Can Lotus Seeds and Coix Seeds Be Prepared Together in Cooking?
Cooking and Health Benefits of Lotus Seeds, Red Beans, and Coix Seed
Lotus seeds can be harmoniously cooked alongside coix seed. Their nature is neutral, with a sweet and slightly astringent flavor, offering numerous health benefits including nourishing the kidneys, strengthening the essence, fortifying the spleen, alleviating diarrhea, nurturing the heart, and calming the nerves. Red beans, also neutral in nature, possess a sweet and sour taste, promoting urination, reducing swelling, detoxifying, and draining pus. Coix seed, on the other hand, is cool in nature, sweet and light, effective in promoting urination, permeating dampness, strengthening the spleen, and alleviating pain.
There exists no conflict between lotus seeds, red beans, and coix seed, and they do not exhibit any significant toxic or adverse effects when consumed together. Combining these ingredients enhances their medicinal properties, making it beneficial to cook them together. The porridge made from lotus seeds, red beans, and coix seed effectively dispels dampness.
Coix seed, entering the meridians of the spleen, lung, and kidney, promotes urination and strengthens the spleen, suitable for conditions like rheumatic body pain, damp-heat beriberi, dampness arthralgia, and edema. Red beans excel in promoting urination, reducing swelling, and treating diseases such as beriberi, diarrhea, and abscesses. Lotus seeds strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea. When combined, they synergistically reinforce spleen function, remove dampness, promote urination, reduce swelling, nourish the kidneys, and strengthen the essence.
Lotus seeds contain saponins and alkaloids, among other active ingredients. The alkaloids in lotus seed hearts have a cardiotonic effect and may aid in lowering blood pressure. The porridge made from lotus seeds, red beans, and coix seed nourishes the heart and calms the nerves, beneficial for those with palpitations and insomnia. Regular consumption can improve sleep quality, alleviating symptoms of insomnia and vivid dreams.
This porridge is rich in vitamins and amino acids, supplementing the body with essential nutrients and promoting overall wellness. Its saponins and alkaloids promote metabolism, accelerate blood circulation, and contribute to beauty and skin care. It alleviates skin pigmentation and dullness, with regular consumption leaving skin glossy and elastic.
Both coix seed and red beans promote urination, strengthen the spleen, and remove dampness. Individuals with heavy dampness may experience loose stools, yellow and greasy tongue coatings, and fatigue in the limbs. The porridge of lotus seeds, red beans, and coix seed effectively strengthens the spleen and removes dampness, allowing those with heavy dampness to consume it moderately to alleviate symptoms.
Consuming lotus seeds with red beans and coix seed not only nourishes the heart and calms the nerves but also strengthens the spleen, removes dampness, promotes urination, and reduces swelling. Those who frequently experience edema can also benefit from moderate consumption of this porridge.