Lotus leaf is a common plant. Lotus is a perennial aquatic herb that grows in swamps, ponds, lakes or paddy fields, wild or cultivated. Widely distributed in the north and south. Lotus leaf has many functions and functions. In addition to making lotus leaf rice, people can also make hawthorn and lotus leaf tea. It has the functions of relieving heat and diuresis, strengthening the spleen and promoting yang, dissipating blood stasis and stopping bleeding.

Efficacy and function of lotus leaf

Traditional Chinese medicine’s explanation of lotus leaf is: bitter, pungent, slightly astringent, cool in nature, and returns to the heart, liver, and spleen meridians; its fragrance spreads. Mainly used to treat excessive thirst due to summer heat, headache, dizziness, edema, lack of food, abdominal distension, diarrhea, leucorrhea, prolapse, vomiting blood, epistaxis, hemoptysis, blood in the stool, uterine bleeding, postpartum lochia, injury and blood stasis. In addition, the functions and functions of lotus leaves are as follows:

1. Lower blood lipids

Nuciferine is an alkaloid extracted from lotus leaves. Nuciferine can dilate blood vessels. , clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, and has the effect of lowering blood pressure.

2. Prevent and treat cardiovascular disease

Lotus leaf is a "food that can be used both as medicine and food. The flavonoids rich in lotus leaf are scavengers of most oxygen free radicals and can Increase the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and reduce the production of MDA (lipid peroxide malondialdehyde) and OX-LDL (oxidized low-density lipoprotein). It can increase coronary flow and treat experimental myocardial infarction. It has an antagonistic effect; it has a protective effect on acute myocardial ischemia; it has a significant effect on the treatment of coronary heart disease and hypertension; it also plays an important role in reducing diastolic blood pressure and preventing and treating arrhythmias and cardiovascular diseases.

3. Weight loss

The alkaloids in lotus leaves have the effect of lowering blood lipids and are often used in the clinical treatment of obesity. The principle of weight loss in lotus leaves is that after being taken, a layer of fat isolation film is formed on the human intestinal wall. , effectively prevent the absorption of fat, fundamentally lose weight, and control weight loss more effectively.

Nutrients of lotus leaves

Lotus leaves are very rich in nutrients. Lotus leaves contain. It contains various alkaloids such as nuciferine, nuciferine and nuciferine and vitamin C. In addition, it also contains citric acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid and other alkaline ingredients with anti-mitotic effects. Let’s talk about the nutritional content of lotus leaves in detail.

1. Alkaloids are an important class of active ingredients in crude drugs. More than 10,000 species have been isolated, of which more than 80 species have been used clinically, such as Coptis chinensis. The berberine in ephedra is used for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, the ephedrine in ephedra is used to relieve asthma, the reserpine in rauwolfia is used to reduce blood pressure, and the camptothecin in camptotheca ( camptothecine) and vincristine (vincristine) in periwinkle are used for anti-tumor, etc.

2. Vitamin C has antioxidant, anti-free radical, and inhibits the formation of tyrosinase, thereby achieving whitening. , the effect of lightening.

3. Citric acid is an important compound in the physiological process of converting fat, protein and sugar into carbon dioxide. It has the effect of preventing and eliminating skin pigmentation.

4. Malic acid occupies a special position in the substance metabolism pathway. It can directly participate in human metabolism and be directly absorbed by the human body to provide energy to the body in a short time, eliminate fatigue, and play the role of anti-fatigue and rapid recovery of physical strength.

How to eat lotus leaves

Pharmacological studies have found that lotus leaves have antipyretic, antibacterial, and antispasmodic effects. The processed lotus leaves taste bitter, slightly salty, and have a pungent and cool nature. , it has the functions of clearing away heat and promoting diuresis, removing blood stasis and stopping bleeding. It can be said that there are many benefits of eating lotus leaves. So, what is the method of eating lotus leaves? Come and take a look!

1. Steamed Pork Ribs with Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaves

Ingredients: 8 dried lotus leaves, 250 grams of glutinous rice, 500 grams of pork ribs, 6 slices of ginger, 2 dark soy sauces tablespoon (30ml), 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (15ml), 1 tablespoon cooking wine (15ml), 1/2 teaspoon salt (3g), 1 tablespoon sugar (15g), 1 teaspoon chicken essence (5g).

Method

1. Soak the glutinous rice and lotus leaves eight hours in advance. Soak the mushrooms in warm water at 40 degrees Celsius, wash and cut into shreds. Wash the ribs and cut them into small pieces, marinate with ginger slices, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, cooking wine, salt, sugar and chicken essence for 2 hours.

2. Mix the marinated pork ribs with glutinous rice and shredded mushrooms evenly.

3. Rinse the lotus leaves with water and spread them out, add the mixed pork ribs and glutinous rice to wrap them up, and put them in a steamer or steamer.

4. Pour water into the steamer, add the wrapped lotus leaf bags, and heat over high heat for 1 hour. Halfway through, remember to add boiling water to the pot again to avoid water shortage and scorching the pot.

2. Lotus leaf and lotus seed porridge

Ingredients: 1 lotus leaf, 110 grams of rice, 20 grams of glutinous rice, 1500ml of water, 50 grams of lotus seeds.

Method

1. Wash the lotus leaves, cut into large pieces, add water and cook over high heat. After boiling, turn down the heat and cook for 20 minutes.

2. When boiling the lotus leaves, soak the rice and lotus seeds in water.

3. Take out the lotus leaves and pour the soaked rice and lotus seeds into the lotus leaf water.

4. After boiling over high heat, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.

Taboos on eating lotus leaves

Some people may ask, since lotus leaves can be used for cooking and medicine, then there must be no taboos for eating lotus leaves? Actually, no, about There are still many taboos on eating lotus leaves. Next, I will tell you in detail what are the taboos for eating lotus leaves.

1. "Outline": Fear of tung oil, Poria cocos and silver.

2. "Compendium of Materia Medica": Ascension and dispersion are consumed, and those with deficiency are prohibited.

3. "Suixiju Diet Spectrum": Do not use it if the Shangjiao evil is strong and should be treated with Qingjiang.

From the above ancient book records, we can see that when eating lotus leaves, they cannot be eaten with tung oil, poria and silver. Moreover, those who are thin and weak in Qi and blood cannot eat lotus leaves. It is recommended that all friends consult a local doctor before consuming lotus leaves.