Health benefit of Bitter Melon

Nutritional Highlight 
Bitter Melon is excellent source of vitamin C, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. It also a good source of zinc, potassium, magnesium and manganese.

Health Benefit
The hypoglycemic effect of the fresh juice of bitter melon has been confirm by scientific study. A compound know as charantin in bitter melon is even more potent than tolbutamide which use to treat diabetes. Bitter melon also contain an insulin like compound which is polypeptide P or vegetable insulin. Thus, they have been suggested as replacement for insulin in some patient. 
The ripe fruit of bitter melon has been shown to exhibit anticancer effect, especially against leukemia.

*When bitter melon is prescribed as a therapeutic agent in diabetes, patients are told to eat one small melon or take no more than 60ml per day. Diabetic taking hypoglycemic drug may need to alter the dosage of these drug if they consume bitter melon on a daily basis.
*Bitter melon should not be eaten by pregnant women because the active constituents (alpha and beta-monorcharins) have been shown to stimulate the uterus and may cause preterm labor.

Reference: The Encyclopedia of Healing Food

Health benefit of Bell pepper

Nutritional highlight 
Bell pepper is a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin  k, thiamine, folic acid, and vitamin B6. Beside that, bell pepper also a very good source of various phytochemical with antioxidant activity such as chlorogenic acid, coumeric acid, and zeaxanthin. Red bell pepper contain lycopene that offer protection to eye and against cancer.

Health Benefits
Bell pepper exert protective effect against cataracts, possibly due to their vitamin C and lycopene. Consumption of bell peppers was associated with a reduce risk for cataract surgery. Bell pepper also contain capsaicin, flavonoids and vitamin C which prevent blood clot formation and reduce risk of heart attack and stroke.


*Bell pepper are among the top foods on which pesticide residue have been most frequently found. So buy organic Bell pepper or wash thoroughly before consume. 

Reference: The Encyclopedia of Healing Food

Health benefits of Beetroot

Nutritional highlight
Beet greens are higher in nutritional value than beetroot, they are rich in calcium, iron, vitamin A and C. However beetroot are excellent source of folic acid, fiber, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B6

Health Benefits
Beetroot have been long used to stimulate the liver's detoxification process. It also gained recognition for their anticancer properties probably by 'betacyanin' a powerful cancer fighting agent. Beet juice was found to be potent inhibitor of the formation of cancer-causing compound derives from the ingestion of nitrates from smoked or cured meats.

* It might cause red or pink colour in the urine, but it is harmless
* Beetroot contain high level of oxalate. Individual with history of oxalate-containing kidney stone should avoid overconsuming beet

Reference material: "The Encyclopedia Of Healing Food"

Health benefit of Asparagus

Nutritional highlights
Asparagus is low in calories, but relatively rich in protein. It is good source of potassium, vitamin K, folic acid, vitamin C, Vitamin A, riboflavin, thiamin and vitamin B6. Asparagus also rich in dietary fiber, niacin, phosphorus, and iron.

Heath benefit 
Asparagus has been used to treat arthritis might be due to its unique phytochemical (racemofuran, asparagamine A, and racemosol) and rheumatism due to the amino acid "asparagine".

*Asparagus contains low amounts of oxalate, individual with oxalate-containing kidney stone should avoid over consuming. Asparagus contains a moderate amount of purines, therefore individual with gout should limit the consumption of this food.

Reference material: "The Encyclopedia Of Healing Food"