Potential Hazards of Lotus Leaf Tea: Impurities, Pesticides, and Fertilizer Residues

Recently, lotus leaf tea has become popular on WeChat Moments. If consumed in a reasonable and moderate amount, it can have a weight loss effect with minimal side effects. However, the main potential side effects of lotus leaf tea lie in the possible hazards of its source materials.

【Potential Side Effects of Lotus Leaf Tea】

1. Lotus leaf tea may contain impurities. Some unscrupulous manufacturers use mechanical harvesters to pick lotus leaves on a large scale, resulting in extremely dirty lotus leaves. Lotus leaf tea made from these leaves contains many impurities, which can be detrimental to human health when consumed in large quantities over a long period of time.

2. Lotus leaf tea may contain pesticides. The high-yield areas for lotus leaf cultivation often have large areas of land, and tea farmers usually spray pesticides to prevent pests. Therefore, certain lotus leaf teas may contain pesticide residues that can be harmful to human health when consumed excessively.

3. Lotus leaf tea may contain fertilizer residues. In order to increase the yield of lotus leaf tea, many tea farmers use fertilizers. Lotus leaf teas that contain fertilizer residues can have certain side effects on the human body when consumed excessively.

【How to Choose High-Quality Lotus Leaf Tea】

1. Choose lotus leaves from the appropriate months. The best raw materials for lotus leaf tea are preferably harvested from July to September. During these months, lotus leaves grow most vigorously and receive the most sunlight, resulting in the strongest flavor. To identify lotus leaves from these months, you can either purchase them during this period or observe the color and thickness of the leaves.

2. Select large sliced lotus leaves. When buying lotus leaves from a pharmacy, they are usually available in three sizes: thin strips, wide strips, and large slices. It is recommended to choose the large sliced ones, as they are usually made from well-grown lotus leaves.

3. Choose lotus leaves from wild white lotus flowers. There are many varieties of lotus flowers, but it is best to choose white lotus flowers. They have a refreshing taste without bitterness. The lotus leaves from white lotus flowers are generally thinner. It is recommended to choose wild ones because they are not treated with artificial hormones.

【Who Should Not Drink Lotus Leaf Tea】

1. Pregnant women. Lotus leaf tea has a cooling nature, and it is not suitable for pregnant women to consume too much cold food as it can be detrimental to the growth and development of the baby.

2. Nursing mothers. After giving birth, it is important for mothers to focus on nourishment. Lotus leaf tea is known for its weight loss and dampness-reducing properties. Drinking lotus leaf tea during the breastfeeding period may not be beneficial, so it is better to wait until after the breastfeeding period to consider drinking it.

3. Children under six years old. Children under the age of six are in a crucial stage of development and need sufficient nutrition. Lotus leaf tea can accelerate gastrointestinal peristalsis and the excretion of waste from the body, which is not conducive to the growth of children or the absorption of nutrients.

4. People with cold hands and feet. If some people experience cold hands and feet in winter, can they still drink lotus leaf tea? Short-term consumption is not a problem, but long-term consumption is unnecessary. It is better for these individuals to focus on nourishing and warming foods, especially if they are not overweight, in which case drinking lotus leaf tea is not recommended.

5. People with weak constitutions. For those with weak constitutions, such as those who are physically weak or elderly, it is better to avoid drinking lotus leaf tea. If the body is already weak, drinking lotus leaf tea can further weaken the body, which is not conducive to overall health.

【Benefits and Effects of Lotus Leaf Tea】

1. Cooling and dampness-reducing. Lotus leaf tea contains lotus leaf alkaloids, which have the effects of clearing heart heat, calming liver qi, purging spleen heat, reducing lung heat, and clearing heat to calm the mind.

2. Diuretic and laxative. Regular consumption of lotus leaf tea can help moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements, which is beneficial for detoxification.

3. Antibacterial and antispasmodic. Lotus leaf tea contains lotus leaf alkaloids, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, and other components. Research has found that lotus leaf tea has antipyretic, antibacterial, and antispasmodic effects.

4. Hemostatic. Lotus leaf tea has a bitter and astringent taste and a cooling nature, which can treat symptoms such as dizziness, edema, bloody stools, and postpartum dizziness.

5. Cholesterol-lowering. Lotus leaf tea contains various effective lipolytic alkaloids, which can form a layer of fat isolation membrane on the intestinal wall, effectively decomposing body fat and preventing fat absorption and accumulation.

6. Lowering "three highs". The alkaloid components in lotus leaf tea have significant therapeutic effects on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and high cholesterol.

【How to Make Homemade Lotus Leaf Weight Loss Tea】

Step 1: Select fresh lotus leaves, remove any yellow or damaged ones, and wash them thoroughly. Then, dry them in the sun.

Step 2: Wash the dried lotus leaves and tear them into small pieces, either square or small strips, but not too large.

Step 3: Take a suitable amount of dried lotus leaves and put them in a tea cup. It is recommended to use a tea cup with a built-in tea strainer.

Step 4: Add boiling water to the cup, let it steep for about 5 seconds, then pour out the water. This process is called "water pass."

Step 5: Pour boiling water into the cup again, let it steep for about 8 minutes, and then the tea is ready to drink.