It's unbelievable that the lotus root has so many health benefits!
The lotus flower is held in high esteem among us Indians for its beauty and more importantly, its purity. "Purity because it grows in the dirt yet is unblemished by all the muck around it," explained my grandmother once as she was preparing a delicious curry out of its root. And I must say, that when it comes to virtues, the root is almost as good as its flower! In Indian and many other South Asian countries, people relish the lotus root, which is eaten either fried, braised or steamed. The weird appearance of the root can put off a lot of people who think they are eating something out of a sci-fi movie. That's because when you cut it open, you can see holes in its white flesh, giving you a severe episode of trypophobia (fear of clusters of small holes or bumps).
Weird appearance aside, the lotus root is a treasure trove of nutrients and is teeming with health benefits. Here are some of the excellent reasons why you should munch on the crunchy, sweet-tasting lotus root!
Lotus root is good for the liver
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Lotus root contains tannin, an astringent substance that has a lot of liver-protecting qualities. A study [1] conducted by Tsuruta et all in 2011 revealed that the condensed tannin present in the roots improved liver conditions such as hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Lotus root is full of antioxidants
To ward off deadly diseases like cancer, we need to have good amounts of antioxidants in our diet to counter the damage done by free radicals. Studies support that eating lotus roots could help replenish the antioxidant reserves in the body. [2] [3]
Lotus root can treat fever
Forget paracetamol! Studies [4] have shown that lotus roots have fever-reducing qualities that are as good as your go-to fever medicine. The Chinese prize the lotus root since they know that it cools the body down. You can serve a simple soup made from the root to the person to bring them relief from the fever.
Lotus root can reduce inflammation
Inflammation in the body manifests in different forms such as muscle aches, joint pains or rashes. To get to the root (pun intended) of all problems, include the lotus root in your diet. Studies have proven that the rhizome is teeming with anti-inflammatory qualities. [5]
Lotus root can reduce blood sugar
In case you are wondering whether the lotus root is diabetic-friendly, here's your answer. Clinical tests have proven that the ethanol extracts in the rhizome can reduce blood sugar levels and improve glucose tolerance. [6]
Lotus root can cure diarrhoea
If you have had a bad bout of diarrhoea, it's time to chew on some steamed lotus roots. A 1995 study has validated the antidiarrhoeal properties of the lotus root. [7]
Lotus root is antimicrobial
Bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and E Coli, and fungi like candida albicaus and Aspergillus niger can cause a host of health problems in the body. Fight them with a diet of steamed or broiled lotus root and keep them at bay! [8]
References:
1. Tsuruta, Y., Nagao, K., Kai, S., Tsuge, K., Yoshimura, T., Koganemaru, K., & Yanagita, T. (2011). Polyphenolic extract of lotus root (edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera) alleviates hepatic steatosis in obese diabetic db/db mice. Lipids in health and disease, 10(1), 202.
2. Yang, D. M., Wang, Q. S., Ke, L. Q., Jiang, J. M., & Ying, T. J. (2007). Antioxidant activities of various extracts of lotus (Nelumbo nuficera Gaertn) rhizome. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 16(S1), 158-163.
3. Du, H., Zhao, X., You, J. S., Park, J. Y., Kim, S. H., & Chang, K. J. (2010). Antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet. Journal of biomedical science, 17(1), S39.
4. Mukherjee PK, Das J, Saha K, Giri SN, Pal M, Saha BP. Antipyretic activity of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extract. Indian J Exp Biol. 1996 Mar;34(3):275-6. PubMed PMID: 8781041.
5. Mukherjee, P. K., Saha, K., Das, J., Pal, M., & Saha, B. P. (1997). Studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera. Planta medica, 63(04), 367-369.
6. Mukherjee, P. K., Pal, S. K., Saha, K., & Saha, B. P. (1995). Hypoglycaemic activity of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.(Fam. Nymphaeaceae) rhizome (methanolic extract) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Phytotherapy Research, 9(7), 522-524.
7. Mukherjee, K., Das, J. B. R. S., Balasubramanian, R., Kakali, S., Pal, M., & Saha, B. P. (1995). Antidiarrhoeal evaluation of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extract. Indian Journal of pharmacology, 27(4), 262.
8. Mukherjee, P. K., Balasubramanian, R., Saha, K., Saha, B. P., & Pal, M. (1995). Antibacterial efficiency of Nelumbo nucifera (Nymphaeaceae) rhizomes extract. Indian drugs, 32(6), 274-276.
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