It's the season for lotus seed harvest. Lotus seeds are sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature. It is said that lotus seeds have the effect of nourishing the heart and calming the mind. Is this true? Let's take a look at the benefits of eating lotus seeds in the summer!
Benefits of Lotus Seeds
It's very good to eat some lotus seeds in the summer. Lotus seeds can clear heart-fire and calm the mind. Soaking them in water daily as tea is very effective for mouth sores and swollen gums. If you are particularly prone to getting "heaty" in the summer, you might want to try drinking lotus seed water! Additionally, lotus seeds have the effect of nourishing the heart and promoting tranquility. Middle-aged and elderly people, especially those who do mental work, can benefit from regular consumption as it can improve brain function, enhance memory, increase work efficiency, and help prevent senile dementia.
The green core in the center of the lotus seed is called the lotus plumule. It contains various alkaloids such as liensinine and isoliensinine, tastes extremely bitter, and has the function of clearing heat and purging fire. It also has a significant cardiotonic effect, can dilate peripheral blood vessels, and lower blood pressure. It can be used to treat mouth sores and aid sleep. Used as a tonic, it tonifies the spleen to stop diarrhea, benefits the kidneys to astringe essence, and nourishes the heart to calm the mind.
Precautions for Eating Lotus Seeds
1. The lotus plumule should not be taken with crab or turtle, as this may cause certain adverse reactions. People with colds, constipation, or hemorrhoids should also not take it. Those with constipation and abdominal bloating should best avoid it.
2. Lotus seeds are not suitable for long-term use, as it can have adverse effects on people with a "cold" constitution, which is not good for health.
3. If the lotus seeds have a skin, it should be peeled off first, leaving only the inner flesh, which is the white part. Wash it clean, soak it in clean water for about 20 minutes until it becomes slightly softer. If you have poor teeth, you can soak it for a longer time. The core of the lotus seed is very bitter, so remember to remove it before eating. The lotus plumule has the effect of reducing "heatiness" and can be steeped in water to drink.
4. When cooking lotus seeds, you can put them directly into the pot after washing, no need to soak them. Soaking usually extends the cooking time for white lotus seeds; the longer you soak them, the harder they are to cook until tender.