Winter melon is a food with high water content, suitable for inclusion in a diet aimed at energy control.
When processed into tea, winter melon can create a drink that is easy to use, especially if you do not add or only use very little sugar.
Therefore, replacing a bottle of sugary soda or bottled tea with a cup of low-sugar winter melon tea may be a beneficial change for total energy control.
WHO currently also ranks limiting sugary drinks, increasing vegetables and fruits, and controlling energy as important measures in preventing overweight and obesity.
To make a drink at home, you can use about 500-700g of fresh winter melon, wash it, remove the seeds and cut it into pieces. Put the winter melon in a pot with about 1.5-2 liters of water, bring to a boil and reduce heat to low for about 20-30 minutes.
You can add a few slices of ginger or pandan leaves to create a fragrant aroma. After filtering out the water, let it cool and store it cold. If you need sweetness, you should only add a small amount of sugar or use winter melon that already has a natural sweetness.
This processing method has the advantage of controlling the sugar content, unlike many types of winter melon tea bottled or pre-made that may contain a significant amount of sugar.
Winter melon tea should not be turned into a too sweet soft drink, because then the advantage of low energy may be lost. WHO recommends that free sugar levels should be below 10% of total daily energy and can be reduced to below 5% for more health benefits.
Winter melon tea can only support weight control when it replaces sugary drinks, not because winter melon has the ability to "burn fat".
A cup of low-sugar winter melon tea may be on the weight control menu, but cannot replace a balanced and exercise-rich diet.
The most suitable recipe is therefore quite simple: fresh winter melon cooked with water, you can add ginger or pandan leaves, minimize sugar and drink in moderation.
This drink can help replace high-sugar drinks, thereby supporting energy and body shape control. To protect the eyes, it is necessary to build a diverse diet, providing vitamin A and carotenoids from many food sources.
