Bitter Melon (goya) 日本苦瓜

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Goya is also known by the name "bitter gourd" or “bitter melon” and is considered an extremely nutritious ingredient.  With color and shape similar to a cucumber, and a thick skin full of bumps, what makes Japanese goya truly unique is the bitter taste that can be experienced from the first bite.

Rich in vitamin C, which is effective in cooling body temperature, goya has been recognized as a healthy vegetable to prevent summer heat fatigue, and over time, its use has become more popular and diverse.

日本苦瓜，有山苦瓜之稱，它的外皮疙瘩最多，肉薄，顏色也最深。一般來說，苦瓜愈深色即苦瓜素愈多，味道自然愈甘苦。此外，有營養師就指出，苦瓜不但苦味重，其營養價值亦較其他品種高。苦瓜含多種營養素，當中的維他命C更是冠絕瓜果類。苦瓜當中的氨基酸能增強人體免疫力，再加上苦瓜獨有的苦瓜鹼等，兩者都能抑制腫瘤生長，如降低患胃癌、腸癌、乳癌及子宮頸癌的機會。