Soups
Fresh Chinese Yam, Niu Da Li & Lean Pork Soup
traditionally used to nourish the body and strengthen the sinews
In short: Fresh Chinese Yam, Niu Da Li & Lean Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally used to nourish the body and strengthen the sinews. It is most often made for everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, lotus seeds, southern dates, lean pork.
Why people make this soup
Fresh niu da li root is sweet and aromatic and traditionally valued for clearing heat, moistening the lung and strengthening the sinews and channels. Paired with Chinese yam — which supports the spleen and kidney and tonifies qi — plus lotus seeds and lean pork, it makes a nourishing soup that strengthens the body and the sinews and bones. It is especially welcome for people whose lung, spleen and kidney run weak and who cough easily. Both fresh Chinese yam and fresh niu da li root are available at Chinese herb shops, Asian grocers, or online.
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.
- Lotus seeds
Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961
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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