Once autumn arrives, persimmons become active in various markets. Known as a "natural hangover cure," what other benefits does persimmon have besides its hangover relief effect?
Benefits of Eating Persimmons in Autumn
1. Stops Bleeding and Cools Blood
Fresh persimmons have a cooling and blood-stopping effect. Persimmon frost moistens the lungs and can be used for dry throat, mouth ulcers, etc. Persimmon calyx has a descending and antiemetic effect. Persimmon cake stops gastric bleeding. Persimmon leaves have a hemostatic effect and can be used to treat coughing up blood, bloody stools, bleeding, vomiting blood, etc. Recent studies have found that persimmons and persimmon leaves also have effects in lowering blood pressure, diuresis, anti-inflammation, and stopping bleeding.
2. Moistens Lungs, Resolves Phlegm, Generates Fluids, and Quenches Thirst
Persimmons have the functions of clearing heat, resolving phlegm, softening hardness, quenching thirst, invigorating the spleen, treating diarrhea, stopping bleeding, etc. They can relieve symptoms such as constipation, painful or bleeding hemorrhoids, dry cough, sore throat, and hypertension.
3. Promotes Blood Circulation and Lowers Blood Pressure
Persimmons help lower blood pressure, soften blood vessels, increase coronary artery flow, and also promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve cardiovascular function.
4. Hangover Relief
Persimmons can promote the oxidation of ethanol in the blood, help the body excrete alcohol, and reduce the harm of alcohol to the body.
Nutritional Value of Persimmons
1. Nutritional Value of Fresh Persimmons
Sweet and astringent in taste, cool in nature, with the effects of clearing heat and moistening the lungs, generating fluids and quenching thirst, invigorating the spleen, and benefiting the stomach. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Persimmons are fruits that benefit the spleen, lungs, and blood. The taste is sweet and qi is moderate, the nature is astringent and it has the ability to gather, hence it has the functions of invigorating the spleen, astringing the intestines, treating coughs, and stopping bleeding."
Eating fresh persimmons can treat lung heat and dry cough, hemoptysis, bleeding hemorrhoids; smashing fresh persimmons and extracting the juice, mixing with warm water and drinking can treat thyroid swelling; cutting 250 grams of unripe fresh persimmons into pieces, mashing and extracting the juice, mixing with hot water and drinking can treat thirst caused by stomach heat and yin deficiency.
2. Nutritional Value of Persimmon Cake
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, with the effects of moistening the lungs, astringing the intestines, and stopping bleeding. Persimmon cake can be burned and made into pills with honey, then taken with hot water. It can treat cough with excessive phlegm and excessive postpartum bleeding. Taking 60 grams of persimmon cake, digging it open and stuffing with 9 grams of Fritillaria cirrhosa, steaming and taking it can treat dry cough. Taking 50 grams of persimmon cake and brown sugar, 6 grams of black fungus, decocting with water and taking it can treat bleeding hemorrhoids. Taking two persimmon cakes, two pieces of tangerine peel, 60 grams of glutinous rice, boiling them into porridge and taking it can treat chronic enteritis.
3. Nutritional Value of Persimmon Frost
Persimmon frost refers to the white frost formed on persimmon cakes. It tastes sweet, cool in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat, generating fluids, moistening the lungs, and stopping cough. "Recorded Medical Cases from the West" states: "Persimmon frost is white and belongs to the lung meridian. Its smoothness can benefit the lungs and resolve phlegm, and its moistness can nourish the dryness of the lungs."
Taking persimmon frost with warm water can treat chronic bronchitis, dry cough, and pharyngitis. Mixing 10 grams of persimmon frost, 0.5 grams of borneol, and 5 grams of mint into a fine powder, then applying it to the affected area can treat mouth ulcers and angular cheilitis.
4. Nutritional Value of Persimmon Leaves
Infusing tender persimmon leaves in boiling water and drinking it as tea can soften blood vessels, lower blood pressure, prevent arteriosclerosis, and also have the effects of clearing heat, invigorating the stomach, and aiding digestion.
Precautions for Eating Persimmons
Do Not Eat Persimmons on an Empty Stomach
Persimmons contain a relatively large amount of tannic acid and pectin. Under the action of gastric acid on an empty stomach, they can form hard masses of varying sizes. If these hard masses cannot pass through the pylorus to the small intestine, they will stay in the stomach and form gastric persimmon stones. Small gastric persimmon stones initially resemble apricot kernels but can accumulate and become larger over time.
If gastric persimmon stones cannot be naturally expelled, it can cause gastrointestinal obstruction, leading to severe upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and even hematemesis. Fist-sized gastric persimmon stones have been found during surgery. If the stomach has a "bottom," it can avoid the formation of gastric persimmon stones.
Do Not Eat Persimmon Peel
Some people find that chewing persimmon peel while eating persimmons adds more flavor than eating persimmons alone, but this eating method is not scientifically sound.
Because the majority of tannic acid in persimmons is concentrated in the peel, it is impossible to remove all of the tannic acid during the process of removing astringency from persimmons. If the peel is eaten along with the flesh, it is easier to form gastric persimmon stones, especially when the deastringency process is not perfect, the peel contains even more tannic acid.
Do Not Eat Persimmons with Crabs, Fish, Shrimp, etc.
In traditional Chinese medicine, both crabs and persimmons are considered cold foods and should not be eaten together. From the perspective of modern medicine, high-protein foods such as crabs, fish, and shrimp can easily coagulate into lumps under the action of tannic acid, namely gastric persimmon stones.
Not Suitable for Diabetics
Persimmons contain 10.8% of carbohydrates, most of which are simple disaccharides and monosaccharides (such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose). After eating, they are easily absorbed and cause an increase in blood sugar. For diabetics, especially those with poor blood sugar control, it is harmful.
Rinse Mouth After Eating
Persimmons are high in sugar and contain pectin. After eating persimmons, a portion will always remain in the mouth, especially in the gaps between teeth. Combined with the weakly acidic tannic acid, it can easily erode the teeth and cause tooth decay.
Therefore, it is advisable to drink a few sips of water or rinse the mouth after eating persimmons.
