The nutritional value of winter melon

I believe we have all eaten winter melon, which is also one of the beauty foods for many women. So when we eat winter melon, do you know what effects it has? Let me tell you about it below.

The efficacy and function of winter melon:

1. Lowering blood pressure: Because winter melon contains more vitamin C, high potassium content and low sodium content, it is most suitable for patients with hypertension, kidney disease, edema, etc. who need low-sodium food.

2. Protect the kidneys: Winter melon juice and winter melon extracts can increase the amount of urine in animals, reduce the degree of nephropathy caused by mercuric chloride, and significantly reduce serum creatinine. Histopathological studies have shown that total amino acids (large doses) and cucurbitacin in winter melon have a significant protective and blocking effect on renal damage caused by mercuric chloride.

3. Weight loss and lipid reduction: Studies have found that wax gourd is rich in succinic acid. It can effectively control the conversion of sugars into fat in the body, prevent fat accumulation in the body, and consume excess fat, which has a good weight loss effect. Trigonelline is mainly found in wax gourd pulp. It can help the body's metabolism and inhibit the conversion of sugars into fat. It is also one of the weight loss and lipid reduction functional factors in wax gourd.

4. Beauty and skin care: The book "Shengji Zonglu" in the Tang Dynasty introduced the method of ancient people using winter melon to make facial cream for beauty. In addition, according to "Compendium of Materia Medica", winter melon has white and soft flesh. Washing the face and body with it can remove brown spots and make the skin soft, smooth and fair; "Shennong's Herbal Classic" records that winter melon seeds can make people "brighten their faces". Winter melon seeds were a common medicine in ancient facial creams.

The oleic acid in wax gourd seeds has the activity of inhibiting the deposition of melanin in the body and is a good amino acid for skin care and beauty. Wax gourd is rich in ornithine and γ-aminobutyric acid, and the content of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and arginine is also high. The content in seeds and peel is higher than that in pulp. The content of the above three amino acids in seeds is 15.09 and 18.32 times that of pulp respectively. They are indispensable amino acids for the human body to eliminate the toxicity of free ammonia and become the material basis of its diuretic and detumescent effect. In addition, the protein and citrulline contained in wax gourd seeds can moisturize the skin and inhibit the formation of melanin.

5. Lowering blood sugar: Winter melon contains a high content of dietary fiber, about 0.9g of dietary fiber per 100g. Modern medical research shows that foods with high dietary fiber content are effective in improving blood sugar levels, and a person's blood sugar index is negatively correlated with the content of dietary fiber in the food. In addition, dietary fiber can also lower cholesterol in the body.

6. Eliminate carcinogens: The crude fiber in winter melon can stimulate intestinal peristalsis and excrete carcinogens accumulated in the intestines as soon as possible.

Nutritional value of winter melon:

1. Diuretic and detumescent: Winter melon contains more vitamin C, high potassium salt content and low sodium salt content. Patients with hypertension, kidney disease, edema, etc. can eat it to reduce swelling without hurting their health.

2. Weight loss: The succinic acid contained in winter melon can effectively inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. In addition, winter melon itself does not contain fat and has low calories, which is important for preventing human body from gaining weight and can also help to keep a healthy body.

3. Clearing away heat and relieving summer heat: Winter melon is cold in nature and sweet in taste. It can clear away heat and promote the production of body fluid, and it can dispel summer heat and relieve restlessness. It is especially suitable for consumption in summer.

Target Group

It is suitable for people with kidney disease, edema, ascites due to liver cirrhosis, cancer, beriberi, hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, obesity, and those who lack vitamin C. Winter melon is cold in nature, so people with weak spleen and stomach, cold kidneys, long-term diarrhea, and yang deficiency and cold limbs should avoid eating it.

Winter melon is sweet, light and cool in nature. It enters the lung, large intestine, small intestine and bladder meridians. It has the effects of moistening the lungs and producing body fluid, resolving phlegm and quenching thirst, diuresis and swelling, clearing away heat and summer heat, detoxifying and draining pus. It can be used for summer heat thirst, phlegm heat cough and asthma, edema, beriberi, fullness, thirst, acne, facial spots, rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, etc. It can also detoxify fish and wine. Winter melon peel is good at diuresis; winter melon seeds are good at strengthening the spleen and nourishing the skin, relieving cough and resolving phlegm.