Today I would like to recommend a food that is suitable for most people to eat during these few months (May to July), which is the winter melon (Chinese name: 冬瓜).
It is pretty common to see winter melon in the supermarket or wet market especially if you live in a tropical country.
Let’s learn more about its properties and how we can consume it for our benefit during this summer period.
The thermal nature of winter melon is cooling. Hence, it is more suitable for people who have heatiness in the body (especially heatiness in the heart and spleen).
The following are the main properties of winter melon:
Remove dampness: Winter melon excels in removing dampness in the body through urination. If you have water retention issues, it is recommended to include winter melon in your diet.
Dissolve phlegm: Winter melon also has the property of dissolving phlegm in the body, especially in the lungs and spleen.
Detoxification: Another lesser-known property of winter melon is that it can help to detoxify poison caused by consumption of fish and/or alcohol.
One dietary caution to take note of is that people with loose stools should limit the consumption of winter melon. If you have loose stools most of the time, it is better to strengthen your spleen first (by consuming Si Shen soup or eating Chinese yam more often).
Winter Melon Soup Recipe
