The 2014 Start of Autumn solar term fell on August 7th. As the 13th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, it marks the transitional season when weather shifts from hot to cool and then to cold. Beyond weather changes, the Start of Autumn also heralds the gradual arrival of various seasonal autumn vegetables. These seasonal vegetables are rich in nutrients and align with human health needs. Among autumn's seasonal foods, corn and loofah stand out.
I. Corn
Corn, also known as maize, sweet corn, or popcorn, has a sweet taste and neutral nature. It regulates digestion, stimulates appetite, benefits the lungs, calms the heart, clears damp-heat, promotes liver and gallbladder function, and delays aging.Historical records indicate corn originated in South America, with China beginning its cultivation around the mid-16th century. Currently, corn occupies vast planting areas in China, including varieties like yellow corn, white corn, waxy corn, and hybrid corn. It serves as a primary staple for populations in northern China, southwestern mountainous regions, and other dry-land areas. Corn can be boiled into soup as a tea substitute or ground into cornmeal for making corn cakes and pastries.
Traditional Chinese medicine classifies corn as neutral in nature and sweet in taste, entering the liver, kidney, and bladder meridians. It is valued for promoting urination and reducing swelling, calming the liver and benefiting the gallbladder, strengthening the spleen and draining dampness, regulating the middle burner and stimulating appetite, nourishing the lungs and calming the heart, and clearing damp-heat. Consuming corn during the start of autumn not only alleviates autumn dryness but also helps delay aging.
Modern medicine recognizes corn as rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids.Modern research confirms that corn's unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (over 60% content), synergize with vitamin E in corn germ to lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent its deposition on blood vessel walls. Thus, corn offers preventive and therapeutic benefits against coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.Corn contains flavonoids that benefit the macula of the retina, making it beneficial for eye health when consumed regularly.The selenium and magnesium in corn possess anti-cancer properties: When selenium works in conjunction with vitamin E, it can prevent over ten types of tumors, particularly the most common breast and colorectal cancers. Additionally, selenium regulates thyroid function and helps prevent cataracts. Magnesium, on one hand, inhibits the development of cancer cells, and on the other, strengthens intestinal wall peristalsis, promoting the expulsion of waste from the body—both of which are crucial for cancer prevention.It contains a longevity factor—glutathione. With selenium's participation, it generates glutathione oxidase, which possesses functions to restore youthfulness and delay aging.
Corn silk also offers beauty and weight-loss benefits. The vitamin E in corn germ promotes human cell division, preventing skin wrinkles; corn silk has a diuretic effect, which also aids weight loss.Puffed corn expands significantly in volume, satisfying hunger in overweight individuals while being low in calories, making it an ideal weight-loss food.
Corn's abundant vitamin E enhances hormone secretion through the gonads, improving sexual function and preventing miscarriage. Additionally, the glutamic acid in corn offers certain brain-boosting benefits.
Corn Dish—Pine Nut Corn:
Ingredients: Corn, pine nuts, red bell pepper, minced scallions, sugar, salt.
Method: Remove seeds and wash red bell pepper; cut into 1cm diamond slices. Remove husk and silk from corn cobs; shuck kernels. Heat skillet over high heat, add raw pine nuts, then reduce heat to dry-roast.Stir frequently with a spatula to ensure even rolling and coloring. Once all pine nuts turn golden brown, transfer to a large plate to cool. Bring water to a boil in a pot over high heat. Add corn kernels, reduce to medium heat, and cook for 5 minutes. Drain thoroughly.Heat a wok over high heat. Add oil and wait until it reaches medium-high heat (about 60% hot). Add minced scallions and stir-fry until fragrant. Add corn kernels and red bell pepper slices. Season with salt and sugar to taste, then stir-fry briefly. Pour about 1 tablespoon (15ml) of water along the edge of the wok. Cover and steam-fry for 3 minutes. Remove the lid, add pine nuts, and stir-fry over high heat until well combined.
Corn-Based Home Remedies:
Infant Eczema Remedy: Use an appropriate amount of Chinese cabbage or cabbage (other fresh vegetables may also be used). Finely chop the leaves and boil in water for 15 minutes to make a vegetable puree. Cook 20–30 grams of fine cornmeal into porridge, then add the vegetable puree and rock sugar to make a vegetable porridge. Feed the infant in small portions multiple times.
Corn Silk Drink: Wash 30g corn silk, add 500ml water, simmer for 30 minutes. Let stand briefly, strain liquid, and add sugar to taste. Promotes diuresis, reduces swelling, alleviates jaundice, and lowers blood pressure. Suitable as a dietary beverage for edema, hypertension, and chronic nephritis patients.
II. Luffa
Luffa, with its vibrant green color, tender texture, and crisp sweetness, is an ideal vegetable for the transition between summer and autumn. It boasts high nutritional value, containing protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins (including riboflavin), vitamin C, and saponins—a component also found in ginseng.
Consuming more loofah during the start of autumn season offers significant health benefits. Traditional Chinese medicine considers loofah fruit sweet and neutral in nature, with effects including clearing summer heat and cooling the blood, detoxifying and promoting bowel movements, dispelling wind and resolving phlegm, moisturizing skin and enhancing beauty, unblocking meridians, promoting blood circulation, and increasing lactation. Its fibers, seeds, vines, flowers, and leaves are all medicinal.Luffa juice is hailed as "beauty water." Cutting a growing luffa vine releases a liquid; applying this juice with gauze to the face or skin moisturizes and prevents wrinkles. Alternatively, directly juicing the luffa and mixing it with honey or glycerin yields excellent results.
Luffa offers diverse culinary applications, such as soups or stir-fries like shrimp with luffa, plain stir-fried luffa, or shiitake mushrooms braised with luffa. Plain stir-fried luffa is light and refreshing, clearing heat and draining dampness; shiitake braised luffa nourishes qi and blood while unblocking meridians. Note: Always wash the luffa skin thoroughly before cooking.
Cold-Tossed Luffa Salad
Ingredients: Luffa, shiitake mushrooms, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar
Method: Wash and slice the luffa, blanch in boiling water, then toss with sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and other seasonings to make a cold salad.
Zucchini can also be juiced for enhanced therapeutic effects. For example, blend fresh zucchini into juice, mix with honey at a 10:1 ratio, and stir well. This fresh zucchini juice clears heat, relieves coughs, and dissolves phlegm.
Luffa Dietary Remedies:
For uterine bleeding: Burn luffa fibers to obtain "luffa ash." Grind into a fine powder. Take 3-6 grams twice daily with salt water or rice wine to treat uterine bleeding or menorrhagia.
For dysmenorrhea: Boil one dried loofah in water and drink the decoction twice daily to alleviate menstrual cramps.
For menorrhagia: Roast loofah seeds or leaves until charred, grind into powder, and take with salt water to treat excessive menstrual flow. Alternatively, burn one mature loofah to ash, retain its properties, grind into powder, and take 9 grams each time with salted boiling water.
Additionally, loofah fibers are commonly used to treat chest and rib pain, breast pain, and swelling caused by qi and blood stagnation. Loofah seeds can be used to treat persistent lower back pain, moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, and address food stagnation and jaundice. Loofah leaves, when taken internally, clear summer heat and reduce fever; when applied externally, they reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and treat heat rashes, boils, and sores.