Winter melon is high in fiber and low in calories. Can eating it properly help you lose weight? Traditional Chinese Medicine: First understand whether it is a damp-heat constitution

When it comes to winter melon, most people are familiar with its effect of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat. However, the benefits of winter melon are more than just these! From a nutritional point of view, winter melon's high fiber and low calorie characteristics can not only increase satiety; its rich content of succinic acid can also inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. Therefore, it is regarded as a holy product for weight loss by many netizens. But is the winter melon weight loss method really that effective? And can everyone enjoy it easily? What does traditional Chinese medicine think?

Is eating winter melon good for weight loss? The key to success is...

Wu Jiandong, attending physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Linsen Branch of Taipei City United Hospital, said that from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, winter melon can not only relieve heat and reduce internal heat, but also has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and removing dampness; moderate consumption can indeed help friends with damp-heat constitution problems and edema-type obesity to further eliminate edema and improve the phenomenon of excessive moisture.

In fact, the ancient Chinese medical book "Dietary Materia Medica" has such a record about the effect of winter melon: "If you want to be thin, light and healthy, eating it will make you very healthy." In addition, according to the 2017 edition of the Taiwan Food Composition Database of the Food and Drug Administration, every 100 grams of winter melon contains 11 calories, 96.9 grams of water, and 1.1 grams of dietary fiber.

Therefore, in the process of weight loss, in addition to actively adjusting eating habits (reducing sugar, choosing non-refined starches) and exercising moderately, if people can also replace some of the vegetables in their daily diet with winter melon, which is rich in dietary fiber and water content, it is indeed a little helper to increase satiety and avoid overeating and excessive calorie intake due to hunger during the weight loss process.

The ingredients for winter melon and ginger soup include 150 grams of winter melon, 15 grams of old ginger, and 1000cc of water. (The picture is for illustration only, not the actual finished product)

Winter melon has many benefits when used in cooking ~ 2 homemade soups to reduce swelling and increase satiety

Based on the above reasons, Chinese medicine practitioner Wu Jiandong also emphasized that if you want to maximize the benefits of winter melon in assisting weight loss, it is recommended to eat the winter melon in its original flavor as much as possible, with less frying, thickening, or braising. For example, stir-fried winter melon, winter melon ginger soup, winter melon red bean soup, etc. are all good cooking methods:

Recommended recipes

★Winter melon and ginger soup

Ingredients: 150 grams of winter melon, 15 grams of old ginger, 1000cc of water.

practice:

1. Wash and peel the winter melon, cut into pieces and set aside.

2. Wash, peel and slice the ginger for later use.

3. Take a large pot, put 1000cc of water and winter melon, and cook over medium heat until boiling.

4. Turn to low heat, cover the pot and simmer over low heat for half an hour.

5. Add appropriate amount of salt to enhance the flavor and then drink.

Function: Clears heat and promotes diuresis. Moderate consumption helps eliminate edema.

★Winter melon and red bean soup

Ingredients: 100 grams of winter melon, 20 grams of red beans, 15 grams of old ginger, 1000cc of water.

practice:

1. Wash the red beans, put them in a pot, cover them with water, and soak for 2 hours.

2. Wash the winter melon, cut into pieces with skin and set aside.

3. Take a large pot, add 1000cc of water and the soaked red beans, and cook over medium heat until boiling.

4. Turn to low heat, add winter melon, cover the pot and simmer over low heat for half an hour.

5. Add appropriate amount of salt to enhance the flavor and then drink.

Function: It is beneficial for removing dampness and reducing edema.

Note: Since red beans are a type of starch, when consuming this soup, you should moderately reduce your intake of other starchy foods to avoid excessive calories.

Although eating winter melon in moderation has the above-mentioned benefits, after all, in terms of Chinese medicine, winter melon is still a food that is sweet, cool and slightly cold in nature, and is more suitable for people with a damp-heat constitution.

Can everyone lose weight by eating winter melon? Chinese medicine practitioner: People with weak constitution should be careful when eating

However, Chinese medicine practitioner Wu Jiandong also reminded that although eating winter melon in moderation has the above-mentioned benefits, after all, winter melon is still a food ingredient that is sweet, cool and slightly cold in nature in traditional Chinese medicine, and is more suitable for people with a damp-heat constitution. Therefore, it is recommended that people clarify whether their physical condition is suitable before deciding whether to follow this weight loss method.

Especially those who have a weak and cold constitution should pay more attention. How to divide damp-heat and deficiency-cold constitutions? Chinese medicine doctor Wu Jiandong pointed out that you may wish to use the following symptoms and manifestations to easily identify:

★Damp-heat constitution: easy to sweat, afraid of heat, accompanied by symptoms such as dry mouth, difficulty urinating, and yellowish color.

★ Cold constitution: People who often feel cold hands and feet, like to drink hot drinks, and suffer from diarrhea easily.

【Tip from Chinese medicine practitioners】:

Although if you understand your own physical condition, eating winter melon in moderation is indeed conducive to smoother weight loss. Chinese medicine practitioner Wu Jiandong still emphasizes that losing weight is a lifelong career. If you want to have a well-proportioned body, the key is to develop a habit of eating less and exercising more, and persisting in it for a long time is the key to success!