Traditional Chinese medicine believes that loofah is sweet and cool in nature, and enters the liver and stomach meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat and cooling blood, detoxifying and relieving constipation, dispelling wind and resolving phlegm, moisturizing the skin and beautifying the complexion, clearing the meridians, promoting blood circulation, promoting lactation, and regulating menstrual disorders. It can also be used to treat febrile diseases with fever and thirst, cough with phlegm and asthma, hemorrhoids, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, hematuria, boils and carbuncles, and insufficient lactation in women.
So what are the specific effects and benefits of loofah?
1. Antiscurvy:
Loofah is high in vitamin C, containing 8 mg per 100 grams, and can be used to treat scurvy and prevent various vitamin C deficiencies.
2. Brain health and beauty:
Because loofah is high in vitamin B and other nutrients, it is beneficial for children's brain development and the brain health of middle-aged and elderly people; the juice of loofah vines has a special function of maintaining skin elasticity and can beautify the skin and reduce wrinkles.
Loofah contains B vitamins that prevent skin aging and vitamin C that whitens the skin. These components protect the skin, eliminate blemishes, and leave the skin white and delicate, making it a rare beauty product. Hence, loofah juice is known as "beauty water." Eating more loofah can also help regulate irregular menstruation in women.
3. Antiviral and anti-allergic:
Luffa extract has a significant preventive effect against Japanese encephalitis virus. A substance called cucurbitacin, which has anti-allergic properties, has also been extracted from luffa tissue culture fluid.
Now that you know the benefits and effects of loofah, if you have the above-mentioned needs, it is recommended that you eat more loofah to regulate your body.
How should you choose a loofah?
If you don't choose a good loofah, it might taste a bit bitter. Farmers explain that this is because before the loofah is picked, it grows tangled with its vine, receiving insufficient sunlight. The loofah becomes bitter because it didn't have enough photosynthesis during its growth period. Therefore, when choosing loofah, be careful to avoid bitter ones. Generally, very hard loofahs tend to be bitter.
Consumers can check the appearance of the loofah; avoid choosing those that are irregularly shaped or have protrusions. Next, feel the outer skin; choose those with a smooth, tender skin, not too rough, as these may be old and contain seeds. Hold the loofah in your hand and feel its firmness; it should feel elastic. Squeeze it slightly with your fingers; if it feels hard, don't buy it, as a hard loofah is very likely bitter. If the seller agrees, you can also break off a piece of the loofah end and taste it to determine if it's bitter.
A good loofah is uniform in thickness and feels firm when squeezed, indicating freshness; if it's soft and limp, it's been stored for too long. A dark, dull, and coarse skin indicates it's old. Loofah must be peeled before eating, even if it's very tender, otherwise it will be unpalatable.
Food pairings and taboos to be aware of when eating loofah
1. Loofah + Loach: Easily destroys the body's absorption of vitamin B1: Loofah contains a lot of vitamin B1. If it is cooked with loach, the vitamin B1-degrading enzyme in the loach will destroy the vitamin B1.
2. Loofah + Bamboo Shoots: Easily Impairs the Body's Absorption and Utilization of Carotene: Loofah should not be stir-fried with bamboo shoots. This is because loofah is rich in carotene. If it encounters the bioactive substances in bamboo shoots, it will impair the body's absorption and utilization of carotene, reducing the nutritional value of loofah.
3. Loofah + Baijiu (Chinese liquor): Interferes with the body's absorption of vitamin B1: Loofah is rich in vitamin B1. When it comes into contact with the alcohol in baijiu, it will interfere with the body's absorption and utilization of vitamin B1, reducing the therapeutic effects of loofah.
