Longan: a good product for nourishing and maintaining health
Longan, known as the "astragalus of fruits", is a fruit full of enticing sweetness.
Not only is it delicious, but it is also rich in nutritional value and multiple benefits. In the traditional cognition of traditional Chinese medicine, longan is sweet, warm, and has a tonic effect, and is often used to improve immunity, nourish the heart and calm the nerves, nourish the spleen and stomach, improve memory, resist aging and other aspects. In this article, we'll delve into the nutritional value of longan, its historical uses, its different forms, ways to eat it, and recipes, as well as the best season to consume it, while also providing some contraindications and precautions.
The nutritional value and efficacy of longan
Longan is highly prized because it is rich in a variety of beneficial nutrients and has multiple benefits. Longan is often referred to as the "astragalus in the fruit", which means that its position in traditional Chinese medicine health preservation should not be underestimated. Here are the main nutritional values and benefits of longan:
Enhance physical fitness and improve immunity
: Longan is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which help to improve immunity, strengthen the body's resistance, and prevent colds and other diseases.
Tonic
: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that longan is warm and sweet, has a tonic effect, and is especially suitable for people with weak constitution and need recuperation. It helps to replenish energy in the body and increase physical strength.
Nourish your mind and calm your mind
: Longan is also used to calm the nervous system, helping to relieve anxiety and improve sleep quality. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as Yangxin Tranquility Pills.
Strengthens the spleen and stomach
: Longan helps to promote the health of the gastrointestinal tract, promote appetite, relieve symptoms of indigestion and spleen deficiency.
Improves memory
: Some studies have shown that the ingredients in longan are beneficial for brain function and help improve memory and concentration.
Fight aging
: Antioxidants in longan help slow down the aging process of cells and keep skin youthful.
These multiple benefits make longan an extremely valuable fruit with a positive impact on health.
Uses and history of longan
Longan has been recorded in literature as early as ancient times and has been used as a gift to dignitaries and to show respect.
It is not only loved in terms of consumption, but it is also widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Longan has been endowed with the reputation of "ginseng in the north, longan in the south", which means that it is on a par with ginseng in traditional Chinese medicine and has extremely high medicinal value.
In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, longan is regarded as a nourishing medicine and food homology, which is used to replenish qi and blood and enhance physical fitness. It is especially suitable for people with a weak constitution, such as maternity and frail patients. Longan is also often used to improve complexion, increase blood circulation in the face, and give the complexion a rosy and youthful complexion.
Ancient literati also loved longan as a precious gift for VIPs. In ancient literature, longan was often used to express friendship, emotion, and yearning for a better life. As a result, longan has a profound influence in cultural traditions.
Different forms of longan
Longan can be eaten in a variety of forms, including fresh longan and dried longan. The two forms share similarities in nutritional value and efficacy, but also have their own characteristics.
Fresh longan
: The biggest feature of fresh longan is that the flesh is juicy, the sweetness is extremely high, and the taste is excellent. Fresh longan can not only be eaten directly, but can also be made into various delicious foods such as longan glutinous rice, longan red dates and lotus seed soup. Fresh longan is usually eaten during the longan season, and autumn and winter are the best times to pick longan.
Dried longan
: Dried longan is made by removing the core of fresh longan and drying it in the sun. It is comparatively less sweet, but it is more shelf-stable and can be eaten throughout the year. Dried longan is often used to make Chinese herbs such as ginseng paste, and can also be used in cooking and pastry making.
In addition, the shell and nucleus of longan also have medical value and can be used to treat skin diseases and bleeding from trauma. These fractions are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine preparations.
How to eat longan and recipes
Longan has a rich use and can be eaten as is, as well as used in various cooking and tea making. Here are some common longan recipes so you can better enjoy the multiple benefits of this delicious fruit:
Longan red date lotus seed soup
: This is a common longan soup that is usually used to nourish the body.
Longan, red dates and lotus seeds are boiled together into a soup, which has the effect of nourishing blood and qi, nourishing yin and nourishing beauty.
Ginseng ointment
: Ginseng paste is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation that includes longan, ginseng and other herbs. It helps to improve immunity, relieve fatigue, and tone the body.
Sweet custard with round meat
: Longan meat mixed with eggs to make egg custard, which has a sweet taste and is rich in protein and vitamins.
Longan wolfberry chicken soup
: This is a nourishing soup made by boiling longan, wolfberry, and chicken together, which helps to nourish qi and blood and improve immunity.
These recipes enrich the use of longan, allowing you to enjoy the delicious taste of longan on different occasions and in different seasons.
Contraindications and precautions for longan
While longan has multiple benefits, there are also some contraindications and precautions to be aware of. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Longan is mild in nature but greasy
: Because of its mild and greasy nature, it is not suitable for people with hot constitution, indigestion or weak spleen and stomach. Excessive consumption of longan may cause diarrhea or discomfort.
Diabetics
: Due to the relatively high sweetness of longan, diabetic patients should be cautious when eating it, and it is best to control the amount of food reasonably under the advice of a doctor.
Smoked longan
: Longan produced in some regions will be smoked, and this kind of longan should not be eaten too much. It is recommended to choose fresh or sun-dried dried longan to reduce additives in food.
The best season to eat
The best season to eat longan is usually in autumn and winter. At this time, longan is ripe and harvested, and eating it is especially beneficial to improve physical condition. In addition, longan is also believed to help improve symptoms such as cold limbs, making it ideal for autumn and winter.
All in all, longan, as a delicious and nutritious fruit, not only satisfies the taste buds, but also has multiple benefits. Whether it is fresh longan or dried longan, it can be enjoyed according to individual tastes and needs. When consuming longan, be mindful of the appropriate season, follow taboos and precautions to ensure that you fully enjoy this nourishing treasure of nature.