Lotus Seeds Dried / Lian Zi (16oz)

特級 去芯 白蓮子/莲子（16oz/包）

蓮子被譽為「脾之果」，可益腎、健脾、安神；性平，味甘、澀，入脾、腎、心經。蓮子不寒涼不溫燥，且功效較全面，蓮子也是三焦並補的中藥材，上焦可養心安神，中焦可健脾益胃，下焦可補腎固精，較適合用於久病體虛及虛不受補者。臨床上多用於治療脾虛久瀉，食欲不振等症。此外，蓮子還可以強心、降壓、鎮靜、抗衰老等功效。

《本草綱目》提到：「蓮子，交心腎，厚腸胃，固精氣，強筋骨，補虛損，利耳目，除寒濕。」

現代醫學顯示，蓮子含高碳水化合物、蛋白質及脂肪、鈣、磷、鐵、維生素B、胡蘿蔔素等人體所需營養成分，是男女老少皆宜的補品。

食用方法：

先用水清洗一下，除去表面灰塵，建議煮前可先浸泡1小時，明火煲2小時左右，壓力煲45-60分鐘即可。

**蓮子適合煲湯、煲粥或煲糖水 **

食療推介：

牛蒡芡實蓮子百合蘿蔔湯

材料：牛蒡1支、白蘿蔔1個、蓮子30克、芡實30克、百合30克，瘦肉或排骨半斤、清水1500cc、酒適量、鹽1茶匙（此爲6人份食用，人多少可依比例加減）
做法：
1.牛蒡以刀背或刷子輕刷去外皮，清洗後切段泡入冷水中10分鐘去澀和防氧化變色；白蘿蔔切滾刀塊；蓮子、芡實、百合浸泡10分鐘瀝乾；瘦肉或排骨洗净後，入滾水中川燙去血水和雜質。
2. 將所有材料放入鍋中，用大火煲滾後，轉小火續煲5-2小時左右，最後加鹽調味即成。

牛蒡其獨特的味道，並搭配蓮子、芡實、百合，用來煲湯令湯品更鮮甜清香，除了有降血壓、血脂、血糖，還能降低體内膽固醇，調理脾胃等功效。此湯適宜新陳代謝差、失眠、火氣大及消化不良的人士飲用。

銀耳蓮子羹

材料;蓮子50克，銀耳30克，冰糖100克。
做法：将將蓮子、銀耳分别用清水泡發，撈起。把蓮子、銀耳、冰糖放入燉盅中，加清水適量，入蒸籠隔水用武火蒸1小時即可。

蓮子花膠烏雞湯

材料：蓮子30克、淮山20克、黑豆20克、花膠90克、烏雞一隻、陳皮一角、生薑3片、紅棗（去核）3粒、紹酒及鹽適量
製法：烏雞洗淨去頭尾，斬件汆水；其他材料洗淨，與烏雞加水12碗入煲，以大火煲滾後轉文火煲2.5小時，加鹽調味即可
功效：健脾補腎，補血安神，滋補養顏，潤澤肌膚，消除黑眼圈；外感未清者不宜。
先用水清洗一下，除去表面灰塵，建議煮前可先浸泡1小時，明火煲2小時左右，壓力煲45-60分鐘即可。
 

Lotus Seeds Dried/Lian Zi (16oz/bag)

Dried lotus seed, the mature seed of the water lily, tastes sweet and is astringent in quality which means it may be used to dry edema or tone under-functioning organs. Indications include chronic spleen deficiency, chronic diarrhea, kidney deficiency with nocturnal emission, urinary incontinence, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, restlessness, panic, and chronic insomnia. It nourishes and calms the mind. Lotus seed enters the acupuncture meridians of the Heart, Spleen, Kidney, Stomach, Liver and Bladder Channels.

Traditional uses: 

① "The Book of Classics": Master Buzhong, Yangshen, Yiqi strength. (enhances longevity and intelligence.)    

② Xu Xuan: Insufficiency of the main five internal organs, increases wound healing, benefits blood circulation of the twelve meridians.     

③ "Compendium of Materia Medica": dry mouth, dark urine, and wet dreams

④ "Food Doctor Heart Mirror": quenches thirst and removes heat.     

⑤ "Rihuazi Materia Medica": Yi Qi (mental clarity), quenches thirst, helps heart, stops dysentery. Cures low back pain, spermatorrhea     

⑥"Daily Materia Medica": stops polydipsia, cures diarrhea, stops turbid urine.    

 ⑦ "Southern Yunnan Materia Medica": Qingxinjiepyi. (reduces thick yellow leucorrhea)    

⑧ "Outline": Stomach and kidneys tonic, stomach muscle tone, strong muscles and bones, tonic for deficiency, improves hearing, reduces internal cold and dampness, stops chronic diarrhea, vaginal discharge, and collapse.     

⑨ "Compendium of Materia Medica": clearing the heart and reducing irritability, increases appetite, reduces diarrhea and cloudy urine.     

⑩ "Dietary Chart of Suiyiju": Relieves nausea and stops vomiting.

Dosage  Oral: Jiantang, 6~15g; or pill and powder. 

Contra-indications:

Persons with chronic digestive bloating and dry stools (constipation) should not use lotus seed. 

Lotus Seed Recipes: 

Tremella Lotus Seed Soup 

Tremella, aka White Fungus, is cooling, moistening and nourishing. Lotus seed is astringent and improves many aspects of energy and health. 

Ingredients: 

Lotus seeds 50 grams, white fungus 30 grams, rock sugar 100 grams. 

Soak the lotus seeds and white fungus in water and rinse. Place the lotus seeds, white fungus and rock sugar into a bowl, add the appropriate amount of water, steam it in a steamer for 1 hour. 

Lotus Seed Pork Belly 

Used for spleen and stomach deficiency and weak qi. It is suitable for diseases such as lack of appetite, weight loss, chronic diarrhea and edema.

Ingredients: 

1 pork belly, 40 lotus seeds, sesame oil, salt, green onion(scallion), fresh ginger, and raw garlic. 

Wash the pork belly with water. To stuff it with lotus seed: Add lotus seeds on top and fasten the meat around the seeds with thread. Put this into a pot, add water, and stew it thoroughly. When done, remove and let it cool. Cut the pork belly into slices and put them in a dish together with lotus seeds. 

The sauce: Mix sesame oil, salt, sliced green onion, fresh ginger, garlic and other seasonings with pork belly shreds and lotus seeds. It can be served alone or as a side dish with meals.