With the arrival of autumn, the weather is gradually getting cooler. According to traditional Chinese medicine, eating pumpkin after the first frost can protect the stomach and detoxify the body. Why is pumpkin the most nourishing food in autumn? Today, I will introduce the nutritional value of pumpkin through this recipe for Pumpkin Walnut Soup.
【Name】
Pumpkin Walnut Soup
【Ingredients】
400g pumpkin, 30g walnut kernels, moderate amount of chicken powder
【Steps】
1. Peel and clean the pumpkin, cut it into small pieces. Remove the walnut shells, blanch them in boiling water for 10 minutes, and then remove the outer skin with a toothpick.
2. Pour an appropriate amount of water into a frying pan, place a steaming rack and a plate in it, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pumpkin pieces and steam for 10 minutes.
3. After the pumpkin is cooked, pour it into a pre-cooked pork bone soup, add bread, cover with a lid, turn on the heat, stir into a paste, and then turn off the heat.
4. Pour the mixture into a soup pot, cover the pot, bring to a boil over high heat, add an appropriate amount of chicken powder for seasoning. After boiling, turn off the heat, and finally add the pre-prepared walnut kernels.
【Tips】
1. You can choose whether to peel the pumpkin or not. If you don't peel it, it will be more nutritious, but be sure to thoroughly clean it before using.
2. The pumpkin must be cut into small pieces before adding it to the soup pot, it should not be added as a whole piece.
3. The choice of nuts can be adjusted according to different situations, such as personal taste preferences and the inventory at home. The combination can be diverse, but walnuts, almonds, and cashews are more common and the best match.
【Eating Taboos of Pumpkin】
Pumpkins should be properly stored and not kept for too long. Otherwise, the pulp will undergo anaerobic fermentation and produce alcohol, which can cause poisoning after consumption. Before eating pumpkin, be sure to carefully inspect it. If you find any rotten spots on the skin or smell alcohol after cutting it open, it should not be consumed.
【Why is Eating Pumpkin the Most Nourishing in Autumn】
Pumpkins can nourish the middle, invigorate the Qi, warm the spleen and stomach, and detoxify and relieve pain. They are used for symptoms such as chronic weakness, fatigue caused by spleen and stomach deficiency and cold, dullness in the stomach, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and edema.
Specifically, regular consumption of pumpkin has the following benefits:
1. Promotes Sleep: Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, which helps the body produce serotonin. This neurotransmitter has a calming effect and can relieve tension, thereby promoting sleep.
2. Improves Eyesight: Pumpkins are one of the vegetables/fruits that are rich in beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body. Research from the National Institutes of Health in the United States has shown that vitamin A can enhance clear vision in dim light. Studies from Harvard University have also shown that vitamin A can delay the decline in retinal function caused by retinal pigment degeneration. In addition, vitamin A also helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, teeth, and bones.
3. Protects the Heart: Pumpkins are rich in dietary fiber, which is beneficial for the heart. A large-scale study conducted by Harvard University showed that those who consume a high-fiber diet have a 40% lower risk of heart attacks compared to those who consume a low-fiber diet. A recent study in Sweden also reached a similar conclusion, showing that women with a high-fiber diet have a 25% lower risk of heart disease compared to women with a low-fiber diet.
4. Enhances Beauty: Pumpkins not only contain beta-carotene but also contain a large amount of vitamin C. They also contain a significant amount of vitamin E, which is an important nutrient for preventing wrinkles. These rich vitamins combined in one vegetable make pumpkin very helpful for beauty.
5. Boosts Immunity: Pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene, with approximately 4000 micrograms of beta-carotene per 100 grams of pumpkin. In addition, pumpkins also contain a rich amount of vitamin B6, which is an essential nutrient for enhancing immune protein activity and metabolism. It is said that eating pumpkin in the winter and autumn seasons has the effect of boosting immunity, which was a custom during the mid-Edo period in Japan.
