The most eye-catching vegetable in the market right now is undoubtedly kong xin cai (water spinach). Known scientifically as Ipomoea aquatica, it is also called teng teng cai or tong xin cai. How do you refer to it in your hometown? Due to its white trumpet-shaped flowers and hollow stems, it is called kong xin cai (water spinach). Not only does it taste good, but its nutritional value is also surprisingly high.
Water Spinach: Clearing Heat and Detoxifying, the ‘Three Highs’ Antagonist
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), kong xin cai has the effects of clearing summer heat, promoting urination, detoxifying, cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It has been praised as a “miracle vegetable” in the Southern Herbal Compendium.
It is suitable for conditions such as hemorrhoids, blood in stool, injuries, insect and snake bites, urinary tract infections, and food poisoning. Regular consumption of kong xin cai soup can assist in treating urinary infections and nosebleeds in children.
Modern nutrition studies have found that kong xin cai has a strong detoxification function. It is rich in dietary fiber, composed of cellulose, lignin, and pectin.
1. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying
The pectin found in kong xin cai can accelerate the excretion of toxic substances from the body. Lignin enhances the phagocytic activity of macrophages, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation, making it useful for treating sores and abscesses.
2. Lowering Blood Sugar
There is a variety of kong xin cai known as purple water spinach, which contains insulin-like components that can lower blood sugar, making it a suitable dietary vegetable for diabetes patients.
3. Promoting Bowel Movements and Cancer Prevention
Rich in dietary fiber, kong xin cai can enhance intestinal peristalsis and accelerate bowel movements, playing a positive role in preventing constipation and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. Experiments have shown that the juice of kong xin cai inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus.
4. Teeth Cleaning and Cavity Prevention, Skin Moisturizing
The chlorophyll in kong xin cai can help clean teeth, prevent cavities, and moisturize the skin.
5. Enhancing Physical Strength
Rich in vitamin C and carotene, kong xin cai helps enhance physical strength and prevent diseases.
Pairing Water Spinach with Other Ingredients for Blood Pressure, Lipid, and Sugar Reduction
1. Kong Xin Cai + Egg: Lowers Blood Pressure
Wash and cut kong xin cai into sections, beat the egg; in a hot oil pan, pour in the egg mixture, scramble until set, then add kong xin cai and stir-fry with seasonings until cooked.
2. Kong Xin Cai + Chicken: Reduces Cholesterol Absorption
Wash and cut kong xin cai stems into sections, cut chicken into small pieces; in a pan, heat oil, add garlic and chicken, stir-fry until nearly cooked, then add kong xin cai stems and appropriate seasonings, stir-fry until done.
3. Kong Xin Cai + Corn Silk: Assists in Lowering Blood Sugar
Select 60g of fresh kong xin cai stems and 30g of corn silk, decoct in water, and consume two to three times daily. Regular consumption can increase insulin secretion and assist in treatment.
How to Select Fresh Water Spinach?
There are two common types of kong xin cai: one has very thick and long stems with leaves concentrated at the bottom, known as teng weng. People in the south prefer to buy this type, as they can separate the leaves and stems for stir-frying into two dishes. The other type has thinner and shorter stems, which can be directly prepared for stir-frying.
When selecting kong xin cai, the wider the leaves, the fresher and crisper they are. Additionally, choose those without yellow spots and with shorter stems. Improper cooking time can cause the color of kong xin cai to deteriorate and nutrients to be lost. It is best to eat the stems and tender leaves separately.
Tender leaves are suitable for quick stir-frying and cold dishes, and pairing them with ingredients like dried tofu, fish, minced meat, and sesame sauce can create a more balanced nutrition. The stems can be diced and stir-fried with soybeans and bean curd residue for a unique taste and rich nutrition.
However, it is important to note that even though kong xin cai is a delicious and nutritious dish, we should pay attention to food pairing to avoid adverse effects on health.
1. Do Not Consume with Fish or Shrimp
Kong xin cai contains high levels of oxalic acid, which can affect calcium absorption from fish and shrimp, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and nausea.
2. Do Not Consume with Cold Foods
Kong xin cai is cold and slippery in nature; consuming it with other cold foods, such as crabs and bitter melon, can exacerbate internal coldness, potentially leading to spleen and stomach deficiency, resulting in digestive issues and diarrhea. Therefore, those with weak constitutions, spleen and stomach deficiency, or loose stools should avoid excessive consumption.
After eating kong xin cai for so many years, I just learned how beneficial it is. With the right food pairings, it truly is an antagonist to the ‘three highs’. Now is the season for kong xin cai, so be sure to buy more to eat, and remember to share this with those who often cook at home!
Source: CCTV Finance
Editor: Tao Liang
