only 20 calories and can assist in weight loss. However, the activity of bitter melon decreases after heating, so if you want to use bitter melon to lose weight, it is best to eat it raw. When juicing, you should not add too much other fruits or honey to avoid increasing calories.

《Weight Loss／Bitter Melon and Apple Drink》

Ingredients: 150 grams of bitter gourd, 30 grams of rock sugar, 1 apple (about 250 grams), and appropriate amount of honey.

practice:

1. Remove the seeds from the bitter gourd, wash and dice it, then soak it in salt water for 10 minutes. Peel and core the apples, wash and cut into cubes.

2. Add 2 bowls of rock sugar to water and boil over high heat until dissolved. Let cool and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving with bitter gourd and apple.

3. Use a food processor to blend it into juice and add honey when serving.

Tip: Bitter melon is very nutritious and very low in sugar and fat, making it more suitable for obese people.

Remove the seeds before blanching bitter melon to reduce its bitterness

As for some people who don't like the bitter taste of bitter melon, before cooking, it is recommended to remove the seeds, slice the bitter melon and blanch it in boiling water, or remove the seeds and scrape off the inner membrane to reduce the bitterness; soaking it in water and salt or white vinegar in a ratio of 1 liter to 1 tablespoon for 30 minutes can also reduce the bitterness.

In addition, bitter melon will continue to ripen while being stored, so it is best to cook it as soon as possible after buying it home. Even if you wrap it in brown paper and put it in the refrigerator, avoid storing it for more than 3 days. You can also remove the seeds, cut it into pieces, blanch it, and then put it in a fresh-keeping box and refrigerate it.

Nutritionist Hong Ruopu reminds that when purchasing, in addition to paying attention to the smooth and undamaged surface, bitter melons with green stalks mean that they have been picked recently and are relatively fresh; bitter melons with full and thick nodules and not soft are of better quality. Once the skin is damaged and the flesh is easy to rot, you should avoid buying it. It is recommended to master the following 3 principles:

《3 principles for selecting bitter melon》

1. Appearance: It is best to choose fruits with larger and fuller tumors. It is best to choose bitter melons with shiny and plump skin without spots or scars. Bitter melons with sunken and dry skin are not fresh.

2. Color: The greener and more tender the bitter melon is, the bitterer it is. People who like to eat bitter food can choose bitter melons that are smaller in size, have greener skin, and smaller tumors.

3. Weight: For white-fleshed and green-fleshed bitter melons, choose those with moderate weight, preferably around 500 grams. Although mountain bitter melons are not subject to this limit, it is still recommended to weigh them lightly with your hands when purchasing.