What Are the Benefits and Effects of Cowpea Leaves?

Long beans are a familiar vegetable, especially in northern regions, where they are widely consumed. With their delicious taste and high nutritional value, they are deeply loved by people. For those who can grow long beans, not only can they enjoy the beans themselves, but also benefit from the leaves, which have various medicinal properties and can be used to treat certain illnesses. So, what are the benefits and functions of long bean leaves? Let's take a look.

1. The Benefits and Functions of Long Bean Leaves

a. Diuretic Effect: Long bean leaves have a mild taste and can be used to promote urination and relieve urination difficulties. They are beneficial for the bladder and can be used to treat urinary retention, urination difficulties, and edema, as recorded in the "Diannan Herbal Medicine".

b. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Long bean leaves have a sweet and neutral taste, and they can clear heat and detoxify. They can be used to treat snake bites and heatstroke. During hot summers, they can be eaten as a vegetable to cool the body and relieve heatstroke. For snake bites, they can be crushed and applied externally.

c. Laxative Effect: Long bean leaves are rich in dietary fiber, which has strong water-holding capacity and can absorb up to 10 times its weight in water. This helps to increase the volume of intestinal contents, making stool softer and easier to pass through the intestines. Additionally, dietary fiber can stimulate intestinal contractions and peristalsis, promoting faster elimination of stool and relieving constipation.

d. Beauty and Skin Care: Long bean leaves contain abundant vitamin C, which can brighten the complexion and improve skin texture. The chlorophyll present in them can also help to expel toxins from the body, effectively promoting beauty and skin care.

2. The Nutritional Value of Long Beans

Long beans are rich in vitamins B and C, as well as plant proteins. They can help clear the mind, regulate the digestive system, relieve chest congestion, quench thirst, strengthen the spleen, nourish the kidneys, stop diarrhea, and promote the production of saliva and energy. Eating more long beans in summer can effectively cool the body and have a refreshing effect.

The vitamin B in long beans can maintain normal secretory function of digestive glands and gastrointestinal motility, inhibit cholinesterase activity, aid digestion, and enhance appetite. The vitamin C in long beans can promote the synthesis of antibodies in the human body, improve the body's resistance to viruses, and prevent acute gastroenteritis, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Long beans also provide easily digestible and absorbable high-quality proteins, a moderate amount of carbohydrates, various vitamins, and trace elements, which can complement the body's essential nutrients.