Are you thinking of adding lotus to your diet? However, are you not sure of the possible health benefits of lotus? Are you also not sure whether different parts of the lotus such as root, seeds, flowers, leaves, and so on are edible or not?
Can you eat lotus?
You can eat lotuses and different parts of the lotus like roots, stems, seeds, leaves, and flowers are highly edible and they tend to have a unique and earthy taste. Moreover, lotus is not only considered a delicacy in some cultures but it is also filled with different health and medical benefits.
Lotus is actually considered a delicacy and a divine thing in many cultures and almost all the parts of the lotus can be eaten and are used to make so many dishes.
Flowers:
Lotus flowers do not only have their divine attributes attached to them but these lotus flowers are also edible. Moreover, these lotus flowers can be used as wrappers to wrap rice or can be used to make tea as well.
Root:
Nothing can beat the unique flavor of lotus roots and these lotus roots can be eaten raw or you can steam them, boil them, or you can simply make lotus root curry and soup.
In addition, these lotus roots are also great for medical use and they tend to reduce health problems like blood pressure, cancer, and cholesterol.
Seeds:
Another efficient way of eating lotus is to eat lotus seeds. These lotus seeds are jam-packed with nutrients, fiber, and calcium.
In addition, these lotus seeds can be eaten as snacks. They are not only eaten as snacks rather they are also boiled or steamed for similar purposes.
Sometimes, flour can be made out of these lotus seeds which then can be used in so many diverse dishes. Furthermore, lotus seeds are also made into a paste for further inclusion in other dishes.
Leaf:
You can also eat lotus by incorporating the lotus leaves in your food diet. Lotus leaves are very much edible and have a very unique, earthy, and bitter taste to them.
In addition, you can also eat the lotus leaves as it as meaning you can eat them raw or you can boil or steam them. Moreover, it can also be used as a wrapper to hold rice.
Fruit:
Lotus fruits can be eaten and even they are actually considered as vegetables. Additionally, these lotus fruits are very much a delicacy when they are cooked in curry or steamed.
Seed pods:
You can definitely eat lotus seed pods and these can be eaten raw and the taste of the lotus seed pods will vary a lot. Accordingly, when the seed pods are green, it is filled with so many nutrition.
Conversely, when these lotus seed pods turn brown, they will give a nut-like taste. Moreover, they also seem to have a very sweet smell.
Are lotus poisonous to humans?
Lotuses are not typically poisonous to humans rather different parts of lotus are used in myriads of different food dishes.
Although you can sometimes eat several parts of the lotus raw, it still can sometimes cause different health problems or negative reactions. You can also have some allergic reactions due to the consumption of lotus.
Except for these minor negative consequences, lotus is edible and can be incorporated into so many unique dishes and will help you in providing minerals, vitamins, protein, and fiber.
What will happen if we eat lotus?
Lotus itself contains a lot of useful vitamins and nutrients in it and can offer you a healthy lifestyle upon the consumption of them. However, being knowledgeable about the different consequences of eating lotus can help you to remove further confusion.
Antibacterial Elements:
When you will eat different parts of the lotus, there is a high chance to be highly benefited from these in terms of its antibacterial elements.
In addition, these antibacterial elements really help in your dental care and help to strengthen your gum. Lotus with its antimicrobial effects helps to combat the harmful bacteria of the mouth.
Blood Sugar Level:
Lotus flowers, roots, stems, seeds are really helpful when it comes to reducing high sugar levels. In addition, the lotus itself does not have a lot of cholesterol and as a result, it will help to reduce cholesterol levels.
In addition, the dietary fibers and potassium in the lotus also have the potentiality to eradicate cholesterol from the blood.
Immunity System:
Lotus is also filled with dietary fiber which really helps a lot with problems like constipation. Lotus also helps in relieving stress and it also assists in protecting you from different diseases like cancer and heart diseases.
In addition, lotus is also filled with vitamin C which helps a lot in strengthening our immune system and this vitamin C works as an antioxidant.
Moreover, lotus roots, stems, leaves, and so on also assist in reducing the chances of different respiratory diseases.
Reduces Stress:
Another beneficial thing that will result from eating lotuses is that it will cure and reduce your stress and it also has the potential to reduce severe headaches.
Moreover, the consumption of lotus also aids in managing your mental health to some extent due to the pyridoxine element of the lotus.
What does lotus taste like?
One of the most unique things about lotus is that the taste of the lotus seems to vary a lot according to the different parts of it.
In addition, the general taste can be categorized as mild, sweet, and earthy, however, the taste and texture also seem to vary a lot depending on how the lotus is cooked or eaten.
When you eat the lotus roots and stems raw, you will get a celery-like flavor and when it comes to boiling these roots and stems or including them in stews, the taste and texture becomes a lot like potatoes.
In addition, due to the sweet flavor of lotus, it is sometimes altered into a paste and made into so many delicious desserts.
How do you eat lotus?
Lotus is full of nutrition and health benefits and there are several different ways of eating lotus and being knowledgeable about the different ways can help you to adopt the appropriate ways.
Boiled:
One of the ways of eating lotus is that you can simply boil it and eat it. Although you may think the vitamins and minerals are getting reduced when lotus is boiled but it is not the case.
In addition, when the lotus roots, stems, and seeds are boiled into a soup, it actually confines all the beneficial nutrients inside of the soup.
Paste:
Another very innovative way of eating lotus is that it can be made into a paste which can then be used in many traditional desserts.
Usually, the lotus seeds are made into a paste when they are dried and they also seem to have an earthy and sweet taste to them.
Curry:
One of the most common ways of eating lotus is in curry form. You can either make delicious vegetable curry out of lotus or you can couple lotus roots, stems, seeds with prawn or chicken to bring variations into the curries. In addition, you can also stir-fry or saute lotus roots and stems.
Raw:
You can also eat lotus raw and by doing this, all the nutrients and vitamins are not being wasted. Accordingly, the lotus seeds also can be eaten raw and seem to have a nuttier taste to them.
In addition, when it comes to lotus roots, they can be eaten as it is and these can provide you with the necessary copper, potassium, iron, vitamin C, protein, and fiber.
Is it OK to eat raw lotus root?
Several parts of the lotus are edible and therefore, you can definitely eat lotus root raw. However, it is always better to eat the young raw lotus roots.
In addition, when it comes to mature lotus roots, they can taste a bit bitter and can sometimes have harmful bacteria in them but this is not that common to find.
Moreover, lotus roots are considered as edible vegetables that grow in the water and have a tremendous amount of health benefits and nutrition.
In addition, raw or cooked lotus roots have the potentiality to nurture your immune system, reduce risks of blood pressure, and also reduce cholesterol levels.
Moreover, the possibility of using raw lotus roots in several dishes further accentuates the benefits of lotus roots and therefore, raw lotus roots can be used in salads or it can be eaten as it is with some condiments to further highlight the flavor.
Final Thoughts
Nothing can beat the very subtle and unique flavor of lotuses. Not only several parts of the lotus are edible, but different parts of the lotus are also filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. Moreover, lotuses are also known for different arrays of health benefits.