Fruits are beneficial to health in many ways. For example, eating them raw provides rich nutrition, while cooking them can turn them into medicinal remedies.

Steaming is the simplest way to transform some common fruits into tonics that treat ailments of the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Especially in the cold season, delicious steamed fruit dishes not only keep you warm but also boost the immune system. You can easily prepare these 7 fruits right in your own kitchen:

1.  Steamed Orange with Salt: Cough Relief, Phlegm Reduction, and Digestive Health

The peel of oranges contains anti-inflammatory properties similar to indomethacin, which is commonly used to reduce fever, alleviate pain, and fight inflammation. Studies have shown that orange peels are effective in treating asthma and thinning phlegm. Additionally, the beta-cryptoxanthin in orange peel can even help treat lung cancer. These benefits are only released when the peel is cooked, making steamed oranges particularly effective for treating chronic coughs in children without any side effects.

How to make: Wash the orange and soak it in salt water for 20 minutes. Cut the top of the orange, sprinkle a little salt onto the exposed fruit, and cover it back up. Place the orange in a bowl and steam it for 15 minutes before serving.

2.  Steamed Banana: Clears Heat, Soothes the Stomach, Warms the Body, and Treats Cough

Bananas, which have a sweet taste and cold properties, help clear heat, moisturize the intestines, and promote digestive movement. They are especially beneficial for women experiencing pregnancy-related issues due to excess heat. Steamed bananas are not only delicious but also suitable for people with weak constitutions or those who are prone to cold. Steamed bananas with rock sugar can treat chronic coughs.

How to make: Cut the banana into bite-sized pieces and steam it until cooked. You can also steam it with rock sugar or other fruits. If using banana seeds, soak them in water for 15 minutes before steaming.

3.  Steamed Grapefruit: Clears Heat, Reduces Phlegm, Removes Dampness, and Reduces Blood Clots

Grapefruit is rich in protein, organic acids, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and other essential elements for the human body. These compounds benefit the stomach, regulate qi, expel phlegm, moisturize the lungs, and promote digestion. Grapefruit can also accelerate wound healing and help with blood infections. Eating grapefruit can calm anger and prevent mouth ulcers. Additionally, the hesperidin and naringin in grapefruit peel can reduce blood viscosity and lower the risk of blood clots.

How to make: Peel and remove the seeds from a fresh grapefruit, steam it with honey, and eat. Alternatively, wash the peel, cut it into strips, place it in a bowl with sugar, and steam for three sessions a day to expel phlegm and clear heat.

4.  Steamed Pear with Rock Sugar: Treats Cough, Expels Phlegm, and Moisturizes the Lungs

Pears are known for their ability to clear heat and moisturize the lungs, reduce coughing, and expel phlegm. When steamed with rock sugar, they become even more effective. Pears can also be steamed with medicinal herbs that help reduce coughing or with honey, making them especially suitable for people with asthma, chronic lung disease, and chronic cough.

How to make: Wash a pear, cut off the top near the stem, and remove the core. Fill the pear with the appropriate amount of rock sugar, cover it, and steam it for 10 minutes. Both the pear and the syrup can be eaten, but this remedy is not suitable for those with a cough caused by wind-cold.

5.  Steamed Red Dates: Nourishes the Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Kidneys

Red dates are rich in protein, fats, sugars, carotene, vitamins B, C, P, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients. After steaming, red dates are easier to digest, making them ideal for people with weak spleens or those suffering from deficiencies in qi, blood, liver, and kidneys. To nourish the kidneys and strengthen vitality, they can be steamed with eggs.

How to make: Wash 5 red dates and soak them in water. Then, beat 2 eggs with a little salt, add the dates, and steam them with cold water. For daily health maintenance, cut the red dates in half, dice them, and steam them with water. Once the water boils, steam for another 20 minutes.

6.  Steamed Apples: Treats Diarrhea, Detoxifies, and Nourishes the Stomach

Interestingly, fresh dates are cold in nature, but when steamed, they lose their coldness and become excellent for detoxifying and treating diarrhea.

This is because apples contain pectin, a substance that softens waste in the stomach and promotes bowel movements. When cooked, apples can absorb bacteria and toxins, making them an effective treatment for diarrhea. They are also rich in fiber and support digestion.

How to make: Wash an apple, leaving the skin on, and cut it into small pieces. Place it in a bowl and steam it for about 5 minutes.

7.  Steamed Hawthorn: Improves Appetite and Aids Digestion

Hawthorn is rich in organic acids and glycolic fruit acids, which can improve appetite, support the spleen and stomach, reduce bloating, and aid digestion. However, eating raw hawthorn can irritate the digestive tract, making it difficult for some people to consume. Therefore, steaming it with rock sugar is the best way to enjoy its benefits. This remedy can even help treat long-term constipation when used daily.

How to make: Peel the hawthorn, place it in a bowl, add the right amount of rock sugar, and steam it for 15 minutes before serving. Use once a day.

These are just a few examples of how steaming fruits can be used as natural remedies. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can not only enjoy delicious dishes but also boost your health.