Winter melon is a very common food in daily life, and the price is relatively affordable, especially in rural areas where many families grow their own winter melons and do not need to purchase them. Eating winter melons regularly is beneficial for the body.
Especially now in summer, the hottest time of the year, the weather is getting hotter, making it easier to get heatstroke. Even though staying in an air-conditioned room for a day may not feel hot, it is easier for dampness to invade the body, leading to dizziness, body aches, etc. At this time, it’s a good idea to often pair winter melons with other foods, eat them for a while, and gradually reduce the dampness in your body. Your belly may also flatten, and your sleep quality might even improve! Give it a try.
Winter melon with Job’s tears: Many people know that Job’s tears are excellent for removing dampness, and winter melon is thirst-quenching and diuretic. Since both Job’s tears and winter melon have cooling properties, making a soup is the most suitable way to consume them. Even friends with a slightly cold body condition can safely eat this combination. Eating it appropriately may help remove dampness from the body. Method – rinse the Job’s tears, soak them for a while; then cook Job’s tears, minced pork, and salt in a pot until boiling; reduce the heat, then add winter melon slices for about half an hour until slightly soft and flavorful, then it can be consumed.
Winter melon with lotus leaf: Winter melon clears heat and promotes urination, while lotus leaf also has the ability to remove dampness and clear heat. During the summer when it is easy to feel irritable and stuffy, try making a winter melon and lotus leaf soup. This not only relieves thirst and prevents heatstroke but also helps remove dampness, lose weight, and even has the unexpected benefit of calming the mind. People with heavy dampness in the body or slight obesity may want to give it a try. Method – boil dried lotus leaves in a pot, then remove the lotus leaves and leave the broth, add chopped winter melon, and optionally some lily bulbs. Simmer on low heat until slightly soft.
Winter melon with kelp: Kelp contains a good amount of iodine, zinc, and other trace elements, which are beneficial for the body. Especially the fucoxanthin in kelp has the ability to assist in lowering blood pressure to a certain extent. The unsaturated fatty acids in winter melon help maintain smooth and rosy skin, while the vitamins in it can accelerate the conversion of sugar, starch, and other substances into heat energy in the body, reducing body fat. If these two are combined, the belly may shrink, dampness decreases, and the skin may improve. Method – add some spare ribs, water, and cooking wine to a pot, bring to a boil, then add winter melon and kelp, stew until tender.
It is worth reminding everyone that many people tend to discard the winter melon slices when cooking soup, but the skin of winter melon is also good for health. Why do I say that? Because the winter melon skin also contains many beneficial nutrients for the body, such as vitamins, amino acids, and various trace elements. Using it for soup can enhance the value of the soup, and help the body better remove excess fat, detoxify, and improve health effects.
Although winter melon is good, not everyone is suitable for it. Women during menstruation are better off avoiding it. Even though winter melon and the foods mentioned above are all excellent for removing dampness and weight loss, it is still advisable to be cautious during menstruation, especially not consuming them raw. Also, since winter melon is cooling, people with stomach coldness should not eat too much at once, it is important to control the amount, otherwise it may cause discomfort such as diarrhea.
