Bitter Melon (Gourd) Side Effects

Bitter melon is a great super fruit and supplement for weight loss. It can help you in many ways when it comes to losing weight and being more healthy. There are, however, some side effects that have been reported from use of bitter melon.

Those who have diabetes should be careful when using bitter melon, because it does effect blood sugar. Keep a close check on your blood sugar to make sure you are fine. It has been known to lower blood sugar. This is a good thing for people without diabetes, but those with diabetes should check their blood sugar often.

Do not give bitter melon to children. Bitter melon seeds are especially toxic for kids and may cause a number of problems. The side effects range from vomiting and diarrhea to coma and death. The reason is because these seeds may lower blood sugar too much in children. While it's safe for adults, avoid giving it to children.

Those who are pregnant or nursing should not take bitter melon. Bitter melon may cause you to have a miscarriage. In animal studies, bitter melon has been known to cause miscarriages. Avoid bitter melon while you are pregnant. Don't take bitter melon while you are nursing either. Bitter melon is somewhat of a natural contraceptive. This should give you an idea of the seriousness of this.

Everyone else, it's generally safe for you to take bitter melon as long as you aren't in any of the above categories. Obviously, some may have an allergic reaction so it's best to look out for symptoms of an allergy and discontinue use if you develop an allergic reaction to bitter melon. If you are a normal adult, your blood sugar will spike and fall rapidly during the day. Bitter melon helps to combat that problem by regulating it. While this can be possibly harmful to diabetics and definitely harmful to children, it's a good thing for you because it helps to keep the extra pounds off.