The saying goes, “eating three dates a day keeps you looking young for a lifetime.” Red dates are well-known health supplements, not only can they replenish blood and nourish qi, enhance beauty, they are also rich in vitamins, and consuming them regularly is greatly beneficial to health. In daily life, whether you eat dried red dates or soak them in water, the effects are different. Listen to what the experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner has to say, have you been consuming them correctly?
I. The functions of red dates:
1. Nourishing qi and blood
Nourishing qi and blood can be considered as the most prominent effect of red dates. Furthermore, pharmacological studies have found that red dates can invigorate blood circulation, increase the oxygen content in the blood, not only can they nourish the blood and calm the mind, enhance beauty, but they can also alleviate symptoms of anemia.
2. Nourishing blood and calming the mind
For women with irritability, crying, restlessness, etc., using red dates with licorice and wheat in a decoction called Ganmai Dazao Tang can effectively nourish the blood and calm the mind, soothe the liver, and relieve depression.
3. Strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach
For those with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, fatigue, consuming seven red dates daily alone, or together with Codonopsis and Atractylodes can tonify the middle jiao, reinforce qi, strengthen the spleen and stomach, thereby increasing appetite and stopping diarrhea; using red dates with ginger and Pinellia in a formula can treat symptoms of gastritis caused by improper diet such as bloating, vomiting, and other conditions.
II. What’s the difference between eating dried red dates and soaking them in water?
1. Soaking red dates in water:
After slicing dry red dates, immerse them directly in hot water for a week, the serum protein in the body increases, which has a liver-protecting and detoxifying effect. It’s also important to note that fresh red dates are not suitable for steeping or boiling. This is because they have a very high vitamin C content, which will be severely damaged by hot water steeping or boiling.
2. Eating dried red dates:
Eating dried red dates is the simplest and most direct method as it enables complete intake of the nutritional content of the dates. It is worth noting that although red dates are beneficial for health, more is not always better. For medium-sized red dates, it’s best not to consume more than 15 at a time, excessive consumption can impair digestion function, leading to excessive gastric acid and bloating. While eating them dried, it’s easy to consume too many, so it’s important to control the intake.
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