The difference between coarse yam and fine yam

When you go to the market to buy yam, you will generally see two varieties, one is a relatively thick yam, and the other is a relatively thin yam. If you want to stew soup, you should choose thin yam, because the taste of such yam will be softer and more delicate. The thick yam tastes crispy, so it is very good for stir-frying and cold salad, but what is the difference between thick yam and thin yam?

Is it better to have thick or thin yam?

Thick is better.

Yam has an astringent effect, so it is not suitable for people with dry stools. Generally, you should choose yams with straight and thick stems and a certain weight in your hand. If it is cut yam, you should choose the one with white cut part. Fresh yam generally has a smooth skin and natural skin color. If you need to preserve it for a long time, you should bury the yam in wood sawdust. If you need to preserve it for a short time, just wrap it in paper and put it in a cool and dark place. If you buy cut yam, you should avoid contact with air by wrapping it in a plastic bag and refrigerating it. Chopped yam can also be frozen in the refrigerator. The peeled yam is very slippery, so it will be easier to handle if you apply some vinegar or salt on your hands. Yam can be boiled or steamed alone, or stir-fried or stewed with other vegetables and meat.

Benefits of eating yam for pregnant women

Not only is yam not a prohibited item for postpartum women, but it is also the best tonic for postpartum women. According to traditional Chinese medicine, yam can nourish the spleen, and the spleen is responsible for the body's digestion and absorption. Postpartum tonic is very beneficial for restoring physical strength, so eating more yam after childbirth is a good choice.

Childbirth causes great damage to the human body. Chinese medicine believes that it damages qi and blood, and the body needs adequate nutritional supplements after childbirth, so taking supplements at this time is very beneficial for restoring physical strength. Therefore, eating more yam after childbirth is a good choice. Especially in winter, you should eat more yam to maintain your health.

Yam contains amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which are beneficial to the digestion and absorption of the spleen and stomach of postpartum women. Yam also contains saponins, mucus, cholealine, vitamin C and other nutrients as well as a variety of minerals, which has a good therapeutic effect on new mothers to eliminate fatigue during pregnancy.

Many common tonic ingredients not only cause people to get inflamed after eating them, but are also difficult for people with very weak bodies to absorb, which can easily backfire. Yam is mild in nature, neither cold nor dry, and is easy to absorb, making it suitable for people of all body types. However, yam has an astringent effect, so it is not suitable for people with dry stools. In addition, people with solid evil (solid symptoms caused by the invasion of external evil or obstruction of phlegm, fire, etc., such as red face, abdominal pain, etc.) should also avoid eating it.

How to eat yam to get nutrition

1. If you want to use yam to stir-fry, you can blanch the yam in boiling water first and then take it out immediately to maintain the crispy taste.

2. If you want to eat it steamed, you can steam the yam first and then peel it. This is not only convenient, but also steaming it with the skin can better protect the protein, amylase and other nutrients contained in the yam.

3. If you want to use yam to stew, it is best to add it after the soup boils and boil it quickly over high heat, because yam contains polyphenol oxidase, which may turn brown during cooking. Adding it during boiling can destroy the activity of this enzyme. It should be noted that yam contains a lot of starch, so you should reduce the amount of staple food appropriately after eating it to ensure calorie balance.

Can yam nourish the stomach and intestines?

The worse the gastrointestinal condition of a person is, the more careful they should be when choosing whole grain and potato ingredients. Commonly eaten whole grains and potatoes, such as corn, sweet potatoes, and purple sweet potatoes, are not easy to digest because of their high starch and dietary fiber content, and can easily cause bloating and even stomach pain. This problem can be solved well if part of the staple food is replaced with firm iron stick yam.

1. The starch particles of yam are relatively small, and the texture is fine, with a low crude fiber content, which will not cause great irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Yam starch has a high content of amylopectin, so it is digested quickly no matter how it is cooked. The softer the texture, the higher the starch content is usually.

3. Studies have found that yam may stimulate the human digestive system to produce more digestive enzymes, thereby increasing digestion speed.

4. Animal studies have shown that yam can promote the proliferation of gastrointestinal mucosal cells, increase the thickness of the small intestinal mucosa, and enhance the activity of digestive enzymes in the small intestine.

It is not to say that yam can cure stomach problems, but eating yam is beneficial for patients with digestive system diseases. People with digestive tract mucosal damage do not have to worry that eating yam will cause damage to gastrointestinal cells. If it is dehydrated yam slices, you can soak them for a few hours in advance, put them in a porridge pot together with the soaking water and other grains, or throw them directly into a soy milk maker and beat them into a paste with other grains, which are all very helpful for digestion.