During the cold winter months, many middle-aged and elderly people begin to suffer from digestive system and blood lipid problems. Whether it is high blood lipids or restricted digestion, it can be a great problem for daily life. In this case, what you need is probably the sweet, sour, common but overlooked hawthorn.
Benefits of eating more hawthorn
1. Hawthorn is one of the Chinese medicinal materials with the same origin as medicine and food, and its significant function is recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica", that is, the elimination of food and accumulation, especially in the elimination of meat accumulation. Nowadays, with the deepening of scientific research, other important effects of hawthorn have gradually been discovered and widely recognized.
One of the most important is that hawthorn contains digestive enzymes, which can promote fat digestion and increase the secretion of gastric digestive enzymes, which has a certain effect on regulating gastrointestinal function. Therefore, for indigestion problems caused by excessive meat consumption, hawthorn consumption is the most suitable.
2. The benefits of hawthorn on blood lipid management In recent years, studies have found that hawthorn also has a significant effect on blood lipid management, especially in reducing cholesterol. In fact, the triterpenoids and flavonoids in hawthorn have the effect of lowering serum cholesterol.
In addition, it can also reduce the deposition of cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in the arterial wall, alleviate atherosclerotic lesions, and reduce the area of atherosclerotic plaques.
3. The benefits of hawthorn to women's health For female friends, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that hawthorn is also a powerful health food, especially for blood stasis type dysmenorrhea, hawthorn can play a role in dissipating qi and stasis. In addition, hawthorn can also promote uterine contractions in women, play a role in inducing childbirth, and can help the uterus recover after childbirth.
4. For the cardiovascular system, hawthorn also has many benefits. Effects such as cardiotonic, anti-arrhythmic, increased coronary flow, anti-myocardial ischemia, vasodilation, and lowering blood pressure are all derived from the efficacy of its active ingredients. For example, studies have confirmed that long-term internal use of hawthorn decoction has certain curative effects on coronary heart disease, coronary artery insufficiency and other diseases.
How to eat hawthorn together
Hawthorn is known as a "small medicine storehouse" because it is rich in a variety of fitness ingredients, such as vitamin C, citric acid and flavonoids.
When paired properly, hawthorn can also treat some of the minor problems that are common in winter. The following are common health combinations of several types of hawthorn.
1. Hawthorn + cinnamon – relieves the cold
The effect of this formula is that hawthorn can be combined with cinnamon to promote the circulation of qi and blood in the body, and can dilate blood vessels, allowing blood circulation to run more vigorously. Only in this way can it effectively drive away the cold and warm the stomach, for friends who often feel cold hands and feet, spleen and stomach deficiency and other symptoms, it is recommended to try this combination.
2. Hawthorn + buckwheat – Improves digestion
Hawthorn, which is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, is eaten with buckwheat to remove lipids and soften blood vessels. This not only improves the efficiency of the digestive system, but also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, etc.
3. Hawthorn + Astragalus – Activates the blood
Hawthorn and Astragalus are a perfect pair, and their common effect can replenish qi and qi while smoothing out the body's qi and blood. This combination has a good effect on alleviating symptoms such as malaise and inability to speak caused by spleen and stomach deficiency.
Although the benefits of hawthorn are numerous, not everyone is suitable for eating large quantities, especially on an empty stomach.
Because hawthorn contains tannic acid, after taking a large amount, it is easy to form insoluble tannic acid protein after contact with gastric acid, which may cause gastrointestinal obstruction in severe cases. In addition, for people with weak spleen and stomach, because hawthorn has no qi tonifying effect, it may make the spleen and stomach function more impaired. Diabetic patients should also pay attention to the fact that excessive intake of hawthorn should not be used to avoid difficulty in blood sugar control.
In addition, hawthorn's selection tips and ways to eat it are also what everyone who wants to fully utilize its nutrients needs to know. Choose from the shape, point, origin, color and texture of the flesh to ensure that the hawthorn you consume has the best taste and nutritional value as much as possible. In terms of eating methods, you can make tea, cook porridge, and add dishes, and choose according to your taste.
Overall, hawthorn is a miracle food of the same origin as medicine and food, which has a significant contribution to both physical health and psychological pleasure. However, while enjoying the benefits, we also need to pay attention to the appropriate amount and method of consumption to avoid unnecessary burden on the body. So, let's use hawthorn to add fire to health this winter, and at the same time don't forget its contraindications and suitable people, so that it can truly become a good partner for our healthy life.