Mung beans are very popular in China, especially during the hot summer months. Mung beans are used in various recipes, such as mung bean soup, mung bean noodles, mung bean rice, mung bean cake, mung bean desserts and even mung bean wine. Plus, the mung beans are often germinated to produce bean sprouts.
Health benefits of mung beans
The renowned Chinese physician and herbal scholar, Li Shi Zhen, explains in his medical-pharmaceutical encyclopedia Ben Cao Gang Mu: “Mung beans are highly recommended, not only as a rich source of nutrients, but also as medicine.” He explains that mung beans help extract heat and toxins from the body, balance the organs, and strengthen Qi. Mung beans also improve blood circulation within the twelve meridians that flow throughout the body.
Extract heat & avoid heat stroke
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the external environment has a strong influence on the body. For example, on a hot summer day, the body absorbs more heat from its external environment. When the body cannot dissipate this heat, the following symptoms may occur: hot body, red face, thirst, dry skin, constipation, lack of energy, headache and dizziness.
For this hot season, Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends foods that are cooling in their nature, can balance the body’s Yin and Yang and thus release heat. These foods should be a part of the daily diet throughout summer.
Fittingly, a mung bean drink can help reduce the above symptoms and can be drunk several times a day.
Cleanses the skin & helps with acne
Mung beans are sweet in taste and cool in nature. Even one of the oldest traditional Chinese books mentions that mung beans act strongly on the heart canal, filter out heat and toxins from the skin and cool the heat in our blood. Therefore, mung beans can help with acne and other skin conditions such as rash, cold sores, mouth ulcers, pimples and boils. To intensify this positive effect, mung bean drinks should be drunk at a thick consistency and at room temperature.
Dissolves toxins from the blood & body
Modern science has also indicated that mung beans can help eliminate toxins (such as environmental toxins and chemicals) from the body.
Precautions
If you are experiencing diarrhea or have cold hands and feet you should avoid eating mung beans.
