Although shepherd's purse is a wild vegetable, it is rich in nutrients and various inorganic salts, offering many benefits to the body, which is why it is highly favored by people.
Shepherd's purse tofu balls
Shepherd's purse nutritional value
Shepherd's purse is eaten as a vegetable with its tender stems and leaves. It is a high-fiber vegetable with very high nutritional value and relatively balanced nutritional components.
The vitamin C content in shepherd's purse is more than twice that of Chinese cabbage, its calcium content is the highest among vegetables, its protein content exceeds that of kidney beans, Chinese cabbage, and tomatoes, and its carotene content is also very high.
In addition, shepherd's purse also contains oxalic acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, and various alkaloids such as flavonoids, choline, and acetylcholine, which help enhance the body's immune function.
According to measurements, every 100 grams of edible shepherd's purse contains 5.2 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 3.2 milligrams of carotene, 5 milligrams of vitamin C, 0.14 milligrams of vitamin B1, 0.19 milligrams of vitamin B2, 73 milligrams of phosphorus, 6.3 milligrams of iron, and various elements such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, manganese, zinc, and copper, as well as more than 10 amino acids required by the human body.
The effects and benefits of shepherd's purse
1. Hemostatic effect: Shepherd's purse is used to treat various bleeding diseases, such as hematuria, functional uterine bleeding in women, fundus hemorrhage in patients with hypertension, and gingival bleeding. Its good hemostatic effect is mainly due to the shepherd's acid it contains.
2. Appetite-stimulating and digestion-promoting: The tissue of shepherd's purse is relatively coarse and hard, which enhances gastrointestinal digestive function, promotes gastrointestinal peristalsis, and prevents constipation. In addition, pickled shepherd's purse has a special umami and aroma that can promote gastrointestinal digestion and be used to stimulate appetite and aid digestion.
3. Detoxification and anti-swelling: Shepherd's purse also has the effect of detoxification and anti-swelling. It can also fight infection, prevent diseases, and promote wound healing. It can be used as an adjuvant treatment for infectious diseases.
4. Improving sleep quality: Eating an appropriate amount of shepherd's purse can enhance a person's sleep quality and has a certain inhibitory effect on the excitement of the human brain, which can stabilize a person's mood. It is a great health food for middle-aged and elderly people.
5. Pain relief and vision improvement: Shepherd's purse is rich in vitamins A, B, and D. The combined action of these vitamins can stop bleeding and promote muscle growth, promoting the healing of duodenal ulcers. The carotene it contains has the effect of improving vision and can be used as a dietary therapy for ophthalmic patients.
The way to eat shepherd's purse requires blanching it before consumption
Wild shepherd's purse contains a large amount of oxalic acid, which is harmful to the body. Therefore, it is best to blanch it in hot water in a pot before eating to make it both delicious and safe.
How to blanch shepherd's purse?
After buying shepherd's purse, first pick and wash it clean, remove old leaves and any other dirt or debris, then soak it in light salt water for about 20 minutes, and rinse it clean with water and drain for later use.
Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil, ensuring there is enough water, and add some salt or a few drops of cooking oil to the boiling water. Then put the shepherd's purse in the boiling water to blanch for about half a minute. When you see the shepherd's purse soften and its color turn green, immediately remove it and cool it in cold water. After soaking in cold water for a period of time, take it out and gently squeeze out some of the water.
Two ways to eat shepherd's purse
1. Shepherd's purse boiled eggs
Using shepherd's purse to boil eggs is a very delicious way to eat it, and it is also one of the traditional health diets in China.
Ingredients: Prepare one egg, 200 grams of shepherd's purse, and a small amount of vinegar.
Method: Put the flowering shepherd's purse and eggs in a pot together, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 3 minutes. If an egg cracks during this time, add some vinegar in time to promote the coagulation of the egg white. After the eggs are cooked, crack the shells a bit and then put them in the shepherd's purse soup to absorb the flavor.
Benefits: Shepherd's purse boiled eggs have multiple effects such as harmonizing the spleen, relieving heat, and promoting urination.
Shepherd's purse wheat meal
2. Steamed shepherd's purse
Ingredients: Prepare an appropriate amount of shepherd's purse, flour, cooking oil, and salt.
Method: Remove the old roots of the shepherd's purse, wash and drain for later use. Put the tender leaves and flowers in a plate, sprinkle some flour on the shepherd's purse, and place it in a steamer. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and steam for 5-10 minutes. After taking it out, add a small amount of cooking oil and salt to season and it is ready to eat.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and stomach, and promotes digestion.
The tofuballs
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