In spring, nature offers food lovers a variety of "spring flavors." For instance, on the slopes by rivers and ditches, clusters of emerald green creep along—this is shepherd's purse. Let's delve into the wonderful world of this delicious vegetable.
Nutritional Value of Shepherd's Purse
Shepherd's purse is highly nutritious. Every 100 grams contains 5.2g of protein, 0.4g of fat, 6g of carbohydrates, 420mg of calcium, 73mg of phosphorus, 6.3mg of iron, 0.19mg of riboflavin, 55mg of vitamin C, and 0.7mg of niacin.
The shepherd's purse acid it contains is an effective hemostatic agent that can shorten bleeding and clotting time. Shepherd's purse contains acetylcholine, sitosterol, and quaternary ammonium compounds, which not only lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver but also have a blood pressure-lowering effect. The rutin in shepherd's purse has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, can increase the body's vitamin C content, and also has antiviral effects, helping to prevent chilblains. It is also beneficial for patients with diabetic cataracts. The dithiolethione in shepherd's purse has anti-cancer properties. Shepherd's purse is also rich in vitamin C, which can prevent nitrates and nitrites from turning into carcinogenic nitrosamines in the digestive tract, thus helping to prevent stomach and esophageal cancer. It contains a large amount of crude fiber, which enhances intestinal peristalsis and promotes excretion after consumption, thereby boosting metabolism and helping to prevent and treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids. Shepherd's purse is rich in carotene, and since carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, it is an excellent food for treating xerophthalmia and night blindness.
Classification of Shepherd's Purse Varieties
Flat-Leaf Shepherd's Purse
Flat-leaf shepherd's purse, also known as large-leaf shepherd's purse, is a local variety from Shanghai.
The plant grows close to the ground with a spread of 18 cm. The leaves are light green, large, and thick, about 10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, with around 18 leaves per plant. The leaf margins are pinnately shallowly lobed, almost entire, and the leaf surface is smooth with slight fuzz. The leaf color deepens in cold temperatures.
This variety is highly resistant to cold and heat, is early-maturing, and grows quickly, ready for harvest 40 days after sowing. It has a high yield and good commercial appearance with a delicious flavor. Its disadvantages are its lack of strong aroma, weak winter hardiness, and early bolting, making it unsuitable for spring sowing. It is generally cultivated in autumn.
Curly-Leaf Shepherd's Purse
Curly-leaf shepherd's purse is also known by many names such as hundred-leg shepherd's purse, slow shepherd's purse, variegated leaf shepherd's purse, small-leaf shepherd's purse, and crumbled-leaf shepherd's purse. The plant grows close to the ground with a spread of 18 cm.
The leaves are green, pinnately deeply lobed, with deeply incised margins. They are narrow, short, and small, about 10 cm long, with around 20 leaves per plant. The leaf surface is smooth and covered in fuzz, and the leaf color deepens to purple in cold temperatures.
This variety has moderate cold resistance and strong heat tolerance. It has strong winter hardiness and bolts 10-15 days later than the flat-leaf variety. It has a rich aroma and an extremely delicious flavor, making it suitable for spring cultivation.
Suitable Groups for Consuming Shepherd's Purse
1. It is especially suitable for patients with dysentery, edema, gonorrhea, chyluria, hematemesis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, red and swollen eyes. It has special effects on xerophthalmia, night blindness, stomach cramps, gastric ulcers, dysentery, and enteritis. Additionally, it helps prevent and treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids.
2. Shepherd's purse can promote bowel movements, so those with loose stools should consume it with caution.