Frequently Asked Questions about Bitter Melon

What is Bitter Melon?
Bitter Melon is is a tropical and sub-tropical vine of the Cucurbitaceae family and is the most bitter of all fruits. The fruit is most often eaten when green and the skin is tender and edible. The plant contains several biologically active compounds, including charantin and momordicin, which help support optimal blood sugar levels when taken as a dietary supplement in conjunction with a sensible diet and fitness program.

How do I know if I need to take Bitter Melon?
Taking Bitter Melon as part of a healthy daily regimen that includes a sensible diet and exercise can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can help you feel better, stay healthy longer, have more energy, and reduce your risk of developing pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Is Bitter Melon beneficial for individuals with diabetes?
The term "diabetes mellitus", commonly called “diabetes”, refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood glucose (blood sugar). Chronic diabetes conditions include type-1 diabetes (the body does not produce insulin) and type-2 diabetes (the body does not properly use insulin). Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include pre-diabetes, which is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes, and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy.

Bitter Melon may be beneficial for individuals with diabetes because of its blood glucose regulating properties, and is being actively studied for its possible use in this capacity. However, please be advised that diabetes is a serious condition and you should consult with your healthcare provider if you are currently taking or plan to take herbal medicines, including Bitter Melon. Ensure that your blood sugar levels are closely monitored throughout the process. Diabetes is a life threatening disease and self-medication is not recommended.

What is the relevance and utility of Bitter Melon supplementation for individuals with cancer or undergoing cancer treatments?
Although there is some research evidence to support Bitter Melon’s usefulness and safety for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer, especially breast and prostate cancer, please bear in mind that much of this research is only preliminary. For this reason, Bitter Melon cannot and should not be used to replace or complement conventional cancer treatments. As with any other herbal treatment, it is important to research all of the possible benefits and side effects of an herb and to discuss these with your physician before adding it to your treatment program.

Does Bitter Melon have any cholesterol regulating properties?
There is some clinical evidence that Bitter Melon can be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and, consequently, minimize the risk of developing heart disease. However, unless more is known about the presumed cholesterol lowering properties of Bitter Melon, it is best to speak with your primary care physician or an integrative medicine practitioner before taking Bitter Melon for high cholesterol.

How long do I have to take Bitter Melon before I see any benefits?
Unlike OTC and prescription drugs that provide instant, temporary symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying problem responsible for poor health, herbal supplements provide progressive, long-term benefits by helping the body correct the underlying problem. While there are certain classes of herbs that work well in acute conditions to provide quick relief; herbs like Bitter Melon need to be taken for at least 3-4 weeks before the benefits of taking it can be experienced. It can take anywhere between 3 months and 2 years to experience the full range of benefits and Bitter Melon works best when taken as part of a health maintenance program that includes a sensible diet and moderate exercise regimen.

Does Bitter Melon have any side effects or interactions?
Bitter Melon does not have any known side effects or interactions. However, it is always recommended to consult your healthcare provider before taking Bitter Melon if you are hypoglycemic or are currently undergoing treatment for hypoglycemia. Diabetic individuals should use this product only under the careful supervision of a doctor and monitor their blood glucose levels closely when taking this product as Bitter Melon may enhance the efficacy of diabetic medications and lead to unsafe drops in blood sugar levels. Caution is also advised in persons who are taking other herbs or supplements that affect blood sugar.

Is Bitter Melon addictive?
Bitter Melon Gold™ by Nutrigold^® is made from a pure extract of Bitter Melon and does not contain any addictive components. Bitter Melon is safe for both short-term and long-term use when used as recommended and under the guidance of a licensed herbalist or healthcare professional.

Is Bitter Melon Gold™ a standardized herbal extract?
Yes. Nutrigold^® Bitter Melon Gold™ is a standardized, pure extract of Bitter Melon. The Bitter Melon extract used in Nutrigold^® Bitter Melon Gold™ is standardized to contain 10% (50 mg) of the active ingredient, Bitters (including Charantin), which is at least 5 times more than the amount of Bitters contained in other Bitter Melon supplements.

What is the difference between a whole herb and standardized extract? Is one necessarily better or more effective than the other?
Unfortunately, this question does not have a simple answer. Both whole plants/herbs and standardized extracts have advantages and disadvantages and choosing one over another is as much a matter of philosophy as it is of simple preference.

• Standardized extracts are based on the assumption that certain components of a plant are more active and helpful than others and it is important that there are no differences in the quantity and quality of this active ingredient from batch to batch. When you buy a standardized herbal product from a GMP-certified manufacturer, you can be assured that you are getting a product that has a certified percentage of the active ingredient in every capsule/tablet and across batches, processed using state-of-the-art machinery, and free of contaminants.
• Whole plant/herbs are based on the premise that all the different components work together synergistically to deliver health benefits rather than individual ingredients extracted in a lab. The trade-off in this case is that there are likely to be considerable differences in the actual quality of the herb from batch to batch. Quality of whole herbs/plants vary depending on where they are grown, soil composition, weather conditions, when they are harvested, type and frequency of chemical pesticides used during cultivation, and the processing techniques employed during manufacturing.

What are some things to watch for when making a decision about nutritional supplements?
Because the FDA does not regulate the dietary supplements industry, there are a number of products in the market that are unsafe, ineffective, and a generally drain on your resources. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping around for nutritional supplements:

• Do your homework – Do not be taken in by free offers and outlandish claims. Make sure you shop around not just for the best “deal”, but also for the best "quality" product.
• “Natural” does not automatically mean “safe” – Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. Learn to read the label and watch out for potentially unsafe ingredients.
• “Popular” is not the same as “effective” – Just because a product is well-known, has high customer ratings, or listed in a top-seller list does not mean it will always work for everyone. Every person is different and every product works differently for different people, so make sure you buy the product that is right for you.
• You don't always get what you pay for - When it comes to nutritional supplements, most companies price their products not based on what its actual value is, but based on what they think consumers will be willing to pay for it. So, something that is expensive does not automatically mean it is of superior quality nor does something that is priced competitively mean it is of poor quality.

Always, take into account the following factors when determining if you are getting the best quality product at the best value:

• Bitter Melon Whole Herb vs. Bitter Melon Standardized Extract - whole herbs are generally lower priced than standardized extracts
• Potency of Bitter Melon Supplement - Higher potency means you get more of what you need in each capsule
• Amount of active ingredient in the Bitter Melon Supplement - higher the % of active ingredient, greater the amount of what is presumed to be responsible for the observed benefits
• Total number of capsules per bottle - just because a product has more capsules per bottle does not make it a better value. You need to consider potency, amount of active ingredient, serving size and recommended dosage when determining whether something is a good value for your money or not

How does Bitter Melon Gold™ compare to other brands of Bitter Melon?
Nutrigold^® Bitter Melon Gold™ is superior to other brands of Bitter Melon in the following ways

• Bitter Melon Gold™ is made from certified allergen-free ingredients
• Bitter Melon Gold™ contains the highest amount of Bitters, including Charantin, of all Bitter Melon products currently available
• Bitter Melon Gold™ is manufactured in a FDA-registered cGMP-compliant manufacturing facility in the US
• The finished product certified allergen-free by an international, third-party lab
• Bitter Melon Gold™ is premium quality without the premium price tag

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical opinion. It is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any kind of supplementation. The statements and product information have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.