About Lotus Root
The Lotus Root, which is gotten from the Lotus plant, has been a part of several years of history of numerous Asian countries. In China, for instance, it represents purity, innocence, and beauty. The plant from which is such an amazing plant that scientists were able to bring back to life a seed that was at least 1300 years old.
The Lotus Root has been utilized as a traditional medicine for a lot of diseases. These diseases include obesity, low blood pressure, digestive diseases, depression, and even cancer.
Lotus root is high in nutrients and has a lot of advantageous effects. The health benefits of consuming lotus root include lowering cholesterol, helps to lower blood pressure, improves digestion, and also aids to boost the immunity system. Lotus root also aids to prevent some types of cancer, helps to relieve depression, balances your mood, increases blood pressure, and also aids in maintaining the normal enzymatic activity of your body.
You can now eat lotus root available in different forms such as lotus root chips, tea, soup, and powder which does not only soothe your tongue but also offer health advantages which we shall discuss in section in a detailed way.
What is Lotus Root?
It is an underwater root vegetable having a shape resembling a long squash. It stretches up to a length of about 4 feet. The lotus flower has been exploited for many years in several Asian countries and represents sexual innocence, purity, and divine beauty. Lotus root can either be eaten raw, steamed, stir-fried, braised, and sautéed, and it is always available throughout the year.
Lotus Root Nutrition Facts
Before we go into the health benefits of the amazing lotus roots, let us explore the nutritional makeup of such a healthy delicacy.
The benefit of lotus root can be attributed to its unique mix of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients, including potassium, copper, iron, and manganese, as well as thiamin, zinc, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, and vitamin C. It is also a very great source of dietary fiber and a pure source of protein.
Culinary Uses of Lotus Roots
In Asian supermarkets across the United States, one can find fresh lotus root all through most of the year, and it is also sold sometimes frozen and sliced. The fresh lotus root emerges simply as an unremarkable object, which is long and with a woody texture. It can rise up to about four feet in length, but if one were to see it sliced and peeled, it would look like a common potato. However, the flavor is basically more akin to coconut.
Lotus root can be prepared easily by slicing it into pieces of the desired size and shape. Japanese folks often prefer to present it as thin slices. The distinct shape of the lotus root has several holes in the middle, making it look rather ornamental and adding great beauty and appeal to one’s dish.
After slicing, one can add it to stir-fries, soups, or many more dishes. It can be braised, deep-fried, pickled, or used as a flavoring and garnish for snacks, salads, and rice. Powdered lotus root is also sold in market places as herbal medicine.
Health Benefits of Lotus Roots
1) Lotus Roots Are Extremely Rich In Vitamin C
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is very vital for our body’s immune system and other functions of the body. It can be gotten in a lot of food, mostly in vegetables and fruits. Vitamin C can also be consumed in dietary supplement forms.
We humans, distinct from animals, are unable to synthesize it on our own. We need to consume it in the form of cuisine or other means orally. That is the reason why it is necessary for us to add it to our diets that are great sources of ascorbic acid, such as pineapples, oranges, guava, broccoli, and much many more.
Lotus roots are high in vitamin C due to their natural composition and environment. Lotus Roots can be a good source of ascorbic acid if prepared properly and consumed. A 100 grams of this magnificent food can give our body 73% percent of the daily required amount of the Vitamin C needed by our bodies. The Vitamin C that can be gotten from the Lotus Root can help one’s body boost its immunity against various pathogenic/deadly diseases. Vitamin C can also protect you from virtually everything, spanning from the common cold to even cancer.
2) Lotus Root Increases Blood Circulation
Consumption of lotus root provides you an energy boost as it helps regulate blood circulation. Proper circulation means that all organs of the body are well oxygenated. Lotus root is high in copper and iron and stimulates the production of red blood cells.
3) Stress Reduction
One of the key elements of the vitamin B complex is vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which is directly known to directly interact with the neural receptors of the brain, which influence mental states and mood. In human medicine, it is well known to control headaches, irritability, and stress levels. Lotus flowers are often linked with tranquility and peace, but it is actually the lotus root, which delivers the peace that people seek.
4) Improves Immune System Health
Since vitamin C is the most prominent element of nutrition in the root of the lotus plant, it goes a very long way towards boosting and strengthening the immune system. It also neutralizes free radicals, thus resulting in healthier skin, organs, and blood vessels.
5) Improves Digestion
A huge amount of dietary fiber helps to enhance the digestive process and lowers constipation. It is also low in calories and thus helps you to maintain/lose weight while still taking a huge amount of protein and nutrients in your dish.
6) Will Help Your Improve Digestion
The Lotus Root from the Lotus plant has a fleshy and woody texture. The lotus root is packed with dietary fiber that can aid the body increase its digestive abilities by stimulating the intestinal muscle and stomach’s contractions, thus enhancing regular and easy bowel motility. Eating lotus every day can provide us with up to13 percent of the dietary fiber that we need. Our boosted digestive system due to the lotus root can shield us against the feeling bloated in the stomach, constipation, and more.
The lotus root can also help folks add bulk and thicken their stool. The dietary fiber in lotus root also helps our excretions have a definite shape, thus preventing irregular bowel movement or diarrhea. Improved digestion will provide you with a lot of comfort from stomach upset, pain, and diseases.
7) Helps to Regulate Blood Pressure
Lotus root is high in potassium which is a vasodilator (increasing lowering the pressure in the blood vessels. Potassium helps to maintain fluids balance in our body and even counteracts the harsh effects of sodium. Potassium also aids in keeping the blood vessels calm and increases blood flow by lowering the contraction and rigidity of blood vessels. This lowers the pressure on the entire cardiovascular system.
8) Manages Weight
Lotus roots are a great option for folks trying to manage their body weight. By adding low-calorie foods that are high in fiber and nutrients, you are able to obtain all the nutrients you require and still feel satiated, so you lower the chances of overeating and, in turn, manage obesity.
9) Lotus Roots Helps Against Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis occurs when the bone density drops considerably below that of normal. This results in the lowering in the strength and micro-fractures within the skeletal structure. It occurs majorly in aging folks due to their body’s lowered ability to utilize calcium.
Copper has been proved by various research studies to help in preventing the occurrence of osteoporosis across all ages. The root of this lotus plant is well known to contain a very rich amount of copper. 100 grams of it when consumed can give you 30% of what you need every day or a healthy 0.275 mg of copper.
Copper is known to aid the bones to maintain their strength and density in various ways. The first of which is that the bones rely majorly on connective tissues. Research has proved that copper is a critical constituent in the linkage of elastin and collagens in the bones.
10) Rich in Vitamin A
This is yet another essential vitamin embedded in lotus roots, which has been confirmed to improve skin, hair, and eye health. Vitamin A has antioxidant abilities and can protect from macular degeneration and other eye defects. It also helps to hasting wound healing and treats skin problems and inflammation.
