CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

Ampalaya is Filipino for bitter melon, or bitter gourd or bitter cucumber. Its scientific name is Momordica charantia. It is also found in China, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. It is a greenish oblong-shaped fruit that grows on vines to about 20 cm long, with tapering ends. Sour in taste, it has many culinary and medicinal uses in Asia and parts of South America and the Caribbean. Its origin is unknown.

According to medicalhealthguide.com, the Philippine Department of Health endorses the Ampalaya plant for use as an alternative medicine for many conditions.

Ampalaya is recommended to help relieve liver problems, to control blood sugar, HIV, skin diseases, sterility in women, to kill parasites, to reduce fever and purge illness from the body through defecation. Both the Ampalaya leaves and fruits contain vitamin B, iron, calcium, beta carotene and phosphorous. Some of its benefits are, it disinfects, relieve cold symptoms, boosts immunity, regulates blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure, relieves headaches and protects spleen and liver.

In our country, there are areas of malnutrition in different provinces. The State of the World’s Children says it is due to financial problem and also to the food they eat. Children now seldom eats vegetables and fruits because of many junk foods in the store that they are tempt to buy because of its delicious taste, not knowing that it has bad effects on their health, especially if they eat too much sweet which can cause tooth decay, tonsillitis and may turn out to be diabetes, and if too much sour, it can also cause U.T.I and or kidney failure. It is not advisable to each too much junk food because it will turn out to be very bad on your health.

That is why many of the researchers in our country planned and made a new technique in serving foods especially in cooking it. It has been noticed that most of the fruits, Ampalaya is the common fruit that children don’t usually eat because of its bitter taste, So researcher conduct a study on how to cook a food that is abundant in nutrients as well as attractive among children.