Mung beans can clear body heat, toxins and help acne

 

In China, mung beans are very popular to eat especially in the hot summer months.  Most families in China eat mung beans and use them widely in different recipes, such as mung bean noodles, mung bean cake, mung bean rice, mung bean soup, mung bean desserts and even mung bean wine. They are also commonly sprouted to make bean sprouts.  Mung bean soup is an extremely popular family dish in China during summer.

1. Health Benefits of Mung Beans

A very famous Chinese herbal pharmacist, Li Shi Zhen, stated in his book, Ben Cao Gang Mu, that “mung beans are highly recommended not only as a rich source of nutrients but also as medication” and described that mung beans can help to clear heat and toxins from the body, balance the organs and skin, and tonify Qi.  Mung beans also improve circulation in the twelve meridian channels throughout the body.

 

i) Clear Heat & Prevent Heat-stroke

 

Chinese Medicine believes that the external environment has a strong influence on the body.  For example, in a hot summer the body will absorb more heat from its external environment.  If the body cannot release this heat, physical changes may occur, including: body will feel hot, red face, very thirsty, dry skin, constipation, lack of energy, headache, dizziness.

 

For the hot seasons, Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends foods that are cooling in nature, can balance the body’s Yin & Yang and can release the heat.  These types of foods should be a part of the daily diet during the summer.

 

Drinking mung bean soup more than once a day is extremely beneficial in reducing the above symptoms.  Upon cooking the mung bean soup it is best kept refrigerated which preserves the dish and also helps to increase its effects.  Drinking two or three cups a day of this soup will help to release the  summer heat as well as preventing the symptoms above.

 

ii) Clear Skin & Help Acne

 

Mung beans are sweet in taste and cooling in nature.  One of the very old traditional Chinese books, Kai Bao Ben Cao, mentions that mung beans act more on the Heart channel and clear heat and toxins from the skin, and cool heat in the blood.  Therefore, mung beans can help acne and other skin symptoms, such as the common skin rash, cold sores, mouth ulcers, pimples and boils.  To help these conditions, mung bean soup should be thick in consistency and at room temperature – see the recipe below.

 

iii) Clear Toxins from the Blood & Body

 

Modern science now also considers that mung beans can help clear toxins from the body, including environmental toxins and chemicals.

2. Recipes

i) Mung Bean Soup – for skin conditions

 

2 handfuls of mung beans
4 cups of water

Boil for 3 minutes, remove from heat & cover saucepan with lid.  Allow to soak in boiled water for 30 minutes then strain.

Drink the thick liquid soup.

This process can be repeated once again using the same batch of mung beans.

Effects of this dish: Clear skin heat; reduce acne & other skin complaints as mentioned above.

Drink one cup of this soup twice a day in conjunction with regular treatment.  Have 2 days break from the soup every 5 days.

 

ii) Mung Bean Soup – for summer (hot weather conditions)

 

Boil 2 handfuls of mung beans
7 cups of water

Boil for 15 minutes on low heat.  Set the soup aside to cool (it can even be refrigerated).  Drink this thin soup as required.  The beans can also be eaten if soft enough.

Effects of this dish: Clear body heat, prevent heat attack from the hot season.

3. Precautions

i) Avoid eating mung beans if you have diarrhoea or cold hands and feet.

ii) If you are unsure whether or not mung beans are suitable for you, consult your experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.

 

Source: http://www.pingminghealth.com/article/281/mung-beans-can-clear-body-heat-toxins-and-help-acne/

7 Superfoods for Quick Detoxification

 

We all know how important it is to do regular cleaning of the organism. Our body is burdened by digesting heavy and unhealthy food, and in addition, a bunch of toxins everyday enters our body through water, food, cleaning products, cosmetics.

If we add the stress and fast pace of life, for sure all this will strain and weaken our body and eventually lead to disease.

Therefore, it’s very healthy habit every year to make detoxification of our body.

There are several methods of cleaning the body. Almost every wellness center can offer detoxification treatment, but do not rush: Nature offers us a simple and free solution.

For example here are seven superfoods, which will cleanse our bodies and take care of our health!

1. Aloe Vera
  Aloe Vera is a plant that strongly cleanses the body of toxins, and also establishes the proper functioning of the stomach and intestines.

It is recommended to drink a cup natural unsweetened juice of aloe vera daily. This juice contains polysaccharides which strengthen the immune system and stimulate the production of white blood cells for successful fight against toxic substances.

In addition to aloe vera, we should drink plenty of water and juices. Fresh juices will give us the most nutrients and enzymes with the least burdening of digestion.

2. Dandelion

Dandelion is used for centuries to clean and strengthen the liver. With observations and experiences of herbalist, and modern research has confirmed the efficacy of dandelion.

Today its extracts are being used in food supplements intended to liver health.

Fresh dandelion leaves can be added to a salad or green pulpy juice. It can be found in the meadows, gardens, forest trails, and in health food stores.

3. Kale

Kale is emphasized alkaline green vegetable. Some consider it too bitter to be eaten as a salad; however Ayurveda medicine advocates adding bitter ingredients food, because bitter foods have expressed medicinal properties.

If we want to dilute the bitter taste, we should mix kale with other vegetables and eat it like a salad; also kale can be added in the green pulpy juice.

Note: make sure that the kale is organic or locally produced without agricultural chemicals.

4. Artichoke
  Artichoke is unavoidable on the list of ingredients for detoxification because contains cynarin, which helps in the natural process of eliminating toxins.

Artichoke protects and cleans our liver, and digestive system. This vegetable also helps decomposition of fat and stimulates the production of bile.

Artichoke cannot be eaten raw, but cooked artichokes can be a part of any salad that emerges!

From artichoke leaves are made tinctures and teas for many health problems.

5. Coriander
  Coriander is one of the best natural plants for cleaning the body from toxins and heavy metals. This plant is a powerful natural chelate – binds atoms toxins and heavy metals and expels them from the body.

Thanks to special essential oils in its composition, coriander helps the secretion of enzymes and stimulates digestion. Some elements of the essential oil of coriander facilitate the proper functioning of the liver and intestines.

6. Ginger
  Ginger contains gingerol ingredient, which stimulates the removal of toxic substances and waste, and speeds up metabolism.

We can add 30 grams of chopped ginger to our meals or drink a cup of ginger tea daily.

7. Broccoli

It is recommended to eat one serving of broccoli daily, because these vegetables contain sulforaphane, which helps the body to produce phase II enzymes that clean the body from cancer-causing toxins.

Green vegetables are generally very good for detoxification. In the spring, eat as much lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and others. All this can be used in a variety of salads according to your taste; also we shouldn’t forget to drink as much purified water, because it helps expel toxins from the body.

Source: Rise Earth