CHAPTER ITHE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGIntroduction

The Philippines is abundant in Ampalaya vegetable which is known as a verynutritious vegetable.

Ampalaya is the Tagalog word for bitter melon, or bitter gourd orbitter cucumber. Its scientific name is
Momordia charantia. It can be found in China,Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. It is a greenish,
oblong-shaped fruit that grows onvines to about 20 centimeters long, with tapering ends. Sour in taste,
it has manyculinary and medicinal uses in Asia and parts of South America and the Carribean.Filipino
centenarians will remember being forced as children to eat ampalayasautéed with egg. They will also
remember seeing "beef ampalaya" on the menus of oldand new Chinese restaurants, and the bitter
taste in the ancient Ilocano mixed-vegetable dish called "pinakbet."Because of its bitterness, researcher
came up of a project that use ampalaya as themain ingredient despite of its bitter taste. Some believed
that this project may not workbecause of its complicated flavor. Others say that it will outcome good
result that mostchildren would benefit.This investigatory project will identify if truly the bitterness of
Ampalaya would notexist. Also through this, we can know what are its great effects in our lives including
itsbenefits in food economy and healthcare.

Statement of the Problem

In our modern day, health condition of the country is slowly deteriorating because ofthe widespread of
non nutritious foods consumed by people.The researcher believes that she could provide a product that
would best answer onthe aim of improving the health condition of our country.This investigatory project
aims to determine and to find out how the bitterness of Ampalaya will work out on the produ

ct’s desire flavor and also on the benefits that can

make for our country.Specifically, this project will seek to answer the following question:1. What are the
components of Ampalaya candy that makes it nutritious?2. What are the ingredients of the product that
make the bitter taste of ampalayalessened?3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of making
the Ampalaya candy?4. What is the level of acceptability of the product to the consumer by
consideringthe following variables:a. Tasteb. Odorc. Texture

Significance of the study

This research project is worth making because it will help in improving the healthcondition of our
country. Also in our economy, we can raise and recover it as well.Diabetes, one of the certain and major
diseases in the country, can be prevented.Through this project, we can learn the benefits the Ampalaya
candy can produce forourselves and for the others. Non nutritious foods that are fellow men were eaten
will belessening. It can be suitable

equipment for our future’s generation food frugality.

Delimitation of the study

This paper will talk about the production of Ampalaya candy with its advantages anddisadvantages to
our country and to us. This will also provide information ondetermining Ampalaya candy for its
acceptability to the consumer by its taste, odor andtexture. It will discuss how the bitterness of
Ampalaya consumed on making this project.This paper will not include the parts of Ampalaya, kinds of
candy and other sourcesthat you can use on making this project. This will only talk about Ampalaya
candy andits information.

Definition of Terms

To make this investigatory project more understandable to those who mightcome across it, the
researcher includes the definition of some term which will enable tohave aa clearer understanding of
the problem they seek to answer. The following aresome of the words with their corresponding
meanings and explanation.1. Ampalaya- a vegetable grown throughout the Philippines. As the English
namesuggests (bitter melon), the melon has a bitter taste due to the presence ofmomordicin.2. Vigor-
means physical strength and good health3. Glucose- a variety of sugar occurring in nature very
abundantly, as in ripegrapes, and in honey, and produced in great quantities from starch, etc., by
theaction of heat and acids4. Adjunct- a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than
anessential part5. Antineoplastic- Any of several drugs that control or kill neoplastic cells; used
inchemotherapy to kill cancer cells; all have unpleasant side effects that mayinclude nausea and
vomiting and hair loss and suppression of bone marrowfunction6. Hypoglycemia- any of various agents
that decrease the level of glucose in theblood and are used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus7.
Favism- anemia resulting from eating fava beans; victims have an inherited bloodabnormality and
enzyme deficiency.8. Gastrointestinal- of or relating to the stomach and the intestines

9. Placebo- A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for thepsychological benefit to the
patient than for any physiological effect10. Diabetes Mellitus- The commonest form of diabetes, caused
by a deficiency ofthe pancreatic hormone insulin, which results in a failure to metabolize sugarsand
starch.11. Diarrhea- a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequentlyand in a liquid
form.12. Nausea- a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit13. Tepid- Only slightly warm;
lukewarm14. Pectin- A soluble gelatinous polysaccharide that is present in ripe fruits and isextracted for
use as a setting agent in jams and jellies

CHAPTER IIREVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter reviews the work of the researcher on studies closely related to thepresent day, as follows:
According to Daniel Paul Pascual, a student of Baguio City National High school,ampalaya, amargoso or
bitter gourd was one of the most important commercial andbackyard fruit vegetables in the country
today. It has both nutritive and medicinal use.These were rich in calcium,phosphorous, iron,
carbohydrates and vitaminB. It was alsoknown to cure diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, warts,
and ulcer. Making a candywithin ampalaya was said to be nutritious and delicious because of the
nutrients thatampalaya have. According to Dr. Galvez, the former secretary of the Separtment of
Health,ampalaya cannot cure diabetes, but it can help control the diseases. The action ofampalaya on
blood sugar is equivalent to the action of the medicine. In response to thestudy, the Department of
Health has elevated the status of ampalaya from a merenutritional supplement to a real
medicine.People find ways to counteract the bitter taste of ampalaya by cooking it togetherwith other
recipes. Mixing the chopped ampalaya with eggs can turn its taste delightfulto the taste buds and at the
same time reaping the many health benefits of ampalaya.

Analyses of the fruit show that it is a good source of iron and calcium, and a goodsource of phosphorus.
Despite its bitter taste, extracts from plant parts has become apopular drink for boosting vigor. In fact,
the bitterer, the better, as it is believed that thebitterness is proportionate to its potency according to
Galvez. According to Dr. Raman and Dr. Lau of Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories

Department of Pharmacy King’s College London, United Kingdom, oral administration of

fruit juice or seed powder of ampalaya causes a reduction in fasting blood glucose andimproves glucose
tolerance.R. Rosales, MD and R. Fernando, MD, said that

Ampalaya fruit prepared as atea is well- tolerated and may be a useful dietary adjunct in the treatment
of type-2diabetes. It has minor gastrointestinal side effects of increased bowel frequency butbeneficial
to those diabetic patients who are constipated. According to Basch, Gabardi and Ulbricht, Bitter melon
(Momordica charantia) isan alternative therapy that has primarily been used for lowering blood glucose
levels inpatients with diabetes mellitus. Components of bitter melon extract appear to havestructural
similarities to animal insulin. Antiviral and antineoplastic activities have alsobeen reported in vitro. Four
clinical trials found bitter melon juice, fruit and dried powderto have a moderate hypoglycemic effect.
These studies were small and were notrandomized or double-blind, however. Reported adverse effects
of bitter melon includehypoglycemic coma and convulsions in children, reduced fertility in mice, a
favism-like

synrome, increases in γ

-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels in animalsand headaches. Bitter melon may have
additive effects when taken with other glucose-lowering agents. Adequately powered, randomized,
placebo-controlled trials are needed to properly assess safety and efficacy before bitter melon can be
routinelyrecommended. According to Jea Joy A. Muñoz of DOST in Region III, Momordica Charantia
orampalaya is known for its power to improve numerous infections, cancer and leukemia.It also has the
ability to help a person recover from having a deadly disease known asDiabetes Mellitus. These days,
diabetes mellitus is a disease that contributes to morethan 25,000 deaths per year. It is caused by
hypoglycemia and the inability of the bodyto utilize insulin. People from the different walks of life suffer
from its harmful anddreadful effects. Many studies regarding medicines against it were performed yet
lesswere reached by ordinary people and those who usually die amongst those unfortunate.

From the article “Super Food Ampalaya”, it was said that ampalaya was a super

food eaten by people of other countries as well as Filipinos because it resembles a bigcucumber with
wartd on it. It is native to the trophics just like mallunggay and alwaysseen as one of the ingredient of
pinakbet and also in bagoong. It also said that themedical uses of ampalaya are more important than the
culinary uses because

it’s

bittertaste has different its nutrients that is very helpful in our body.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 storethat they are
tempt to buy because of its delicious taste, not knowing that it has badeffects on their health, especially
if they eat too much sweet which can cause toothdecay, 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 willturn out to be
very bad on your health.The researcher found out some disadvantages of ampalaya and ampalaya
candysuch as:Lars Tramilton said that the most common side effects from consuming bittermelon are
digestive problems. These side effects generally are minor and no cause foralarm. They usually subside
within a few days. They include diarrhea, stomachache andbloating. There are some medications that
have the potential to bring upon negativeinteractions when taken alongside bitter melon. Bitter melon
might lower insulin andglucose levels, so people who have diabetes should not take their diabetic
medicationsimultaneously with bitter melon.Upon its initial harvest, bitter melon is yellow-green in
appearance, though itturns yellowish-orange in color as it ripens. The inside of the melon is seedy, with
seedsof high fibrous content. However, according to InteliHealth, these fibrous seeds and rindare
extremely bitter and toxic if consumed, causing headache and nausea.Bitter melon has a primary use for
effectively lowering high blood glucose levelsin diabetes mellitus patients, as it contains components
with structural similarities toinsulin. Although bitter melon aids in the natural lowering of the high blood
glucoselevels in diabetic patients, too much of it can lead to hypoglycemic coma, among otherserious
health issues. Bitter melon is also used as an "anti-viral and anti-neoplasticactivities," as well as an anti-
oxidant, according to Zhion Health. Bitter melon juice isoften consumed in its natural fruit form, juice or
added with water as a dried powder According to Zhion Health, there have been reported adverse
effects of bittermelon consumption, which included convulsions in children, reduced fertility in mice,and
headaches, in addition to coma. Bitter melon may also interfere with normalglucose levels in non-
diabetic individuals. Pregnant women should abstain fromconsumption of bitter melon, as such may
cause spontaneous abortion, fetal-deformitiesand/or future infertility

HAPTER IIIRESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

The research study uses the combination of quantitative analysis of documentarymaterials such as
records that already exists and experimental method to determine themaking of ampalaya candy. The
researcher focused mainly on the basic researchprocess to gather necessary data and information for
the study. The completion wasbased mainly on the gathered information from books and web pages
from computerresearchers.
Methodology

These are the methods and things that the researcher used in making Ampalayacandy such as
follows:Things you will need:

11-by-7-by-2-inch baking dish

Aluminum foil

Butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups corn syrup

Large saucepan

Candy thermometer

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons tepid water

7 1/2 tablespoons pectin

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup fresh grated ampalaya

3 tablespoons ampalaya powder

5 teaspoons flavored extract (your choice)

Corn starch

Sharp knife

Airtight containerProcedures:1. Line the baking dish with aluminum foil. Fold the foil over the outside
edges ofthe baking dish. Grease the foil generously with unsalted butter and set aside.2. Grease the
bottom and sides of a large saucepan heavily with unsalted butter.3. Combine 1 1/2 cups white sugar
and 1 1/2 cups corn syrup in the butteredsaucepan.4. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and
bring syrup/sugar mixture to aboil. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved.5. Cook the sugar
mixture until it reaches the soft-crack stage (270 to 290 degreesFahrenheit). Keep track of the
temperature with your candy thermometer.6. Combine 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of tepid water, 7 1/2
tablespoons of pectin,and 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda in a separate saucepan. It will produce a headof
foam.

7. Place pectin mixture over high heat, stirring constantly, until it boils (three to fiveminutes). Continue
to stir until foam disappears. Lower heat to medium. Keep thepectin mixture simmering until the sugar
mixture reaches the soft-crack stage.8. Pour the pectin mixture into the sugar mixture as you continue
to stir. Once themixtures are combined, stir constantly for another three minutes.9. Remove candy
mixture from heat. Immediately stir in 1/4 cup of fresh gratedampalaya, 3 tablespoons of ampalaya
powder, and 5 teaspoons of the flavoredextract of your choice.10. Pour the mixture into the foil-lined
baking dish. Allow the candy to set at roomtemperature for three and a half hours or until firm.11. Dust
your work surface with corn starch. Lift the candy from the baking dish usingthe aluminum foil. Turn it
out onto the dusted work surface.12. Slice the candy into 1/2-inch squares with a sharp knife dusted
with cornstarch.13. Pour 1 cup white sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll each ampalaya square in thesugar.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container

CHAPTER IVPRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

1. Ampalya candy is made up of such nutritious ingredients such as ampalaya, honeyas the alternative
substance for corn syrup and apple pectin. Ampalaya is rich insoluble fiber, as well as potassium, iron,
folic acid, calcium and phosphorus. It alsocontains high levels of vitamins A, B and C as well as in honey.
On the other hand,apple pectin assists in reducing bad cholesterol because it forms a fiber barrier inthe
intestinal wall preventing the absorption of cholesterol and other fats, and itreduces the absorption of
glucose.2. The ingredients of the product that makes the bitter taste of ampalaya lessenedare the sugar
and the honey. Because of the sweetness of these two, lessbitterness were tasted. Also there are more
substances of it that were use than inampalaya.3. Making Ampalaya candy can be an improvised
material for anyone who

doesn’t

eat ampalaya directly. It helps kids and fellow man to eat ampalaya in a deliciousway. It is very
nutritious because of the substances and some of the alternativeswe use. Unlike other candies, its
nutrients are natural and good to our body. Onthe other hand, too much consuming of Ampalaya candy
is harmful. It can lead todiabetes, diarrhea and some digestive problems.4. As we tasted it to others,
most people rated the product very good. From its color,

they say it’s good and more like a chocolate. On it’s odor, they say it’s like a truecandy and can smell the
sweetness and on it’s taste it’s good. A little bit sticky but

nutritious.
CHAPTER VSUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONSConclusion

Based on the observationof the researchers, the ampalaya candy is deliciousbut also nutritious that is
valuable than the ordinary candy. It contains nutrients neededby the body. The product is favorable for
them and its bitter taste as been lessened.Most of the people liked the product considering its taste,
odor, and texture. It is easy tomade and very convenient.

Recommendation

Based on the results of this product, the following recommendations are herebygiven:1. Add some
vegetables on the Ampalaya Candy or more nutrients and best effect.2. Determine the nutritional
contents of Ampalaya Candy.3. The making of Ampalaya Candy is another way to earn a living4.
Ampalaya candy is an excelent substitute for imported prunes or other delicacies

Sources:http://www.charantia.com/ampalaya_archive/Advanced%20Search.htm
http://www.charantia.com/about-ampalaya/ http://www.untwistedvortex.com/super-food-ampalaya/
http://www.ehow.com/how_5732555_make-ampalaya-candy.html http://www.ampalaya.com/

http:// www. globalpinoy.com/pinoyhealth/ph_gamotpinoy/ampalaya.htm

http://region3.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215:momocha-
momordica-charantia-chips&catid=22:medicine-and-health&Itemid=45
http://www.ehow.com/about_5041044_bitter-melon-side-effects.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_7456604_bitter-melon-disadvantages.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5732555_make-ampalaya-candy.html