Soups

Broad Bean, Winter Melon and Lean Pork Soup

traditionally used to support urination and ease fluid retention

In short: Broad Bean, Winter Melon and Lean Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally used to support urination and ease fluid retention. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, kidney & urinary wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: ginger, lean pork.

Prep
15 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 15 min
Makes
1.2 L
Broad Bean, Winter Melon and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

In traditional Chinese food therapy, this soup has long been made for people dealing with puffiness in the legs and feet — a discomfort that often appears in late pregnancy, on hot humid days, or when the kidneys are working hard. Fresh broad beans paired with winter melon are considered a gentle, effective combination for encouraging the body to pass excess water naturally. Nourilo first shared this recipe after recording a segment on pregnancy nutrition for a local radio programme, when the topic of late-pregnancy swelling came up. Beyond water balance, broad beans are also valued for the calcium they provide and for being cholesterol-free, making this soup friendly for those watching their heart health.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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