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Winter Melon, Lean Pork, and Dried Conch Soup

traditionally associated with nourishing yin, supporting kidney function, and promoting fluid balance

In short: Winter Melon, Lean Pork, and Dried Conch Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with nourishing yin, supporting kidney function, and promoting fluid balance. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, blood sugar balance. Total time about 105 min. Key ingredients: lean pork, winter melon, ginger, tangerine peel.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
90 min
Total
105 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessChildren's WellnessBlood Sugar BalanceKidney & Urinary WellnessEveryday Balance
Winter Melon, Lean Pork, and Dried Conch Soup

Why people make this soup

When someone in a Chinese household has been told to watch their blood sugar, one of the first instincts is to re-examine what goes into the family soup pot. Rich, fatty broths and strongly warming herbs are typically set aside; instead, the focus shifts to ingredients that are lighter, naturally hydrating, and easier on the system. Winter melon is a star in this context: it has a very high water content, is low in calories, and has a long history in Chinese dietary tradition of supporting fluid balance and gentle urinary clearing. Paired with dried conch — prized for its deeply nourishing, yin-supporting properties — and the practical protein of lean pork, this soup is a genuinely tasty everyday option that the whole family can share.

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
  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325

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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