[Basic Introduction of Yam]
Yam, commonly known as yam. Perennial herb with creeping stems, usually purplish, cylindrical roots, opposite leaves, oval or oval flowers, and dioecious.
Originally from Pingyao and Jiexiu, Shanxi, it is now distributed in North China, Northwest China and Jiangxi provinces in the Yangtze River basin. Growers call it domestic yam and wild yam; Chinese herbal medicines include Chinese yam and Chinese yam. Because of its rich nutrition, it has been regarded as a good tonic with good quality and low price since ancient times. Can be used as staple food, vegetables, and snacks such as candied haws. China is mainly produced in the northern part of Henan Province, and also cultivated in Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Central South and Southwest China. After the stems and leaves wither in winter, dig, cut off the roots, wash and dry. There are two main kinds of yam cultivated in China: common yam and sweet potato. Ordinary yam tuber is small, especially the yam produced in Qingzhou, Guhuai (now Jiaozuo, Henan, including four counties, Qinyang, Wuzhi and wen county) is precious, and is known as? Chinese yam? , known as? With god? Known as the highest in the country. At present, Chinese yam in two places in China has applied for national geographical indication protection products. One is? Iron stick yam? Produced in Jiaozuo, Henan; And the other one? Chen Jishan medicine? It is produced in Jeffery Ji, Heze City, Shandong Province, including? Goose skin rough yam? And then what? Stone seed yam? .
Besides protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene and vitamins, yam also contains amylase, choline, mucinase and dioscin. Amylase, also known as digestive enzyme, can decompose starch and other substances. If mixed with alkaline substances, the effect of amylase disappears. Tonic but not greasy, fragrant but not dry. Doctors in previous dynasties praised yam as? Essential drugs for lack of reason? .
[Efficacy and function of Chinese yam]
Yam, sweet, flat; Enter lung, spleen and kidney meridians. Spleen strengthening; Moisten the lungs; Consolidate kidney; Benefiting essence to treat diarrhea due to spleen deficiency; Eat less and edema; Cough and asthma due to lung deficiency; Quench thirst; Nocturnal emission; Take it down; Frequent urination due to kidney deficiency; External use to treat carbuncle swelling; Lapis lazuli
1. Spleen and stomach, help digestion.
It is beneficial to the digestion and absorption function of the spleen and stomach, and it is a dual-purpose product of medicine and food that blindly tonifies the spleen and stomach. Both spleen yang deficiency and stomach yin deficiency can be eaten. Clinically, it is often used with Weichang Decoction to treat spleen and stomach weakness, anorexia, fatigue, diarrhea and other symptoms.
2. Nourishing kidney and essence
The functions of strengthening the body, nourishing kidney and replenishing essence. Generally, it is kidney deficiency, nocturnal emission, frequent urination and other symptoms. You can take it away.
reduce the blood sugar
It has the function of lowering blood sugar. Can be used for treating diabetes, and is a good dietotherapy product for diabetics.
Prolong life
Effectively prevent the deposition of blood lipids on the blood vessel wall and prevent heart disease. Achieve the effects of benefiting the heart, calming the nerves and prolonging life.
[Nutritional value of Chinese yam]
1. The calorie and carbohydrate content of yam is only about half that of sweet potato of the same quality, and it contains no fat, and the protein content is higher than that of sweet potato.
2. The main component of yam is starch, part of which can be converted into dextrin, a decomposition product of starch, which can help digestion, so yam is a taro food that can be eaten raw.
3. Yam contains a variety of trace elements, including high potassium content, few kinds and quantities of vitamins, and almost no carotene.
The leaves of Chinese yam are an excellent source of carotene, calcium, iron and vitamin C.
[Chinese yam selection]
When purchasing, the heavier the yam of the same size, the better, and the more hairs on the same variety, the better. The more hair, the better taste, and the more yam polysaccharide. Nutrition is also better, and finally look at the cross section. The meat quality of the cross section of yam should be white, which means it is fresh. If it is yellow like rust, don't buy it.
If there are abnormal spots on the surface of yam, don't buy it, because it may have been infected with the disease, and pay attention to the fact that the cross section of yam should have mucus and the epidermis is not damaged. Yam is afraid of freezing and heat. To buy yam in winter, you can hold it in your hand for about 10 minutes. Yam is frozen if it sweats. When you break it, the cross-section mucus of frozen yam will become water, hard-hearted, red in flesh and poor in quality.
[Storage of Chinese yam]
If the whole branch is not cut, it can be stored in a cool and ventilated place. If it is cut, it can be covered with a wet cloth to keep it moist, and stored in the refrigerator or peeled and cut into pieces, bagged and stored in the refrigerator.
[How to eat yam]
1. Pi
It is advisable to eat without skin to avoid abnormal taste such as tingling. Saponins contained in yam skin or plant alkaloids contained in mucus will make yam allergic and itchy after a few people contact it, so direct contact should be avoided when handling yam. Don't touch the yam after peeling. Wash your hands several times at a time, or you will tickle.
2. How to keep yam?
After the yam is peeled, the mucus on the surface makes it slippery, so it is difficult to hold it firmly or put it firmly on the board and cut it into the desired shape. At this time, you can put some salt and vinegar on your hands, so that when you hold yam, it will not slip and will not affect the normal taste of yam.
soak
Yam should be soaked in salt water immediately after slicing to prevent oxidation and blackening.
4. Fresh yam is mostly used for fatigue cough and diabetes, and fried cooked food is used to treat spleen and stomach and kidney deficiency.