The fruits and leaves of bitter melon are a good source of minerals and vitamins, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin B. However, it is not known how much nutritional contents can actually be absorbed by body's digestive system of plant become some of these substances exist in unabsorbable form.

Does bitter melon have medicinal properties?

Yes. Books and articles about bitter melon states that extract from leaves or roots shrinks hemorrhoids. The juice from leaves is also good to prevent and lessen cough, for fever and against roundworms. Reportedly, it is also used to treat sterility in women and alleviate liver problems. Likewise, bitter melon has some antimicrobial activity and can help infected wounds.

However, none of medicinal uses of bitter melon has been proven scientifically, although they have not been disproved, either. It's just that it has not been studied enough.

Is it true that bitter melon tea and capsules are effective in lowering blood sugar of diabetics?

William Sears, author of several books on children and nutrition, commented on this story saying, "The bottom line for food industry is money. What motivates food industry and health-minded mothers is worlds apart."

I say, What's wrong with this picture? What's wrong is value of self-determinism that was obviously ignored or disagreed with by these teenagers' parents. Victimism may be core issue surrounding obesity outside of a glandular birth defect. Wouldn't American Founding Fathers be cringing in embarrassment to find citizens so radically oriented away from principles of free choice and democratic self-restraint? Of course, children follow examples of their parents, and eating habits along with moral values begin in home.

That being said, once a heart-and-soul decision has been made to reverse obesity (now defined as overweight by 30 percent of ideal body weight), as free-choosing citizens here is a list of proven protocols to help start out on that road to recovery and wellness.

Behaviors Currently Dr. Phil seems to be champion of weight-control movement, and his approach is behavioral. One main point that hit home to me was that of support of household. If those you are living with have a refrigerator full of sweet, high-calorie snack foods, and are indulging in them constantly, it makes job of sticking to a regimen that much more difficult. On one show, Dr. Phil went so far as to say we should cut-off any relationships in our lives that oppose our weight loss intention. Ultimately, this would mean entire family would have to be involved in your weight loss program, and respect it because it is your heart's desire.