Winter melon is one of the most frequently consumed daily vegetables, rich in vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
Winter melon is cool in nature and has a sweet, bland taste. It can clear heat, resolve phlegm, alleviate vexation, and aid in weight loss. It is highly valuable for both its nutritional and health benefits. However, many people often peel and discard the skin of the winter melon, which is a real pity.
Guo Xiangpeng, director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Dezhou People's Hospital in Shandong Province, explains that the skin of the winter melon contains even more nutrients and possesses not only health benefits but also medicinal value. The skin contains various volatile components, triterpenoid compounds, cholesterol derivatives, as well as minerals and trace elements such as Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, niacin, and carotene.
The skin of the winter melon is slightly cool in nature and has a sweet, bland taste. It can clear heat, promote urination, and reduce swelling. It is commonly used for edema and abdominal distention, and is especially suitable for symptoms like difficult urination caused by damp-heat. Winter melon skin can also be used to treat diabetes. If one persists in drinking winter melon skin soup for 3 to 6 months, the "excesses" (excessive drinking, eating, and urination) symptoms of diabetic patients can be significantly improved. This shows that when eating winter melon, one should not peel it. It is best to cook it with the skin on to fully utilize the nutrition and effects of the winter melon skin.