Most people have never heard of karela. Also known as “bitter melon,” this Asian fruit has been renowned for centuries as a healthy superfood with many nutritional benefits. Now, researchers have discovered that karela can keep cancer at bay.
Published in Cell Communication and Signaling, the research found that bitter melon extract reduced tumor growth by 50% in animal studies. The study has yet to be conducted on human subjects, but the outlook is promising.
And it’s not the first study to implicate this amazing fruit as an anti-cancer agent.
Ratna Ray, Ph.D., professor of pathology at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the study’s author, has evaluated the anti-cancer properties of karela before. Her 2018 paper showed that bitter melon stopped the replication of oral squamous cell carcinoma in mice. Published in Cancer Prevention Research, it was the journal’s most cited paper of the year.
Professor Ray grew up in India, where bitter melon is a regular part of many diets. While earning her doctorate at the University of Calcutta, she began studying the fruit that had long been part of Indian folk medicine. She understands the value of utilizing nature’s bounty to help our bodies heal.
According to Professor Ray:
Natural products play a critical role in the discovery and development of numerous drugs for the treatment of various types of deadly diseases, including cancer. Therefore, the use of natural products as preventive medicine is becoming increasingly important.”
In her preliminary research, Ray has found that bitter melon extract seems to fight cancer by modulating the immune response. Here at TTAC, we know that the best way to heal your body is to work with the immune system – not against it. Bitter melon extract was also shown to inhibit glycolysis and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, it induces endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress-mediated cell death in oral cancer.
Ray explained that the metabolic profiles of cancer cells are different from normal cells due to aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) and lipogenesis. But bitter melon extract can modulate both glucose AND lipid metabolism, making it a potential superstar in treating oral cancers.
Bitter melon extract has also been shown to enhance the efficacy of natural killer cells, the body’s “cancer bounty hunters.” Ray’s 2010 research found that it also seems to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells, while stopping multiplication and metastasis.
She continued:
To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells … Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread. Cancer prevention by the use of naturally occurring dietary substances is considered a practical approach to reduce the ever-increasing incidence of cancer. Studying a high-risk breast cancer population where bitter melon is taken as a dietary product will be an important area of future research.”
Bitter melon has also demonstrated chemoprevention of prostate cancers – with a unique twist. Ray believes that the chemopreventive benefits may be linked to the dietary value of bitter melon alone. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death in men, but it turns out that the right diet could change all that.
And since bitter melon has shown selective toxicity (meaning that it targets cancer cells without affecting healthy cells) and no major side effects in humans or animals, there is little risk to patients who choose to add this amazing fruit to their diets.
For centuries, Ayurvedic medicine has recommended bitter melon for treating diabetes and related complications. But this powerful fruit can do so much more. Bitter melon (which resembles some kind of alien cucumber) provides over 90% of the RDI of Vitamin C, nearly 50% of Vitamin A, 8% of fiber, and more.
It can also help you lose healthy weight, since there are only 17 calories and 2 grams of fiber in a single serving. Plus, it’s been shown in studies to reduce excess belly fat. In a 2012 study published in BMC’s Nutrition Journal, participants consuming bitter melon extract each day lost an average of a half inch from their waist size in just seven weeks.
As for the Ayurvedic use of bitter melon for treating diabetes, this super fruit comes though yet again. A 3-month study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2018 found that adults taking 2,000mg of bitter melon each day had decreased blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c.
Because bitter melon is loaded with vitamin C, it is also an awesome immune booster. Vitamin C is the main antioxidant in blood and your body’s cells. It protects proteins, fats, carbohydrates, DNA, and RNA from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. This damage can be generated by the normal daily workings or as a result of exposure to toxins and pollutants like pollution, chemotherapy drugs, and traditional cigarette smoke.
Where to Find it and How to Prepare
Bitter melon can be found in most Asian markets in any season, though if you choose to grow your own, you’ll want to harvest at the beginning of fall. As the name suggests, the fruit tastes bitter, but there are plenty of ways to turn it into a tasty dish. The trick is to remove the skin to get to the flesh underneath.
It can be cooked just like zucchini or squash by steaming, pan-frying, or grilling, and is most often used in Asian dishes like stir-fry or curry. It can also be juiced for those who want to quickly get the daily benefits of bitter melon or taken as an extract. Like any other supplement, make sure that you find extract capsules that are pure, organic, and non-GMO. Wee, this food has been a dietary staple. And although it may look funny to you at first, the health and cancer-fighting benefits are too good to pass up. Whether you choose to try some recipes, add it to your juicing routine, or take the extract, you’ll be happy that you did.
Professor Ray considers it to be one of the healthiest foods you can eat, saying,
Some people eat an apple a day. I’d rather eat a bitter melon a day.”
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published in 2019 and has been updated in 2024.
Where can I get the bitter melon from?
Hi Karla, bitter melon can be found in most Asian markets in any season. 🙂
Bitter Melon has been know, not only in Ayurveda, also TCM Chinese Herbology, you can get BM in Health Food stores or on line…Suma G Nathan, Holistic Health Practitioner, Certified Planetary Chinese Herbologist, pioneering Holistic since the 1960’s
I get mine at HEB or Indian Grocery Stores
I have eaten and grown bitter melon on and off for quite a while since I lived in Japan and learned that the Okinawans attribute their longevity to eating it. At first, I tried to mask the melon’s bitterness with other flavours, but the more you try to fight the taste the more problems you have with the taste. To anyone thinking of including it in their diet I recommend eating it in scrambled Eggs the way the Okinawans and many other Asians do. PS. I saw some at wholefoods yesterday.
David – thank you for sharing!
But who would wanna shop at whole foods anymore? Or Amazon??
I would like to know if immunotherapy can help my grandson aged 7.He has been battling bone cancer fr 2 yrs.
Hi Heena, unfortunately we are not able to give any kind of medical advice. We are so sorry to hear about your grandson and we will be praying for him. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Also, during our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I’m also attaching the info about the Hope4Cancer clinic in Tijuana, MX if you’d like to reach out to them.
http://www.hope4cancer.com/
https://hope4cancer.com/schedule-a-call/
Please also see the resources below in case they will be helpful to you.
From our beginning, we have supported charities that really help these cancer patients.
Cancer Crackdown is so awesome and helps patients without a lot of money get supplements and treatments and even helps them raise money:su
http://cancercrackdown.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CancerCrackdown
Also, the Independent Cancer Research Foundation is another charity that we support, also known as Cancer Tutor. They have been a TREMENDOUS help for cancer patients and have a TON of life-saving information they give out freely and they do real research into treatments for cancer that are outside of the toxic Big Pharma Big 3:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/independent-cancer-research-foundation/
We suggest contacting Cancer Crackdown for any need in financial resources.
We also support Mary Beth’s “Nick Gonzalez Foundation” which is bringing Nick’s protocol to the people…which is one of the most powerful cancer-killing protocols out there.
I hope this is helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again if there’s anything else we can help with.
Wishing you endless blessings and love!
I will be taking O peptide as I too have colon cancer.
Unfortunately, this product is not in US yet. It’s all natural ingredients and vegan can also take them.
I really appreciate you sharing new findings of foods, and other research in the fight and prevention of cancer. Thank you!
I eat Bitter Melon alot, (I actually like it) Every time I go to the Asian market to buy it I am stopped (mostly by Indians) and asked how I cook it. Other people simply don’t like it. I was looking for your promised recipes Where can I find them?
Hi Murf, scroll down about 3/4 of the way. We added a header so that information is easier to find! Bitter melon can be found in most Asian markets in any season and it can be cooked just like zucchini or squash by steaming, pan-frying, or grilling. It can also be juiced or taken as an extract. We’ll be sure to pass on your recipe request to our team!
I am certanly going to grow this superfood this summer. They have it available in the baker creek seed catalog.
Thanks for the information. Your email says “We’ve even thrown in a few tips on where to find it and how to prepare it. :-)” However, I did not find this information. 🙁
Hi John, scroll down about 3/4 of the way. We added a header so it’s easier to find! Bitter melon can be found in most Asian markets in any season and it can be cooked just like zucchini or squash by steaming, pan-frying, or grilling. It can also be juiced or taken as an extract.
Bitter Melon is one of my favorite vegetable cooked or raw. It is sold in asian stores/market and available as raw, tea or juice. Google the nearest Asian stores in your area. Also, please check with Pinterest for recipes, there are several ways to prepare bitter melon. Hope this help and Good luck !!!
Bitter Melon is abundant here in the Philippines and can be grown in our own backyard. Filipinos find it more cheaper and make sure its organic compared to those you can buy in supermarkets. I can also share recipes of it if you want, my email is ahna.aquino@gmail dot com
Hi. In the Caribbean it is called Caraili and you can find them in the Caribbean markets. I am sure they will share with you a recipe or two.
I have stayed at the Isha Yoga ashrams, one in Tennessee and one in Coimbatore, S India. They fix bitter melon in delicious stews. They don’t take the entire skin off, just the pointiest part. Somehow, they make the bitter taste come through in a delicious way. Yummmm.
Because it is fried.
I grow bitter melon every summer in Wichita,KS, plant them in the last week of April, and start harvesting in the middle week of July. I eat them almost every day during summer time, that is one of my favorite food. You can eat them raw mix with vinegar, little soy sauce, chopped onions, chopped tomato, and season with salt and pepper, let stand for half hour or longer. The longer time, the bitter taste will disappear. I called it Raw Pickled Bitter Melon or Salad, but my favorite recipe is stir-fry bitter melon, with eggs, little bit chopped tomato, onions, lots of garlic, sweet basil and soy sauce. Cook them only under 1 minute if you’re cooking small amount, but, if you’re cooking medium to large amounts it will require more time. I like very much the bitter taste, been eating it all my life.
Liza, thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Liza, Thank you so much for the information about preparing bitter melon. In my neighborhood there are many Pakistani stores and I am always told to cook it with meat. I am also warned about the taste. Also could not find “the banner about 3/4 of the way down” that includes recipes for bitter melon.
Hi Elizabeth, we do not have any current recipes live yet but a few have been shared here in the comments. We do however have some suggestions in the article on where to get it and basic preparation tips. We will add bitter melon recipes to our list 😉
I was getting into boiling Chinese veges in General without salt and was suprised at the lovely flavour within. When the bitter melon is cut into rings, it is very pretty. Just remove the seeds, maybe to try growing? And I boiled them with Belly pork. Although I do use the water and eat all with fluffy steamed rice, I was pleasantly suprised at the flavour.
In India karela is called Bitter Gourd in English. Its a regular dish for lunch in our house all seasons. In Bengal we simply boil it and mash it with boiled potatoes. Try mixing it with somegrated fresh onions and a dash of mustard oil to it and you should find it tasty enough. Add Black Salt if necessary.
Thank you for the cooking tip, Indrajit!
my mum makes chicken and bitter melon stir fry with black beans sauce, thinly sliced bitter melon in omelette (without cheese), bitter melon and pork ribs soup, or just simply stir fry bitter melon with a bit of black beans sauce. The bitter taste is an acquired taste to be honest, it will grow on you eventually.
I have been battling breast cancer alternatively, went into remission for 1.5 years and it is back again in same breast. I spent $85k and now have no money. I was dismissed from American alternative cancer clinic with no referral or resources. My health nightmare began with polypropylene mesh over a decade ago. I have been in severe pain since. I believe I could not fight the cancer on my own because my immune system is spent in fighting pain from mesh. I had multiple mesh removal surgeries but damage is done. Pain management has been grossly ineffective. I have pudendal neuralgia, CRPS and cancer from uncontrolled severe pain. I am trying hard to live and get better but conventional medicine failed me. Now I have hope to control pain from one possible doctor in another state. Tell me, how can I continue to fight when I spent all my savings on alternative care? I am forced to do chemo or just die a slow agonizing death like I am doing now. It seems only the wealthy can afford alternative care. The rest of us do chemo or nothing. Can you direct me to a cheaper source for middle class Americans? I watched your Truth About Cancer but where does one get the money? I am NOT going to sell my house and leave my husband homeless should I not make it.
Hi Victoria, we cannot express in words how sorry we are that you’ve had to go through this. We suggest talking to an integrative oncologist and hope that you find the best treatment for you. We also suggest consulting with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Also, during our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I’m also attaching the info about the Hope4Cancer clinic in Tijuana, MX if you’d like to reach out to them.
http://www.hope4cancer.com/
https://hope4cancer.com/schedule-a-call/
Please also see the resources below in case they will be helpful to you.
From our beginning, we have supported charities that really help these cancer patients.
Cancer Crackdown is so awesome and helps patients without a lot of money get supplements and treatments and even helps them raise money:su
http://cancercrackdown.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CancerCrackdown
Also, the Independent Cancer Research Foundation is another charity that we support, also known as Cancer Tutor. They have been a TREMENDOUS help for cancer patients and have a TON of life-saving information they give out freely and they do real research into treatments for cancer that are outside of the toxic Big Pharma Big 3:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/independent-cancer-research-foundation/
We suggest contacting Cancer Crackdown for any need in financial resources.
We also support Mary Beth’s “Nick Gonzalez Foundation” which is bringing Nick’s protocol to the people…which is one of the most powerful cancer-killing protocols out there.
I hope this is helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again if there’s anything else we can help with.
Wishing you endless blessings and love!
Thanks for sharing this information, l eat bitter melon at least 4 times a week. I like it raw, mostly make juice and also stir- fry with eggs, onions, tomatoes and garlic. I know it help to boost immunity but didn’t know it fight cancer
Will drinking the tea be as effective ? I live in a small town with no Asian markets close by
Hi Michelle, it’s hard to say if the tea would have the exact same health effects but some research says that drinking the tea and maintain high levels of vitamin D may be helpful in the fight against diabetes. The all-around health benefits are great and we highly recommend drinking the tea if you do not have access to the fruit.
If I take the capsules is it as effective? If so… what brand is the purest?
Hi CS, supplements are very effective although we do not have a current brand to recommend to you. We always suggest purchasing pure & organic. These are generally available in most health food stores and a quick internet search will give you some options. Be sure to look up third party reviews when purchasing supplements to make sure you are getting the highest quality.
All my life I thought it’s a vegetable. In Philippines we call it ampalaya. I cook it with tiny slices of beef, eggs n miso paste. I sauteed it with other condiments. Even the leaves u can mix it with soups. To lessen bitterness soak first with salts before cooking. It is really good with problems of constipation.
Been eating this vegetable fruit since I was little. Its a staple food of a region in the Phils called the Ilocos region. This variety is more bitter than its larger in size counterpart. Even its leaves when steamed and juiced is very potent. Its a vine by the way. We used to cook it with other vegetables like eggplant, okra, string beans, and sweet potatoes, sauteed or just boiled together with tomatoes and anchovies. Sometimes we grill it (it taste less bitter) and make a fresh veggie salad with tomatoes, spring onions, green mango, sometimes with boiled peanuts, seasoned with anchovies and topped with boiled eggs. (all mixed veggies cut into strips)You can also wrap it with mustard leaves for aesthetic purposes and mix the leaves with the salad similar to lettuce. Best to pair it with fried, steamed or grilled fish, roast pork or beef and fried chicken as side salad or appetizer. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing, Mina!
I have seen plain melons in my local supermarket not bitter melons. I wander if the Chinese supermarket near where I live sells bitter melons.
I do eat bitter melon often in green juices and also cooked with eggs and onions. With juices I usually juice the melon whole but when I cook it I take the seeds out. Can you tell me if the seeds have any benefits or is it better to do away with them? Also, can this melon be fermented?
Hi Angela, most sources say the seeds are edible, and even have medicinal uses, but most recipes remove the seeds. The fruit is quite nutritious without them. The jury is still out on the nutrition of the seeds. We thought this article summed it up best: https://www.pullupyourplants.com/unusual-garden-plants/2018/1/2/bitter-melon. We hope this helps!
My parents were born and raised in Kerala and ate this vegetable all the time. They both died of cancer.
Oh wow, R Mathews, sad last comment. So, it seems that this vegetable doesn’t work for all types of cancer it seems.
Ty I pray that you would with an open heart and mind read the book The Great Controversy by E.G.White Its a long read and maybe in these times the last 10 chapters might be insightful I pray you not be offended but prayfully read
It is mentioned in a few of the replies that the bitter melon recipes are 3/4 way down, but I still can’t find it. Can you put the link somewhere so we can go to it easily? Thank you.
I found this recommendation for bitter melon while undergoing chemo treatment for lymphatic breast cancer. I got some bitter melon extract in pill form for a great price, and I continue to take it everyday. After completing chemo and surgery, the pathology results were excellent with no active cancer cells to be found! Now, as a believer, God gets all the credit for my healing, but taking His natural remedies certainly is part of it. I haven’t participated in any studies to support bitter melon being part of my success, but I will continue to take it as I haven’t suffered any known side effects. Hope my story is helpful and encouraging as I felt the need to underscore this recommendation for bitter melon, which might be worth considering in your fight to beat cancer.