According to Ms. Abhilasha Vyas, a nutritionist at Cloudnine Hospital (Bengaluru, India), bitter melon has the ability to stimulate cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that helps transport glucose into cells for energy or storage for later use. As a result, secreting more insulin can help control blood sugar, which is especially helpful for people with type 2 diabetes, whose ability to produce insulin is often reduced.
In addition, according to nutritionist Abhilasha Vyas, the compounds in bitter melon also support the absorption and use of sugar in the body more effectively, helping the body make better use of energy from glucose.
Bitter melon can also reduce the amount of glucose absorbed from the intestines due to its high fiber content, which slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. This helps reduce the rate at which blood sugar rises after meals.
In addition, some compounds in bitter melon also have the ability to inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, contributing to more effective blood sugar control.
