Winter melon is a treasure and a common vegetable on the dining table. Eating it regularly not only helps to hydrate the body but also prevents heat stroke, earning it the title of "the first melon of summer".
[Benefits of Eating Winter Melon]
1. Protects the heart
Winter melon has the highest water content, reaching up to 96%. It is also high in potassium, with 130mg of potassium per 100g, making it a typical high-potassium, low-sodium vegetable.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for the human body. By replenishing potassium, it helps eliminate excess sodium from the body, protects heart function, replenishes water, reduces swelling and promotes diuresis, and prevents heat stroke.
2. Lowers cholesterol and blood lipids
Winter melon is rich in various amino acids needed by the body and has a high dietary fiber content, which can lower cholesterol and blood lipids.
3. Prevents atherosclerosis
Winter melon can effectively control the conversion of carbohydrates into fat in the body, prevent fat accumulation, and help burn excess fat, which has a good effect on preventing and treating atherosclerosis.
4. Diuretic and moisture-removing
Winter melon has a sweet and mild taste and a cooling nature. It enters the lung, large intestine, and bladder meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, reducing swelling and detoxification, and generating body fluids to relieve vexation. Winter melon is strong in diuretic and moisture-removing effects, making it beneficial for people prone to edema.
5. Weight loss and beauty
In addition to its high water content and rich potassium content, winter melon also has a moderate amount of vitamin C, with 18mg per 100g. Although this value is not as high as that of kiwi and citrus fruits, it is higher than that of apples.
Winter melon also has strong satiety, which is very suitable for women who need a low-calorie diet, making it helpful for weight loss and beauty.
[Therapeutic Recipes with Winter Melon]
Excessive thirst, frequent urination (diabetes): Take 30-60g of winter melon peel and Ophiopogon japonicus each, and 3-9g of coptis. Decoct and take twice or three times a day.
Edema and bloating, difficulty urinating (kidney disease, heart disease): Take 60-90g of winter melon peel (double the amount for fresh peel), boil into a thick soup, and take twice or three times a day.
Treatment of nephritis, difficulty urinating, and generalized edema: Take 20g each of winter melon peel, watermelon peel, and Imperata cylindrica root, 15g of corn silk, and 90g of adzuki beans. Decoct and take three times a day.
Acute nephritis with edema and difficulty urinating: Take 25g each of winter melon peel, watermelon peel, and corn silk, and 50g of red adzuki beans. Decoct and take in three divided doses. Take continuously for 10-15 doses.
Treatment of cough: Take 15g of winter melon peel (frosted), and a little honey. Decoct and take.
Note: Due to the cool nature of winter melon, people with weak spleen and stomach and those with cold stomach pain should consume it in moderation. It should be avoided by those with long-term illness and cold limbs due to yang deficiency.
[Every Part of Winter Melon is Medicinal]
1. Winter melon seeds
Prevents cardiovascular diseases
Winter melon seeds contain unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, which can effectively reduce the levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood, thereby preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
When cooking winter melon, the seeds can be scooped out and dried, then stir-fried and eaten. Alternatively, the skin and seeds can be blended into juice and consumed.
2. Winter melon peel
Diuretic and reduces swelling
Winter melon peel not only contains various vitamins and minerals but also contains various volatile components, which have the effects of cooling, invigorating the spleen, and promoting diuresis. The winter melon peel is relatively thick and hard, so it is recommended to cook winter melon soup with the peel.
3. Winter melon flesh
Weight loss and cholesterol reduction
Winter melon flesh contains Momordica alkaloids, which can help the body's metabolism and inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat, indicating that winter melon flesh has the function of weight loss and cholesterol reduction.
4. Winter melon vine
Moisturizes the skin and removes freckles
Using winter melon vine to boil water for face washing and bathing can moisturize the skin and eliminate freckles.
