Lotus seed originated in India, and considered as vegetable in some cultures. In China and Japan they sell the leaves, seeds, roots, and stems as traditional ingredients dishes.
Lotus seeds also known as convenient snack that contains protein with calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron and potassium. The antioxidants are useful to slow the aging process and help to fight inflammation. Chinese medicine use benefit of lotus seeds to treat heart problem and kidneys. These medicine also has ability to calm, address insomnia and diarrhea. In one ounce of raw lotus seeds contain a low-fat and non-cholesterol snack. They offer on healthy by its sugar-free, and improve sluggish appetites as well.
What is lotus seed?
Lotus seeds formed from the flowers of the Lotus plants. These seeds known as Lotus Nuts. The lotus flower creates edible seeds, which can be eat in raw or cooked. This plant grows the seeds in August or September. Lotus seed is valuable for nutrition and healing material in Chinese, and used as herbal formulas in most recipes. Lotus seed is popular from their nutrition and benefits as healing property.
Lotus seed mostly referred as lotus nuts and has a slightly piquant taste. Lotus seed usually uses in a dry form. Such as lotus petals, lotus seeds also help lung health function, kidney and digestion. They re-boot and soothe the nervous system and treat insomnia.
Lotus seed compound
Lotus seed is great source of protein, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. They are also used in traditional cooking mostly in soups. In an ounce of lotus seeds contain 94 of calories. Lotus seed contains low-fat and non-cholesterol snack. Lotus seeds provide no sugar, contain carbohydrate 18.3 grams, protein 4.4 grams, calcium 4.6% and iron 5.6%. The seeds also a great source of potassium, manganese, thiamine and phosphorus.
Lotus seed is rich of calcium, potassium and phosphorus. This property useful as the main components to stimulate teeth and bones to formed. Besides that, lotus seed stimulate blood clotting and activate some enzymes. The other benefits of this seed also maintain and calm nerve conduction. Lotus seed also useful to maintains the flexibility of muscle and the rhythm of heartbeat. Another component such as phosphorus could help protein circulation. Also, maintain carbohydrate and the acid balance.
Lotus seed has sedative effect, which can greatly help for related elderly. Related to the mental, lotus seed is useful to improve brain function and memory, also prevent the senile dementia happen. Lotus tastes is bitter but has effect on cardiac, which can broaden peripheral vessel and lower blood problem.
Lotus seed benefits for body health is already proven around the world. Lotus seed become popular healthy food and has highly beneficial for health. You may use this properties as treatment if you experience with some health problem.
1. Anti-aging property
Lotus seed is contains the enzyme of anti-aging, which is L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase. This enzyme helps to repair crushed proteins. That’s why, many cosmetic products are including the seeds in anti-aging properties. The enzymes are supposed to avoid aging and assist to maintain and repair the damaged proteins.
2. Prevent inflammation
Studies said that lotus seeds containing kaempferol. This natural flavonoid has function to prevent inflammation and help to fix aging tissue.
3. Benefit to kidney
Lotus seed has astringent formula that has benefit to the kidneys, and help to return vital energy. They work to regulate the energy for body.
4. Heal diarrhea
According to Chinese medicine, the sweet taste of lotus seeds benefit to nourish the spleen and diarrhea. Lotus seed been used in Chinese medicine to reduce diarrhea problem. They also used to increase the spleen health. Some study said that lotus seeds help to strengthen the digestive and reduce diarrhea.
5. Treat insomnia
The seeds are claim have calming properties, and are useful to treat restlessness or insomnia. Traditionally, lotus seed was used to cure people with sleeping disorders. This ingredient also known to treats alleviating restlessness. The seed has the calming effects and natural sedative.
6. Reducing blood pressure
The embryo which can found inside of the lotus seed, have benefits to the heart because of its bitter and cooling properties. The bitter component that is isoquinoline alkaloids claimed has calming effects and antispasmodic, which can help dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.
7. Treat urinary problem
Sometime the seed is combined with other ingredient to cure urinary problems like prostatitis and reproductive condition. otherwise, try to find any notice before use this remedies.
8. Heal sexual problem
A researcher revealed that the seed also used to heal sexual problem and role as an important player on the sperm formation.
9. Calming effect
Lotus seeds have antispasmodic and calming effects. It means make relax to your nerves for better sleep. It helps the process of blood vessels dilatation and helps rejuvenated. This is due to presence isoquinoline alkaloids of lotus seeds.
10. Relieve pathogenic heat
Lotus seed has proved through a study which helps in the heart cooling process and relieve the pathogenic heat.
11. Gum tissue
People who suffer with related gum tissue are recommended to take lotus seeds because of the healing properties.
12. Reduce heart diseases
Lotus seed exists abundant magnesium inside it. Magnesium known improve the blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients. Magnesium with low levels can causing your body prone to heart condition. The nutrition like folate and magnesium reduce the risks of coronary heart.
13. Weight loss
Since Lotus seed is known in low of glycemic index, it provide you a feeling with being full and may leads to loosen your weight.
14. Healing skin conditions
The lotus seed property will moisture and hydrates the skin, also help to improve skin elasticity and remove skin complexion. This ingredient also has benefit to erase lines, fading wrinkles and spots.
15. Reduce flaky skin
Most skin care product and treatment is using nelumbo nucifera as their properties. It stimulates instant skin hydration. So, if you experiencing skin flaky and dry, use this ingredient to get an envy skin.
Lotus seed recipe
The lotus seed from the plants are mostly used in numerous recipes in different cuisines. Try to make cream with Lotus seed by boiling it with crushed pineapple than add corn starch. Some food recipes that using this lotus seed include:
- Juice seeds
- Winter Rice Pudding With Dried Fruits
- Pumpkin Soup with Lotus Seeds
- Moon Cake
- Candied Lotus Seeds
- Chinese Sweet Red Bean Soup
- Lotus Seeds Soup
Lotus seed as culinary
Additionally, the leave of the lotus is used to flavor for rice in dim sum. The large seed use for decorations by dried. Lotus stem is used to salad preparation and the dried flower is used to dishes. The fresh flower is benefit to make a decoration. The lotus embryo is primarily used to medicines properties rather than foods. So, lotus plant is useful in every ways. As culinary, the seed is roasted for direct eating. Usually this seed made to produce cake fillings and sauces or cooked inside soups. Otherwise, lotus seed used to make Paste in various pastries and desserts. Lotus seed is cooked with syrup to create crystallized seeds.
Lotus seed dosage
Taking any lotus seeds may vary in dosage and it depends on the health problem, age and other related factors. Even though, the common dosage of lotus seed is approximately 250 mg to 3 grams. You better to consult with your doctor before taking this medicine.
Lotus seed side effect
Lotus seed is great as food and herb also no side effects revealed and suitable for most people. Even though, you are not be able to consume this in the following circumtances:
- People usually with stomach fullness may affect in constipation,
- Patients who are diagnosed with weaken physique and spleen deficiency.
- The lotus seed has anti-diarrheal component, if you experience with constipation or indigestion, you should avoid to use this.
- For mother, you should avoid to consume these seed during pregnancy.
- Patients with undergoing treatment like cholesterol or psychiatric conditions must avoid taking lotus seed.
- Patients with anti-arrhythmic treatment should consume this ingredient. Consult first to the physician before take any lotus seed.
- Diabetic patients have insulin should not take this lotus seed. It relieves the level of blood sugar.