In East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, the lotus plant is known as a valuable Traditional Medicine herb and is indispensable when preparing dishes. Lotus seeds are proven to be very good for health, helping to enhance and improve the body. With these useful uses, lotus seeds are widely used in cuisine and medicine.
1. What are lotus seeds?
The lotus plant is a species of the lotus family and has more than 100 species, the most common is the single-flower white lotus, each flower has about 24 petals. Other lotus species such as the double lotus can have over 100 petals each flower, often pink and red. In Vietnam, lotus grows in most provinces and cities, it brings many effects in helping to nourish and improve human health.
Lotus seeds have high levels of protein, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, while saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol are very low. In medicine, lotus seeds are considered a precious medicine, which can cure diseases such as physical weakness, nervous breakdown, insomnia, poor appetite, anxiety and indigestion.
In 100g of lotus seeds, there are 350 calories, 63-68g of carbohydrates, 17-18g of protein, but only 1.9-2.5g of fat, the rest are other ingredients such as water, other minerals. According to research results, on average, every 100g of dried lotus seeds can provide about 18g of high-quality protein and fiber. In particular, lotus seeds do not contain sugar but have a delicious flavor that suits the preferences of many people.
Lotus seeds are also known as lotus seeds, have a sweet taste, are neutral and contain many nutritional values. In Oriental medicine, lotus seeds are a delicious, nutritious dish and also a precious medicine that has the effect of nourishing the mind, calming the nerves, benefiting the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, and can improve the condition of spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission in men or diarrhea, insomnia, indigestion, bloating, poor appetite, and treating thirst due to high fever and dehydration.
Lotus seeds are also known as lotus seeds, have a sweet taste, neutral properties and contain many nutritional values.
2. How good are lotus seeds?
- Lotus seeds help treat dementia in the elderly
In Oriental medicine, dementia is a disease that makes the elderly feel lethargic, dizzy, sleepless, and forgetful. Dementia in the elderly is quite dangerous, the disease progresses so that they cannot determine space and time, lose the ability to recognize, cannot remember information about relatives, lose direction and no longer have the ability to think and make decisions. Dishes made from lotus help nourish the elderly’s mind and spirit, and are very effective in treating dementia.
- Lotus seeds help fight inflammation effectively
Some studies have shown that both red and white lotus seeds have the ability to effectively fight inflammation and are very good antioxidants thanks to 2 types of polysaccharides in the lotus heart.
- Lotus seeds help treat acne
Lotus seeds can help treat acne. Sebum in the skin is a waxy substance that forms and clogs pores on the skin, which is the culprit that causes acne. You can use the method of mixing lotus flowers into green tea and applying it to your face to reduce the amount of sebum secreted by the glands.
- Lotus seeds help limit the spread of lung cancer cells
In particular, the neferine in lotus heart has the effect of limiting the spread of lung cancer cells. The results of this study suggest using lotus heart to treat lung cancer in the future.
- Lotus seeds help cure insomnia
Insomnia is a common disease that many elderly people as well as the younger generation encounter. The cause of insomnia is often caused by stress and can lead to many other related health problems. Lotus seeds have the effect of helping users calm down and relax, making it easy to sleep, so they are considered an effective home remedy to treat insomnia.
Lotus seeds help users calm down, relax, and sleep easily.
- Lotus seeds are good for people with diabetes
Because lotus seeds are low in calories but rich in fiber, they can help reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, diabetics should consume a moderate amount of lotus seeds regularly to maintain their health. Lotus seeds are considered a healthy and delicious snack for people with diabetes.
- Lotus seeds help slow down the aging process of the body
The ingredients of lotus seeds contain anti-aging enzymes that slow down the aging process and repair damaged proteins. Therefore, regular use of lotus seeds brings many benefits to improve longevity without having to use anti-aging creams. Based on the enzyme content in lotus seeds, researchers have found different methods to use lotus seeds in the cosmetics and skin care industry. However, eating lotus seeds is still better than using these cosmetics.
- Lotus seeds are a healthy snack
Lotus seeds provide a lot of protein, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, and are considered an ideal and healthy snack for everyone. Lotus seeds provide a high source of energy in a short period of time, so everyone should stock up on lotus seeds at home and bring lotus seeds with them even when traveling.
You can eat lotus seeds like popcorn or roast fresh lotus seeds until golden brown. Lotus seeds not only provide a rich source of energy but are also delicious and beneficial for health. Lotus seeds are easy to digest, so they are suitable for all ages, including the elderly and children.
- Lotus seeds help bring a healthy pregnancy
Lotus seeds provide a lot of good protein to help enhance the development of the nervous system and brain of the fetus, which is why pregnant women should eat lotus seeds. Doctors advise pregnant women to eat lotus seeds for a healthy pregnancy.
- Lotus seeds help improve taste
Lotus seeds are one of the useful foods that help sick people regain their appetite, effective in improving taste. In addition, lotus seeds also help maintain healthy kidney development, prevent urinary tract infections due to pathological problems or prostatitis.
- Lotus seeds help reduce blood fat
Fat often accumulates in many parts of our body when we do not exercise regularly, especially the liver, due to stress and anxiety. This amount of fat accumulated in the body is called visceral fat and can be the cause of many health problems. Eating lotus seeds has been proven to treat fatty liver disease and reduce blood fat.
- Lotus seeds help prevent bleeding
Lotus seeds contain substances in the form of flavonoids such as quercetin, which has the function of preventing bleeding by improving the strength of capillary walls, thus preventing massive bleeding. When roasting lotus seeds with charcoal can help increase the effect of preventing bleeding of lotus seeds.
Eating lotus seeds has been proven to be effective in treating fatty liver disease and reducing blood fat.
3. Some dishes made from lotus seeds
3.1 Dishes from lotus seeds to cure insomnia
To cure insomnia, you can prepare some dishes according to 2 recipes:
- Lotus and coconut water is cooked from 100gr of lotus seeds, 100gr of grated coconut, 400gr of sugar. Cook until the lotus seeds are soft, mix with grated coconut and sugar water to use.
- Lotus seed and longan tea is prepared by cooking 100gr of fresh lotus seeds with 300gr of longan (peeled to get the pulp), 400gr of sugar.
3.2 Dishes from lotus seeds to cure nervous breakdown
To cure nervous breakdown, you can cook 16g of lotus seeds, 12g of ginseng, 12g of Chinese yam, grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills, drink 20-30g per day.
In case of senility, the elderly can cook lotus seed porridge according to the formula 20g lotus seeds, 100g good quality rice and eat 3 meals/day. When eating, you can add sugar to eat together.
3.3 Dishes from lotus seeds to cure headaches
To cure headaches, you can use 20g lotus seeds, 40g roasted black beans, 20g young mulberry leaves, 12g núc nác shells, 40g young vông leaves, 40g rehmannia glutinosa. Roast the ingredients until cooked, steam and pound them, add a little sugar, make into balls the size of corn kernels, dry them and put them in a jar for later use. Eat 2 times a day, 20g each time.
3.4 Dishes from lotus seeds to cure diarrhea with lotus seeds
To cure diarrhea with diarrhea with the following ingredients: 100g lotus seeds, 50g yam, 15g young sapodilla, 20g rock sugar. Crush young sapodilla and put it in a pot, then add 250ml of water, boil thoroughly, then strain the water and discard the residue. Dry the lotus seeds and yams and grind them into powder, then add them to the strained sapodilla water and stir well, simmer until porridge is formed. When the porridge is cooked, add rock sugar, divide into 3 meals to eat when hungry for 3 consecutive days.
3.5 Dishes from lotus seeds to treat anemia
To treat anemia with the formula 50g lotus seeds, 300g snakehead fish, 50g glutinous rice, 100g rice, and enough spices. Steam the snakehead fish until cooked and remove the meat and marinate with spices. Grind the lotus seeds, glutinous rice and rice. Crush the fish bones to filter the sweet water, then add 300ml of water and cook with rice flour, simmer, stir well. When the porridge is cooked, add the fish meat, stir well, add spices and scoop out to eat; eat once a day when hungry for 10 days.
