Everyone is afraid of getting Alzheimer's disease in the future, not only because their own life will become dull and uninteresting, but also because it will burden their spouse and children. However, when it comes to diseases, just being afraid is not the solution. Finding simple and practical preventive methods is the fundamental way! Research has found that there is a food we are very familiar with that helps us prevent Alzheimer's disease while also enhancing brain activity. It is the lotus seed!
Regular consumption of lotus seeds helps prevent Alzheimer's disease
Lotus seeds are very rich in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, and also contain various other vitamins, trace elements, and lotusine. Besides being components of bones and teeth, they can also activate certain enzymes, maintain nerve conductivity, calm the nerves, and maintain muscle contraction and heart rhythm. In simple terms, this means they can help us strengthen bones, promote metabolism, maintain brain nerve activity and prevent it from aging, and maintain regular heart function. These are all the physical functions that middle-aged and elderly people need to strengthen.
Middle-aged and elderly people, as well as those who do mental work, must eat lotus seeds regularly because they can strengthen the brain, enhance memory, improve work efficiency, and prevent the onset of senile dementia. In addition, the core of the lotus seed has a significant strengthening effect on the heart, can dilate peripheral blood vessels, and lower blood pressure. The core of the lotus seed is also very effective for clearing heart fire and can be used for mouth sores and to aid sleep.
Regular consumption of lotus seeds prolongs life
The ancients believed that eating lotus seeds could make one young again and lead to immortality. While saying one can achieve immortality is an exaggeration, its medicinal value in nourishing the heart and calming the mind, strengthening the brain and enhancing intelligence, and eliminating fatigue has been recorded in medical books throughout the ages.
"Compendium of Materia Medica" records: "The lotus seed is sweet in taste, warm in nature, and astringent. It possesses a clear and fragrant aura and the flavor of crops, making it the fruit of the spleen. The earth is the mother of vital energy; when the mother's qi is harmonious, the body fluids are formed, and the spirit is generated. It enables one to see for a long time and resist aging, which is its fundamental principle. In the past, for treating disharmony between the heart and kidneys, and labor-induced leukorrhea, there was the 'Clearing the Heart Lotus Seed Drink'; for tonifying the heart and kidneys, and benefiting essence and blood, there was the 'Auspicious Lotus Pill,' all of which follow this principle."
How to eat lotus seeds healthily?
Many of the healthy living habits we have always advocated are eventually abandoned because they are too troublesome and conflict with our daily routines. However, the habit of using lotus seeds to prevent dementia, lower blood pressure, and calm the mind is very easy to stick to for anyone who cooks and eats at home, because this health method does not require changing too many of our accustomed life patterns. Lotus seeds do not need to be made into a separate dish; you just need to grab a handful and toss them in when steaming rice, cooking congee, or stewing soup! Here are a few recipes:
Rock Sugar Tremella and Lotus Seed Porridge
1. Lotus Seed Porridge
Ingredients: 20g lotus seeds, 15g brown sugar, 100g glutinous rice
Method: Remove the lotus cores and cook them with the glutinous rice in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. When the porridge is almost done, add the brown sugar and cook for a moment longer.
Effects: Nourishes the spleen to stop diarrhea, and nourishes the heart to calm the mind.
2. Snow Pear, Tremella, Red Date, and Lotus Seed Soup
Ingredients: 1 snow pear, 30g tremella, 20g lotus seeds, 5 red dates
Method: Peel and dice the snow pear. Soak, one tremella, an appropriate amount of lotus seeds, and over 10 red dates until soft, then wash them. Place the snow pear, tremella, red dates, lotus seeds, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar in a pot, add enough water (about 2-3 times the volume of all ingredients), bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for 1 hour.
Effects: Moistens the lungs and relieves cough, aids digestion, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes yin.
3. Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup
Ingredients: 50g lotus seeds, 30g tremella, 100g rock sugar
Method: Soak the lotus seeds and tremella separately in water until soft, then drain. Place the lotus seeds, tremella, and rock sugar in a bowl, add an appropriate amount of water, and steam in a steamer over high heat for 1 hour.
Effects: The soup is thick and sweet. It has the function of moistening the lungs and nourishing the stomach.
4. Lotus Seed and Ginseng Soup
Ingredients: 50g lotus seeds, 10g ginseng, 30g rock sugar
Method: Remove the lotus cores and cook them with the ginseng in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. Soak for 30 minutes, then add rock sugar and steam for 1 hour. You can eat the lotus seeds and drink the soup. The ginseng can be used twice. For the second serving, you can eat the ginseng along with the soup.
Effects: Suitable for those who are weak and deficient in qi after an illness. It can tonify qi and benefit the spleen, and nourish the heart to calm the mind.
Warm Reminder:
Remember to soak dried lotus seeds in advance. For example, if you plan to eat them for lunch, soak a handful in warm water in the morning when you start cooking, and they will be ready for use in soups or steamed rice at noon. Be sure to remove the lotus cores—that is, the green part in the middle. You can save the lotus cores; when you have excess heart fire or high blood pressure, a small handful used to make tea is very good.
Steam ribs