Common name: Bitter gourd • Hindi: Karela करेला • Manipuri: কারোন অখাবী Karon akhabi • Tamil: பாகற்காய் pAgakkai
Botanical name: Momordica charantia Family: Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin family)
Vine, native to tropical Africa, however today can be found in all tropical
regions of the world. The dioecious flowers are yellow and the fruits are
oblong and lumpy with a light green to greenish-white, waxy skin. In some
countries, mainly in India the fruit is cooked
and eaten. The fruit is edible when harvested green and cooked. The taste is
bitter. Bitter gourd has twice the potassium of bananas and is also rich in
vitamin A and C. Used to purify the blood, reduce blood sugar levels and to
fight gastrointestinal problems.
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