Bitter Melon and Apple Juice

Why people make this juice

Bitter melon has long held a respected place in Chinese food therapy — its intensely bitter taste signals a cooling, cleansing energy that practitioners have associated with clearing summer heat, supporting the digestive system, and promoting metabolic balance. Recent research interest has also focused on bitter melon’s bioactive compounds and their possible relationship to pancreatic health. Nourilo came across a translated research summary suggesting that fresh bitter melon juice may help inhibit certain cellular activity in the pancreas, and was struck enough to share it with his readers. The good news: adding a sweet apple softens the bitterness considerably and makes this juice genuinely pleasant to drink.

Method

1. Halve the bitter melon lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds and white pith — this removes some of the most intense bitterness.
2. Peel and core the apple, then cut both the apple and bitter melon into pieces suitable for your juicer or blender.
3. If using a blender, add a small splash of water and blend until smooth; strain through a fine sieve if desired. If using a juicer, simply feed through together.
4. Add ginger slices if using, and juice or blend together with the other ingredients.
5. Drink within 5 minutes of preparation — the active compounds begin to degrade once the juice is exposed to air.

Nourilo’s Tips

• The key is to drink this juice fresh — do not store it or prepare it in advance. Within 5 minutes of juicing is ideal.
• Start with half a glass to see how your body responds, especially if you have never tried bitter melon juice before. You can work up to a full glass once you know it agrees with you.
• The best time to drink this is between meals — mid-morning or mid-afternoon works well. It is generally not recommended last thing at night because of its cooling nature.
• If the bitterness is still too strong even with apple added, try reducing the bitter melon slightly and increasing the apple.
• This juice is especially suitable in summer heat; in cooler months, use it more sparingly.