Longan

Longan is commonly known as "longan". Longan, banana, pineapple and longan are known as the "four major fruits of the south". Longan is rich in nutrients and is a precious nourishing enhancer.

Nutritional value of longan

Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty once commented that "Longan is the best for health benefits". According to analysis, the fruit pulp contains 12.38-22.55% total sugar, 3.85-10.16% reducing sugar, 0.096-0.109% total acid, 43.12-163.7 mg/100 g of fruit pulp, and 196.5 mg/100 g of vitamin C. In addition to being eaten fresh, longan can also be processed into dried fruits, cans, and decoctions. Longan has many functions such as strengthening yang and invigorating qi, nourishing the heart and spleen, nourishing blood and calming the mind, moisturizing and beautifying the skin, etc. It can treat anemia, palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness, neurasthenia, and physical weakness after illness and childbirth.

The origin of the name of Longan

Longan is also known as Guiyuan, Yizhi, Lizhu, etc. It is named because its seeds are round and black, and the navel is white, which looks like the eyes of the legendary "dragon". Fresh longan is very tender, juicy and sweet, delicious, and is unmatched by other fruits. Fresh longan is dried into dried fruit and becomes longan in traditional Chinese medicine.

The benefits of eating longan

Longan contains a variety of nutrients, which can nourish blood and calm nerves, strengthen brain and improve intelligence, and nourish the heart and spleen. It is a traditional food for strengthening spleen and improving intelligence, and is beneficial for insomnia, palpitations, neurasthenia, memory loss, and anemia. Some domestic scholars have published papers on the anti-aging of longan, proposing that longan will become a rare anti-aging food. After many countries conducted anti-cancer research on hundreds of natural foods and drugs, it was found that the inhibition rate of longan on uterine cancer cells exceeded 90%, which attracted the attention of medical scientists. Women's menopause is a stage where gynecological tumors are prone to occur. Eating some longan appropriately is good for health. Longan has a tonic effect and has an auxiliary effect on people who need to recuperate after illness and those with weak constitutions.

The efficacy and function of longan

Longan meat is sweet and warm in nature. It enters the heart and spleen meridians and is suitable for patients with deficiency of both heart and spleen and deficiency of both qi and blood. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the heart governs blood vessels and consciousness, and is related to mental and conscious thinking activities. The spleen is the source of acquired qi and blood biochemistry and provides nutrition for the whole body. If people think too much and overwork the heart and spleen, it can lead to symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness, fatigue and weakness. Longan meat is sweet, warm and nourishing. It enters the heart and spleen meridians, and is good at nourishing the heart and spleen. It is sweet and delicious, not greasy, and does not block qi. It is indeed a good product for nourishing the heart and spleen. People with long-term illness or old age often have symptoms of insufficient qi and blood, which are manifested as pale or sallow complexion, fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath. Longan meat can nourish the heart and spleen, and benefit qi and blood. It is sweet and peaceful, and has a good therapeutic effect.

How to cook longan?

1. Longan is rich in nutrients and is a precious nourishing enhancer.

2. In addition to being eaten fresh, the fruit can also be made into canned food, wine, paste, sauce, etc. It can also be processed into Guiyuan dried meat, etc.

3. The leaves, flowers, roots and cores of longan can all be used as medicine.

4. The wood of longan tree is hard, with fine and beautiful texture. It is the raw material for making high-end furniture, and can also be carved into various exquisite handicrafts.

5. Longan flower is an important nectar plant, and longan honey is the best honey.

The difference between longan and longan

Longan is also called longan. Many friends have asked me the difference between longan and longan. In fact, they are the same thing. Why is it called longan? In the feudal era, longan was taboo, so it was called longan to avoid taboo. It should be because the longan produced in Guangxi is very round, so it is called longan. Gui is another name for Guangxi.

There is no real difference, it is actually the same fruit.

Longan: Longan is usually dried and used for food or medicine;

Longan: Fresh fruit, peeled and eaten. Longan with shell and core is called dried longan.

If the shell and core are removed, leaving only the flesh, and then dried, it is called longan. Longan contains nutrients such as sugar, protein and various vitamins, especially high sugar content, and glucose that can be directly absorbed by the human body. For the weak and anemic, the elderly and the weak and weak due to long-term illness, eating longan regularly is very beneficial; longan is also an important tonic food for women after childbirth. It can be boiled in water or made into a fruit soup, or boiled into a paste with white sand sugar. Folks use 9 grams of longan meat and 15 grams of peanuts to make soup; or use 6 grams of longan, 15 grams of lotus seeds, and 30 grams of glutinous rice to make porridge, which can be eaten once in the morning and evening, and has a tonic effect.

Can pregnant women eat longan?

It is best not to eat longan during pregnancy. Longan contains glucose, vitamins, sucrose and other substances, which are rich in nutrients and have the effects of nourishing the heart and calming the mind, nourishing blood and benefiting the spleen. However, for pregnant women, especially those in early pregnancy, it is a forbidden fruit.

Although longan can nourish qi and blood and benefit the heart and spleen, it is warm in nature and sweet in taste, and can help fire to eliminate dryness. It is not suitable for people with yin deficiency, internal heat, dampness blocking the middle, and phlegm and fire constitution.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the main physiological changes of pregnant women are "Yang is often in excess, Yin is often insufficient". After conception, Yin blood gathers to nourish the fetus, which often leads to Yin blood deficiency. Yin deficiency often breeds internal heat, which often leads to symptoms such as dry stool, palpitations and heat, red tongue and liver fire.

Therefore, medical experts usually advocate "keeping cool before pregnancy" and often use some cooling and nourishing medicines. Longan is warm in nature and sweet in taste, which can easily cause internal heat. Eating it will not only increase fetal heat, but also easily lead to qi disorders, causing stomach qi reflux and vomiting. Over time, it will damage the yin and cause heat symptoms, abdominal pain, spotting and other symptoms of threatened abortion, and even cause miscarriage or premature birth. Therefore, pregnant women should not eat longan.