Chuseok Gift 'Apples and Pear' To Enjoy Oriental Medicine

Sep 19, 2024

After the holiday, each family home has more fruits than usual. Usually, people who want to express their gratitude before and after the holiday receive gift sets because the most preferred item for consumers is fruit. In particular, apples and pears are also the fruit items with the highest demand for consumption.

In fact, according to a survey of 3,000 consumers conducted by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation last month, 25.2% of the respondents said they wanted to buy apples as Chuseok gift sets. Beef followed with 16.2% and fruit-mixed sets with 12.8%, and when respondents said they would buy apple sets and fruit-mixed sets, the figure reached 38.0%. In the 「2023 Food Consumption Behavior Survey」 conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Research Institute, apples topped the list as Koreans' favorite fruit, followed by pears.

In Korean medicine, apples and pears are known to be fruits used like medicine. Donguibogam's stomach is written that taking juice is good for controlling cough and asthma and relieving pain in the throat and nose caused by fever. Apples quench thirst and are described as effective against abdominal pain caused by acute gastrointestinal disease (conviction).

Above all, dietary fiber contained in apples has a positive effect on cardiovascular health by lowering blood cholesterol levels. Various vitamins and minerals also help strengthen immunity and produce energy. Pear is good for replenishing moisture in the body, and it is effective in improving digestive health and preventing constipation with abundant dietary fiber. In addition, apples and pears contain many nutrients in their shells. Apple peels contain polyphenols to reduce inflammation in the body and prevent cell damage. The pear shell contains luteolin, which is good for preventing respiratory diseases.

These items can create a nutritional synergy that can be consumed with meat. When you combine apples with pork, the dietary fiber and potassium in apples help release the sodium of pork. In the case of pears, they are classified as fruits with strong oriental medicine cold properties, and when they meet warm beef, they help absorb beneficial ingredients into the human body. The use of apples or pears in meat marinades can also have the effect of softening and softening protein components in meat.

However, you should be wary of excessive intake. The high sugar content can be counterproductive for diabetics or those who need blood sugar control. Be careful because fructose absorption may be accelerated if the amount of juice received as a gift is large and excessive. This increases the risk of diabetes by pouring large amounts of glucose into the blood.

In addition, apples contain both acid and sugar, which can grow cavity reproduction. In fact, the London Dental Research Institute at King's College in the UK said apples increase the risk of tooth damage 3.7 times more than soda or alcohol.

"Apples and pears are perfect for holiday gifts because they are good for cardiovascular health, replenishing water in the body, and promoting digestion," said Kim Ha-neul, head of Busan Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital. "However, excessive intake can cause indigestion and blood sugar problems.



Chuseok Gift 'Apples and Pear' To Enjoy Oriental Medicine
Apple and pear gift set displayed at mart


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