[Health and Wellness] Winter Eating "3 Old" is Beneficial for the Body! These 3 Vegetables are More Nutritious When Old, Warming the Stomach, Nourishing the Liver, and Benefiting the Lungs!

When choosing food, people often prefer fresh and tender ones.

Many people even eat according to specific seasons. In spring, they quickly eat things like Toona and Chinese chives, but have a hard time finding them in summer. Okra is most delicious when tender in summer, but once it gets old, it becomes chewy like wax...

However, not all foods are best when they are "tender"; some foods are more nutritious when they are "old"!

These 3 foods become more nutritious as they age!

1. Sponge Gourd

When buying sponge gourd at the market, who doesn't choose fresh and tender ones? Indeed, old sponge gourd doesn't taste good, and the flesh and seeds are difficult to chew and swallow. However, don't underestimate the uses of old sponge gourd; it can be incredibly useful!

Two Uses of Old Sponge Gourd - Making Sponge Gourd Scrubber:

This brings back childhood memories; every household used to have a sponge gourd scrubber. It can not only be used to scrub the pots but also made into bath sponges, making it an essential household item!

Making Sponge Gourd Charcoal:

Processed sponge gourd into "sponge gourd charcoal" and it becomes a hemostatic remedy.

Specifically, sponge gourd charcoal can be ground into a paste and applied topically to treat hemorrhoids bleeding and prolapse; or it can be decocted and consumed internally to regulate non-menstrual bleeding.

Preparation method: Similar to stir-frying. Take a section of sponge gourd, place it in a preheated frying pan, stir-fry over high heat until the surface is charred black and the inside is dark brown. Then, sprinkle a little water and remove it to let it dry.

It is important to note that sponge gourd charcoal is only for health purposes and should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.

2. Pumpkin

When it comes to eating pumpkin, some people like it tender, waiting for it to turn green before quickly picking and stir-frying it, which is incredibly fragrant. Others prefer old pumpkin, as the golden pumpkin is so sweet and soft, making the wait worthwhile. However, regardless of which type of pumpkin you eat, as long as you enjoy it, it's good.

Still, let's praise old pumpkin, as it is not only soft, sweet, and delicious but also rich in nutrition!

Specifically, pumpkin is a high-calcium, high-zinc, high-iron, low-sodium food, especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly people and patients with hypertension. It is beneficial for preventing osteoporosis and treating hypertension.

Many years ago, traditional Chinese medicine confirmed the health benefits of pumpkin: "Compendium of Materia Medica" recorded that pumpkin has the effects of tonifying the middle, tonifying liver qi, benefiting heart qi, benefiting lung qi, and benefiting essence qi.

Here is a recommended pumpkin therapy loved by the late Chinese medicine master Deng Tietao:

Pumpkin and Chinese Yam Cup

Ingredients: One pumpkin, 30 grams of Chinese yam (or adjust according to the size of the pumpkin).

Method: Cook the Chinese yam and grind it into a paste. Cut off the top of the pumpkin and place it in a bowl. Put the Chinese yam paste into the pumpkin and steam it over water for 30 minutes. Then, season it according to personal taste, either savory or sweet. 

This dietary therapy can take care of the "postnatal foundation" of the spleen and the "innate foundation" of the kidneys, providing the benefits of longevity.

3. Ginger

Ginger is not only an essential condiment in the kitchen but also a practical medicinal herb!

In traditional Chinese medicine, fresh ginger "goes but does not stay," while old ginger "stays but does not go." In terms of medicinal effects, old ginger is often better than fresh ginger. For example, old ginger is more effective in dispelling external pathogens, dispelling cold, and warming the body.

Next, let's introduce some wonderful uses of old ginger:

① Warm Yang

Many people have cold hands and feet in winter and rely on heating, hot water bottles, thermal underwear, and down jackets to keep warm.

In fact, being prone to feeling cold is a typical manifestation of yang deficiency.

(Typical manifestations of yang deficiency include: preference for hot foods, low energy, excessive sleep, indentations on the sides of the tongue, pale or white complexion and lips, hair loss, easy sweating, and loose stools.)

People with this constitution can choose warm yang ingredients in their diet, such as ginger, Chinese chives, chili peppers, scallions, garlic, fennel, pepper, mutton, deer meat, longan meat, walnuts, etc.

Recommended Health Recipe: Ginger Tea

Ingredients: 10 grams of old ginger, 3 grams of black tea.

Method: Boil in water for 20 minutes and drink as tea.

② Initial stage of wind-cold cold or conditioning after being exposed to wind and rain

Take slices or shreds of old ginger, boil or soak them, and add brown sugar to drink.

The amount of ginger, sugar, and water is flexible, depending on personal tolerance for spiciness, sweetness, and the amount of consumption. If a suitable amount of scallion whites can be added, the effect will be even better.