Nutritional Value of the Herbaceous Fruit Lampion Fruit (Niangguo) and Edible Precautions for Its Skin

Lampion fruit, also known as niangguo or small-fruited groundcherry, is a common wild plant found along roadsides and river valleys. Because its fruit is sweet when ripe and has effects such as nourishing the blood and beautifying the complexion and enhancing immunity, it is deeply loved by people. So what nutritional value does lampion fruit (niangguo) have? Can the skin be eaten? What should it not be eaten with?

I. What nutritional value does lampion fruit have?

1. Modern scientific testing shows that lampion fruit is rich in physanol AB, physalin, alkaloids, citric acid, carotene, physalein, gramisterol, obtusifoliol, cycloartenol, lanosterol-8-3B-ol, and more. These are all rare trace elements in human growth.

2. The ripe fruit of lampion fruit is sweet and fragrant and is a fruit vegetable with relatively rich nutrition. The berry is rich in vitamin C and has a certain therapeutic effect on aplastic anemia.

3. Lampion fruit is very rich in nutrition, rich in VC and carotene, contains 5-11% sugar and 0.9-2.3% organic acids, and also contains trace elements such as iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. Calculated per 100 grams of fruit, the nutrients of lampion fruit are water, protein 1.9 grams, fat 0.15-0.2 grams, carbohydrates 17.3-19.6 grams, dietary fiber 3.6-4.9 grams, ash 1 gram, potassium 292.65 mg, calcium 8-10.55 mg, phosphorus 37.9-55.3 mg, iron 1.2-1.24 mg, zinc 0.4 mg, β-carotene 1.6 mg, VB 0.13 mg, VC 43 mg.

4. The content of bioflavonoids in lampion fruit is very high, and they have effects such as softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, supplementing calcium, enhancing human immunity, and fighting cancer.

II. Can the skin of lampion fruit be eaten?

The skin of lampion fruit can be eaten. The skin of lampion fruit, like cherry skin, adheres to the surface of the flesh, and it is generally eaten together with the skin and flesh. The skin of lampion fruit also contains a variety of nutritional elements, and eating it is very good for the body.

III. What benefits does eating the skin of lampion fruit have?

1. Supplementing various nutrients

Lampion fruit contains 18 kinds of amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 needed by the human body. Among them, the content of vitamin C is second only to kiwi among fruits, and it is also rich in minerals such as iron, tin, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.

2. Enhancing resistance

Eating lampion fruit not only supplements various nutrients but also enhances resistance. Lampion fruit is rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids, and both of these substances have the effect of enhancing resistance.

3. Nourishing the blood and beautifying the complexion

Lampion fruit contains a large amount of iron and vitamin C. Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron, and eating iron can also supplement hemoglobin. Therefore, eating lampion fruit can have the effect of nourishing the blood and beautifying the complexion. People with anemia can eat more of it.

4. Lowering blood pressure and blood lipids

People with high blood pressure and high blood lipids can eat lampion fruit to achieve the effect of lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, because lampion fruit contains a high amount of bioflavonoids. In addition to enhancing resistance, bioflavonoids also have the effect of softening blood vessels and lowering blood lipids and blood pressure.

IV. What should lampion fruit not be eaten with?

Lampion fruit has no dietary restrictions; it is a very good small fruit and eating it is very beneficial to the body.