This is known as 'ginseng in the water,' but unfortunately, many people have never heard of it.

The medicinal value of the loach: This tiny loach has so many uses! Everyone should be familiar with the loach! I don't know if anyone has ever caught a loach, but I have. Today, the editor of this recipe site wants to talk about loaches with everyone, let's chat about it together!

Dry-fried Loach

1. Moisturizes the skin

Can eating loach also improve your complexion? Loach is rich in spermidine and nucleosides, which can increase skin elasticity and moisture, and improve the body's antiviral ability.

2. Nourishes the kidneys and strengthens yang

Loach has always been used as a medicinal herb for kidney nourishment in folk medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine considers loach a famous therapeutic food, especially suitable for men, with significant effects on impotence and premature ejaculation. It is nourishing yet clearing, suitable for various ailments, and is an excellent auxiliary treatment for patients with urinary system diseases.

3. Relieves chronic hepatitis

Loach also has certain medicinal properties. Loach powder is quite effective in promoting the reduction of jaundice and the decrease of transaminase, especially in acute hepatitis. It also has a significant therapeutic effect on the recovery of liver function and other indicators.

4. Clears heat and removes dampness

Actually, more people start eating loach in the summer because it can clear heat and remove dampness, making it a great dish for summer health preservation. Boiled loach can nourish yin, quench thirst, clear heat, and remove dampness. It can be used as an auxiliary therapeutic food for conditions like unresolved thirst caused by heat consuming yin and dampness, or jaundice, diabetes, and dysuria caused by damp-heat accumulation. Persisting in consumption for 5-6 days will make you feel more energetic.

5. Supplements calcium

When someone is injured, many people send loach stewed with tofu as a caring gift. From the perspective of modern nutrition, loach is the calcium champion among fish. By weight, the calcium content in loach is nearly 6 times that of carp and about 10 times that of hairtail. Loach is also rich in vitamin D, which is beneficial for calcium absorption, making it an excellent calcium-supplementing food.

6. Improves anemia

Loach can also improve anemia. Because loach contains a high amount of iron, it has a good auxiliary therapeutic effect on anemia and other related diseases.

7. Prevents atherosclerosis

Loach can prevent and protect against vascular hardening. Loach meat contains less fat, and even less cholesterol. It also contains an unsaturated fatty acid similar to eicosapentaenoic acid, which is an important substance for resisting human vascular hardening and can effectively prevent atherosclerosis.

With so many benefits, it's no wonder many people love to catch and eat loach. Generally, loach is best when steamed or stewed. Loach with tofu provides a better calcium-supplementing effect. Loach with Astragalus root is best for nourishing blood and strengthening the body.

Tofu and Loach Soup

8. Tonifies the middle and replenishes qi: For spleen deficiency, physical weakness, emaciation, and fatigue

According to research and measurement by nutritionists, loach meat is tender and delicious. Every 100 grams of edible part contains as high as 18.4-22.6 grams of protein, which is higher than most fish; it also contains 2.8-2.9 grams of fat, 100-117 kcal of energy, 51-459 mg of calcium, 154-243 mg of phosphorus, 2.7-3.0 mg of iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, and niacin. These contents are also much higher than those of general fish and meat, and the content of essential amino acids for the human body, such as lysine, is even higher in loach, and it also contains a large amount of vitamins compared to other fish. Therefore, loach has a great nourishing effect. If you feel weak or fatigued, you can eat more loach.

9. Removes dampness and reduces jaundice: For difficult urination and jaundice

Because loach has the effect of promoting urination, it is recommended to eat more loach if you have difficulty urinating.

10. Benefits the kidneys and assists yang: For impotence due to insufficient kidney yang

Research has found: Loach has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and producing essence. Adult men who often eat loach can nourish and strengthen the body, and enhance energy. According to experts, loach is rich in lysine, which is a necessary component for sperm formation. Therefore, eating loach often can not only promote sperm formation but also help improve sperm quality.

11. Removes dampness and stops diarrhea: For diarrhea due to excessive dampness

If a child sweats profusely after falling asleep, you can cook loach soup for them. It has the effects of supplementing qi deficiency, warming the spleen and stomach, and stopping night sweats. It is suitable for children who suffer from night sweats due to physical weakness, cold spleen and stomach, or malnutrition. It can be eaten 2-3 times a week to help with growth and development.

12. Beneficial for cardiovascular health

The fat content in loach is low, and the cholesterol is even lower, making it a high-protein, low-fat food that is very beneficial for resisting vascular aging, hence it is good for the elderly and patients with cardiovascular diseases. Loach has excellent tonic and therapeutic functions and can be consumed by the general population. After being nurtured in the spring, loach's meat is most delicious in the hot weather of early autumn, and it has important health-preserving and therapeutic effects, which is why there is a saying in folklore, "The sky has turtledoves, the earth has loaches."

13. Reduces alcohol's harm to the liver

Loach also has a magical effect: it can sober you up and reduce the damage alcohol does to the liver. People who often drink alcohol should eat more loach.

Conclusion: Although the loach is small, it is a treasure all over. It is considered a fish with very high nutritional value, and loach can also be used as medicine to treat many diseases. It is truly a rare health food.

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