Re: Karela- The exotic vegitable
Karela is good for many things Diabaties, cleaning blood etc 
Afia baji- My ammi always make kareley with qeema, either stuffed or simple after roasting and adding with onion in qeema.
Saba ji - Aho …That is vegetarian desi dish. but I like stuffed kareley with qeema ( kareley ke bo’t ) the ones which you sew kareley with dhaga :love: that si my fav dish, but ammi seldom makes it, she says it is time consuming 
Information On Bitter Melon
(It is interesting and informative, read it when ever you have time )
Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) is an anti-diabetic of monumental potential. It has been shown to increase production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body’s ability to produce insulin. It is one of the few agents which has the potential to bolster a flagging pancreas. It has been recommended by the Department of Health of the Philippines, as one of the best herbal medicines for it’s ability to help with liver problems, Diabetes and HIV. Bitter melon is an excellent natural remedy for the common cold, and works in only 3-5 days. Because is it a natural fruit, Bitter Melon is safe and effective to use - there are no known risks of any side-effects, even for small children and babies. It is rich in protein that can go through the spleen and lungs, it can clear lungs and stop coughs due to phlegm. It also has other uses, but the ability to lower one’s blood sugar level is what attracts us.
Bitter melon fruit has been reported to significantly improve the body’s natural ability to regulate glucose in humans and animals. Research indicates that molecules with insulin-like bioactivity may be present in bitter melon seeds. A few studies suggest that the mechanism of bitter melon could be partly attributed to an ability to aid the body in increasing glucose utilization in the liver.
Either way, bitter melon has long been used in South America and the Orient, not only as a food, but also as a medicinal agent used to support the whole system of those with diabetes. Bitter melon helps by improving blood sugar balance and reducing the amount of sugars in the blood. This supplement should find an important role in reducing insulin resistance.
In various places this item is also called bitter gourd, bitter cucumber, balsam pear, karela, and charantin. Bitter melon is by far the most widely used traditional remedy for diabetes. It is quite commonly used in Asia, especially in India, and in Africa. Bitter melon is frequently eaten as a vegetable and looks like a misshapen, bumpy cucumber. As a treatment for diabetes, it is generally the juice or an extract of the unripe fruit that is used. Dried or powdered forms of bitter melon do not have the same treatment capacity.
Several interesting compounds have been isolated from bitter melon that are believed to be responsible for its blood-sugar-lowering properties. These are included in our Dichromatin product. Charantin and an insulin-like protein referred to as polypeptide-P, or plant insulin, is of particular note. It is believed that bitter melon acts on both the pancreas and on the non-pancreatic cells, such as cells in our muscles.
In one clinical study of the effects of bitter melon on diabetics, polypeptide-P isolated from bitter melon was injected (in a manner similar to that used with commercial insulin) into subjects with either Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. It decreased blood glucose levels from an average of 305 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) before treatment to 168 mg/dl after four hours in subjects with Type 1 diabetes, and from 140 mg/dl to 95 mg/dl after one and a half hours in subjects with Type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, there were no significant changes in the control subjects.
Another study tested the effect of eating powdered whole bitter melon for one week in people with Type 2 diabetes. Fasting blood sugar levels and blood sugar levels measured after consuming 50 grams of pure glucose (this is called a glucose tolerance test and is commonly used in research studies) were significantly lower after consumption of bitter melon. The average fasting blood sugar level decreased from 248 mg/dl to 155 mg/dl.
Other studies have had similar results. Bitter melon is a vegetable, and is generally believed to be safe to eat and take. If you use the fresh fruit, prepare it with care: A mildly toxic chemical has been isolated from the seeds and the outer rind. There also are reports of toxicity in children and bleeding and contractions in pregnant women, so this plant should be avoided by these populations. Whatever formulation you choose, work closely with your doctor and health-care team. This precaution is important because there is the potential for hypoglycemia when this herb is combined with medicines that lower blood glucose. Positive effects on blood sugar should be noted fairly quickly. If changes are not seen within four weeks, the treatment should be discontinued.
Bitter Mellon (Momordica charantia) was found to lower blood-sugar levels on an average of 25% in patients with Type II diabetes. The active constituent, Charantin, is composed of mixed steroids that act as a potent oral hypoglycemic compound. Charantin also contains polypeptide-P (an insulin-like polypeptide) that was shown to lower blood sugar levels in clinical studies.
plenty of Asian markets here to browse through
it is bhinddi
