I have a box of kudzu root powder at home, and I find that the brewed kudzu root powder doesn't have much taste. I usually prefer to drink porridge, so I wanted to ask if I can use kudzu root powder to cook porridge?
Can kudzu root powder be used to cook porridge?
Yes, it can.
Kudzu root powder is a starch substance extracted from the water-milled tuberous roots of the kudzu plant. It has a sweet taste and a cool nature, and it has the effects of clearing heat and relieving restlessness, generating fluids, and quenching thirst. Because it is a starch substance, it is easily absorbed by the human gastrointestinal tract when it is fully cooked. Therefore, cooking porridge is a good way to consume it. On one hand, it allows the medicinal ingredients in kudzu root powder to be fully extracted and not wasted. On the other hand, it can also help with satiety and promote healthy spleen and stomach. So, kudzu root powder can be used to cook porridge.
How to cook porridge with kudzu root powder?
Ingredients: 30g kudzu root powder, 50g glutinous rice, some rock sugar or honey.
Instructions:
1. Put the kudzu root powder in a bowl and add some warm water to make a paste.
2. Soak the glutinous rice overnight and put it in a pot with an appropriate amount of water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the rice is soft.
4. Add the prepared kudzu root paste and bring to a boil again.
5. Finally, add rock sugar or honey to taste.
What are the benefits of kudzu root porridge?
Beauty and breast enhancement
Kudzu root powder contains rich phytoestrogens, which can to some extent increase the level of estrogen in women and have a certain breast enhancement effect. It also contains puerarin, which can help regulate female hormones and promote metabolism, improving conditions such as pigmentation and acne.
Moisturizing and thirst-quenching
Kudzu root powder has a sweet taste and a cool nature, and it has the effect of clearing heat and generating fluids. It can help treat symptoms such as irritability and dryness of the mouth and throat. The acetyl extract in kudzu root powder can also restore normal body temperature in fever cases, making it suitable for treating external heat syndrome.
Heart and brain protection
Kudzu root powder porridge has a certain protective effect on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system. It contains flavonoids, which can increase blood flow in the heart and brain, maintain blood circulation, reduce vascular resistance, and help improve myocardial ischemia. It also has auxiliary effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and myocardial infarction.
Enhancing immunity
Kudzu root powder contains sterols and other antibacterial and antiviral compounds, which can enhance the phagocytic ability of macrophages in the human body and strengthen cell immunity, thereby improving the body's defense against diseases.
What should be noted when drinking kudzu root powder porridge?
1. Avoid taking on an empty stomach
When taking kudzu root powder, it is not advisable to take it on an empty stomach. The cool nature of kudzu root powder can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract when taken on an empty stomach, causing discomfort such as bloating, loose stools, and diarrhea.
2. Do not take excessive amounts
When taking kudzu root powder, avoid taking excessive amounts. The cool nature of kudzu root powder can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract when taken in excess, which is not beneficial to overall health.
3. Avoid consuming with spicy foods
When taking kudzu root powder, it is recommended to avoid consuming it with spicy foods such as chili, Sichuan pepper, garlic, and onions. These types of foods can reduce the effectiveness of kudzu root powder and hinder its absorption by the intestines and stomach.
Contraindications for drinking kudzu root powder porridge
1. Qi deficiency and cold in the stomach
Kudzu root powder has a cool nature and may stimulate the gastrointestinal tract of those with qi deficiency and cold in the stomach, causing or exacerbating symptoms such as diarrhea and loose stools.
2. Hypotension and hypoglycemia
Kudzu root powder contains puerarin, which has the effect of lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels. To avoid discomfort caused by decreased blood pressure or blood sugar levels, it is recommended that individuals with hypotension or hypoglycemia consume kudzu root powder in moderation.
3. Pregnant women
Pregnant women should consume kudzu root powder in moderation. The cool nature of kudzu root powder may cause gastrointestinal discomfort when consumed in excessive amounts, which may affect their own health and the growth and development of the fetus.
