A Type of Vegetable Rich in Calcium 36 Times More Than Bone Broth
Calcium is an important mineral for bone and teeth health, as well as many other essential functions in the body.
Not only animal bones, green vegetables are also a great natural source of calcium for the body, and one type of vegetable known as the “calcium warehouse” is water spinach.
According to research, 100g of this vegetable provides over 70mg of free calcium. While 100ml of bone broth only provides 1.9mg of this substance.
Experts also note that most people mistakenly think that pork bones are rich in calcium, but the reality is that calcium in bones exists in a form that is difficult to dissolve in water.
Therefore, no matter how long you boil the bones, the calcium in the bone broth is still not as high as we usually think.
In addition to its abundant calcium content, water spinach is also rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, B1, B2, as well as minerals that are good for health such as iron, protein, and various trace elements.
Because of its “richness” in nutrients, this vegetable brings many health benefits.
You can prepare water spinach in various dishes, whether raw or cooked, they are all nutritious. Many people use this vegetable as a raw dish, some use it as a filling for buns, dumplings, while others like to cook soup or stir-fry it with minced garlic…
Choose the appropriate cooking method based on your preference:
Mixed water spinach with tofu:
150g of water spinach, 100g of dried tofu, 20g of chili oil, 2g of seasoning. Soak the dried tofu in warm water, wait until it becomes soft and cut into shreds, blanch in boiling water, then remove and let it cool. Rinse the water spinach, cut into shreds, blanch in boiling water, then remove and let it cool. Put both water spinach and tofu on a plate, drizzle chili oil and it’s done.
Benefits: harmonizing Qi, nourishing the lungs, soothing liver, tonifying kidney, calming the mind.
Mixed water spinach with dried shrimp:
300g of water spinach, 60g of soaked dried shrimp, 15g of sesame oil, 6g of seasoning, 6g of vinegar, minced garlic, ginger powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Rinse the water spinach, cut into shreds, sprinkle some salt and leave it for 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water, add a bit of salt, garlic, ginger powder. Heat the oil in a pan, add the ginger and garlic, then add the sesame oil, vinegar, and a little sugar to make the seasoning sauce. Put the water spinach on a plate, place the dried shrimp on top, then pour the seasoning sauce and mix well.
Benefits: this dish is fresh and light, aids in digestion, stimulates the appetite, calms the mind.
Mixed water spinach with sesame oil and chili:
500g of water spinach, 30g of sesame oil, 15g of soy sauce, 3g of salt, a bit of powdered chili pepper. Rinse the water spinach, cut into small pieces, mix with salt, let it sit for 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water. Heat the sesame oil in a pot, add the chili powder to a bowl, then add the soy sauce, a bit of vinegar, and a little sugar to make the seasoning sauce. Pour the seasoning sauce over the water spinach, mix well, and it’s ready to serve. Benefits: refreshing, harmonizing the middle burner, invigorating spleen, calming the mind.
Mixed water spinach with spicy shrimp sauce:
500g of water spinach, 50g of peanuts, 3 dried chili peppers, 20g of peanut oil, 8g of salt. Rinse the water spinach, cut into small pieces, put in a bowl, add salt, and let it sit for 15 minutes, then remove and drain. Rinse the chili peppers, remove the stem and seeds, cut into small pieces, stir-fry in oil. Soak the peanuts in cold water to expand, drain the water, peel them. Stir-fry the peanuts in oil until crispy. Put the water spinach in a bowl, add the peanuts, the chili pepper oil, and salt, then mix well. Benefits: nourishing the five organs, promoting blood circulation, tonifying the spleen.
In addition, cove beans are also a type of vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. Among them, the most notable is the high calcium content in this vegetable, which is much higher than milk and soybeans, about 3 times higher than milk and 2 times higher than soybeans.
This makes cove beans an ideal food for maintaining bone health in middle-aged and older people.
In addition to its abundant calcium content, this vegetable is also rich in fiber, which helps improve digestion and weight control.
Furthermore, this vegetable contains antioxidants that help protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.