Chinese yam, I believe everyone is familiar with it, and this vegetable may appear on the dining table from time to time. And we also know that it is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. But do you know why Chinese yam is so medicinal? How can it be consumed to better exert its medicinal value?
Modern research shows that Chinese yam contains a variety of nutrients that are indispensable to the human body, such as amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamins, and more. Clinical experiments have proven that Chinese yam can increase appetite, improve digestion, lower blood sugar, regulate the autonomic nervous system, and enhance physical fitness. Chinese yam contains a large amount of mucin, which is a mixture of polysaccharide and protein and has special health benefits. It can prevent fat from depositing on the cardiovascular system, maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, and prevent the premature occurrence of atherosclerosis; it can reduce the accumulation of subcutaneous fat; it can prevent the atrophy of connective tissue and the occurrence of collagen diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
Nutritious Medicinal Cuisine
1. Chinese Yam and Cucumber Congee:
60g of Huai yam, 150g of cucumber, 50g of glutinous rice. First, process the Huai yam into fine powder; wash the cucumber and squeeze its juice; cook the glutinous rice into congee, and when the congee is almost done, add the yam powder and cucumber juice, stir and bring to a boil, and it is ready to eat. This product has the effect of moisturizing the skin and is suitable for beauty and fitness.
2. Stir-fried Chinese Yam with Eggs:
250g of fresh Chinese yam, 2 eggs. Peel and wash the yam, then slice it; crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them. Heat the oil in a wok until it is 70% hot, add shredded ginger and stir-fry until the aroma is strong, then add the yam slices and stir-fry until soft. Push the yam to one side, pour the beaten eggs to the other side, and when the eggs set, mix them with the yam and stir-fry together. Add salt and monosodium glutamate and stir-fry a few times, and it is ready to eat. This dish is delicious and appetizing, strengthening the spleen and whetting the appetite.
3. Chinese Yam and Mutton Congee:
200g of fresh Chinese yam, 150g of mutton, 150g of japonica rice. First, peel the yam and cut it into small pieces, remove the sinews from the mutton and cut it into cubes, and set aside. Put the japonica rice in a pot with water and cook it. When the rice begins to bloom, add the mutton first, and after boiling for ten minutes, add the yam and cook until the soup is thick and the meat is fragrant; or add seasonings to taste. This congee has the effects of warming the qi and yang, nourishing yin and blood, strengthening the spleen and kidneys, and securing the origin to resist aging. It can be used as a dietary remedy for spleen and kidney deficiency, and is especially suitable for children and the elderly who are weak in qi.
Health-Preserving Experience Formulas
1. Chinese Yam Decoction:
15g each of Chinese yam, Astragalus root, and prepared Rehmannia root, 12g of Polygala root, 10g of Acorus tatarinowii rhizome. Decoct in water, taking two doses daily. Alternatively, the dosage of this formula can be increased as appropriate, dry the medicines, grind them into a fine powder, and make them into pills with honey. Take 8g each time on an empty stomach in the morning and evening, with warm water. This formula can tonify qi and nourish yin, calm the mind and improve intelligence, and can be used for neurasthenia, listlessness, insomnia, forgetfulness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
2. Liu Yuan Jie Du Tang (Six-Element Detoxifying Decoction):
30g of Huai yam, 5g of Ginseng, 20g each of lotus seed and Job's tears, 15g each of Gordon Euryale seed and Poria. Put the above medicines in a pot, add 500ml of water, and decoct to 200ml, then filter; add another 500ml of water and decoct to 200ml. Mix the two medicinal liquids and take in two doses. This formula functions to strengthen the spleen, replenish qi, and address deficiency and fatigue, and can be used for chronic gastritis, gastroptosis, and for those who are weak from long-term illness and have no appetite.
3. Zhu Yu Er Bao Congee (Pearl and Jade Congee):
60g each of raw Chinese yam and raw Job's tears, 24g of persimmon cake. Take the three ingredients, first mash the yam and Job's tears into coarse dregs, cook until soft, then chop the persimmon cake and mix it in until melted. Eat as desired. This congee strengthens the spleen and nourishes the lungs, and is mainly indicated for lung and spleen yin deficiency, with poor appetite, lazy eating, consumptive cough, and all other yin deficiency syndromes.