Virginia , thanks so much for recipes to integrate the bitter melon into our diet.I only have one plant this season, it's small and late because of the drought, but have lots of seed from past years, to try again next year. It doesn't look like we'll get seed this year.I do have a seed list ,that I compile each year and will send it to anyone that might want it, or other op herbs, veggies or flowers. I save less than in years past, as the economics is not there, and we all need to put our energies to good use.But I experiment with new things each year and save seed from the old about 5 years before I compost them. It seems a shame that there isn't more interest in small scaleseeds. but it seems you have to be big enough to make the economics work. -so it is.:)sharon---- Original Message----- From: "Virginia Salares" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 9:35 PM Subject: Re: Diabetes Dietary Help
> Sharon, > > I grew up with bitter melon. There was always a vine or two we could pick > from. I enjoy the taste and wish I could grow it easily here. My children, > born in this Continent, would have none of it.. > > Both the leaves and fruit are edible. The leaves are boiled quickly and > eaten as a salad with sliced tomatoes and some mild fish sauce (or sea salt) > as seasoning. I also add it to mung bean or lentil soup; the leaves are > added when the beans are cooked just before taking it out of the stove. The > fruits are picked before they are ripe. Cut lengthwise into half and slice > crosswise very thinly, immature seeds and all. Mix with sliced tomatoes, > season with salt and eat as is. The thinly sliced fruit can be added to > sauteed beef - typically this is seasoned with salted black beans. The > fruit can also be cooked in a stew with eggplant, tomatoes and okra. > > Many of these dishes are delicacies in the Philippines. Bitter melon is > part of the diet, eaten because its taste is prized and not for therapeutic > purposes. I found out when I went back to the Philippines 5 years ago that > the mature seeds are being used for diabetes. They are crushed and > swallowed. > > I saw in some web articles that the leaves are dried, powdered and made into > capsules or made into tea. > > Virginia > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "kentjamescarson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 9:54 PM > Subject: Re: Diabetes Dietary Help > > > > Hi Allen, I went out of my way to track down and grow bitter melon for my > > husband who has a mild diabetes. he tryed it but wouldn't eat it, the word > > bitter is in there for a reason. does anyone know of a reciepe to make it > > paletable? I dried it ,to make a powder that i can give him in capsels, > but > > don't know if that would help or how much he should take. one thing you > > gardeners out there should grow it, if nothing else for the amazing show > it > > preforms when the fruit ripens ., about a different melon, we just ate the > > best melon I have ever tasted.,JUst coming in in late sept.We've saved > these > > seed about 5 years, .They originally came from Southern EXposure seed > > exchange,which specializes in mid Atlantic open pollinated seed. this > > cantaloupe is called Edisto. Wow WE . had a bonfire, watched the exinox > > moon come up.. feels good to greet the fall. :)Sharon > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Allan Balliett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 6:32 PM > > Subject: Re: Diabetes Dietary Help > > > > > > > >BITTER MELON is available in Asian and Farmer's markets and in a > > supplement > > > >form. Technically a summer squash rather than a melon, its lumpy, > ridged > > > >skin and flesh are the color of pale jade and it's similar in size and > > shape > > > >to a cucumber. Bitter melon is a traditional diabetic remedy throughout > > the > > > >Far East. In clinical tests, bitter melon inhibits glucose absorption, > > > >increases insulin flow and has insulin-like effects. > > > > > > I took some of Seeds of Changes lemon cucumbers as a gift to my > > > favorite Asian restaurant. They said 'Melon, not cucumber.' I said > > > 'No, you heathens, this is a cucumber, that's the irony!' their chef, > > > with a cleaver in one hand and a LONG lemon cucumber in the other > > > came out and said, through a translator: these two are the same. They > > > are both MELON' > > > > > > At that point, I said 'well, fancy that, what a fool I've been!' > > > > > > I'm wondering, though, if the lemon cucumber were not 'sold as' a > > > melon in the rest of the world (the ball nature being the uniqueness > > > of this variety) > > > > > > I am aware, of course, that the cucumber is a variety of summer squash. > > > > > > -Allan > > > > > > > > > > > > >
