Tuberous Gourd, also known as Milk Gourd due to its plump shape, has high nutritional value and can be eaten raw. What are the benefits of eating raw Tuberous Gourd?
【Effects and Functions of Tuberous Gourd】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Tuberous Gourd has the effects of clearing deficient fire, nourishing qi, promoting body fluid production, and promoting lactation. It is used to treat deficient fire causing inflammation and sore throat; deficiency of qi and yin leading to fatigue, forgetfulness, restlessness, thirst, dizziness, and insomnia; and postpartum weakness and insufficient milk production.
1. "Inner Mongolia Herbal Medicine": "Clears heat, reduces inflammation, relieves pain, and promotes lactation. Used to treat blocked milk flow and sore throat."
2. "Qingdao Herbal Medicine Manual": "Used to treat deficiency of qi and blood, neurasthenia, and swollen and painful throat."
3. "National Compilation of Herbal Medicine": "Nourishes qi, promotes lactation. Used to treat weakness and insufficient milk production, and can be applied externally to treat warts."
【Nutritional Value of Tuberous Gourd】
Tuberous Gourd's tender fruit can be eaten raw. It is not only fragrant and crisp, but also rich in nutrients, making it a very healthy wild fruit to eat.
Tuberous Gourd has a relatively high protein content, almost comparable to purple alfalfa and similar to wheat bran. It also has a rich content of crude fat and ash, especially high in calcium.
Since Tuberous Gourd's fruit contains white mucilage, which is sticky and gooey, many people don't like eating it.
Tuberous Gourd is delicious when its young fruit pods are tender, but it loses its taste after the leaves fall off.
Tuberous Gourd is a plant with rich nutritional value, especially its protein content, which is not only abundant but also of good quality. Tuberous Gourd has a slightly sweet taste but is cooling in nature, and its effects are not insignificant.
I recommend eating the fresh tender fruits, as they have a slightly bitter taste but also a faint natural milky fragrance and a tender and palatable texture. They are full of abundant milk and nutrients.
