Buddha's hand melon, also known as longevity melon, foreign melon, and abundant harvest melon, is an edible fruit that originated in the Americas and the West Indies. After being introduced to China, it has been widely grown in Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other regions. Due to its high nutritional value and unique shape resembling folded palms, which symbolizes blessings in Buddhism, it is highly favored by Chinese people. So, what are the benefits of Buddha's hand melon?
Strengthens the Body
Although the protein content in the human body is only 15-20%, it is the most important component because all tissues in the body contain a large amount of protein. The activities of human life are essentially the activities of proteins, making them the source of life.
Buddha's hand melon contains a considerable amount of protein. When consumed as a fruit, it can provide the body with a certain amount of protein, promote protein synthesis, enhance cellular vitality, and strengthen the body's ability to fight against diseases.
Beauty and Skin Care
Organic substances are essential for the body's survival and activities, but their breakdown in the body also produces a large number of free radicals. Many medical studies have shown that free radicals are the root cause of various diseases and the main culprit of aging.
Buddha's hand melon contains a large amount of vitamin C, which has strong antioxidant capabilities. It can quickly detect and effectively remove free radicals in the body. With its high water content, Buddha's hand melon helps dissolve vitamin C, facilitating its absorption. Therefore, long-term consumption of Buddha's hand melon has excellent benefits for beauty, rejuvenation, and anti-aging.
Eye Care
Eyes are the windows to the soul and the main way for people to perceive the outside world. The imaging function of the retina is crucial for visual perception, which is primarily achieved through two photosensitive pigments: rhodopsin and cyanopsin.
Buddha's hand melon contains a significant amount of vitamin A, which is the main material for the synthesis of rhodopsin in the retina. Regular consumption of Buddha's hand melon promotes the synthesis of rhodopsin in the retina, enhances vision, especially the ability to adapt to darkness, and has the benefits of eye care and vision enhancement.
Maintains Fluid Balance
Biologists consider the skin as the boundary between the internal and external environments of the human body. The internal environment mainly refers to the living environment of cells, consisting of water and various nutrients, and it is the living environment of cells. Electrolytes, such as cations and anions, are the main means of substance exchange between the inside and outside of cells.
Buddha's hand melon contains a significant amount of potassium, with as much as 190mg per 100g, and a low sodium content (only 10mg). It is an ideal potassium supplement fruit. Long-term consumption can effectively regulate the balance of electrolytes in the internal environment of the body and maintain myocardial function.
Treats Nutritional Infertility
Nutritional infertility refers to the condition where the reproductive cells in the body undergo pathological changes due to malnutrition, resulting in defects in the reproductive cells, such as abnormal eggs and insufficient vitality and quantity of sperm, leading to male and female infertility.
Buddha's hand melon contains a certain amount of vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, which, as the name suggests, plays a significant role in fertility. Vitamin E promotes the secretion of estrogen in women, which is essential for the normal development of eggs. Moreover, vitamin E also has a promoting effect on the quantity and vitality of sperm in men, making it effective in treating nutritional infertility in men. Therefore, long-term consumption of Buddha's hand melon has excellent therapeutic and preventive effects on nutritional infertility.
Provides Calcium
Buddha's hand melon contains high levels of calcium and phosphorus, with 500mg of calcium and 350mg of phosphorus. It is an excellent fruit source of calcium for the elderly and those with calcium deficiency. Regular consumption of Buddha's hand melon can provide sufficient calcium to the body, benefiting bone density in the elderly and supplementing calcium in children.
Methods of Consumption
Eating Raw
Buddha's hand melon is considered both a vegetable and a fruit, and it can be eaten raw as a fruit. It has a mild sweetness, juiciness, and a subtle melon fragrance, making it an excellent fruit to consume after a meal.
Buddha's Hand Shreds
Ingredients: Buddha's hand melon, pickled pepper, green beans, salt, chicken essence, sesame oil.
Instructions:
1. Rinse the Buddha's hand melon with clean water and then rinse it with cold water. Cut it into even shreds.
2. Remove the seeds from the pickled pepper and cut it into shreds. Cut the green beans into thin shreds.
3. Blanch the Buddha's hand shreds, green bean shreds, and pickled pepper shreds in boiling water. Rinse with cold water and drain. Mix with salt, chicken essence, and sesame oil. Allow it to sit for thirty minutes before serving.
Features: A famous Zhejiang dish that is crisp, tender, and refreshing with bright colors. It is an excellent appetizer to accompany alcoholic beverages.
