Betel palm is one of the four southern herbs in our country.Hainan province is the main production area of betel palm in our country, and the harvest season for betel palm is in winter.Betel palm stalls selling betel palm are set up on the streets of counties and cities such as Wanning, Lingshui and Dingan, which are major production areas.Tourists visiting Hainan not only enjoy the natural scenery of the island, but also have many fascinating customs and traditions. "Greeting guests with betel palm" is one of them.The following article introduces betel palm.

What is betel palm?

Betel palm has many names, such as "betel palm," " " (Binmen), "olive," "green palm," and "national horse."Betel palm is the seed of the palm family plant, betel palm.

Betel palm is generally planted in sunny and shaded groves, and in our country, betel palm is abundant in Hainan and Guangxi, and there are also many betel palm trees in Yunnan, Fujian and Taiwan.

Every spring to autumn, which is the harvest season for mature betel palm fruit.The harvested betel palm must be boiled in water, then scooped out and placed in a dry place to remove the skin and extract the seeds.

Betel palm has a slight smell when smelled, but it tastes bitter when eaten.There are many chemical components in betel palm, including betel palm alkaloids, betel palm secondary alkaloids, de-methyl betel palm alkaloids, de-methyl betel palm secondary alkaloids, and isomers. It also contains tannins and fats.

How to eat betel palm?

How to eat betel palm?The following summarizes the eating methods:

1. Sun-dry the mature fruit for 1-2 days, then roast it slowly with dry firewood inside, taking about 7-10 days to cool, and then smash the fruit to extract the betel palm.About 100 kilograms of fresh fruit can be processed into 17-19 kilograms of betel palm.

2. Pick the green fruit from the branches, then place the fruit in a pot and boil for about 30 minutes, then cool and dry, and then place the fruit in a roasting pit and roast with wet firewood.Roast for about 2-3 days, turning it once.About 8-10 days, use a wooden stick to insert from the bottom, if it is inserted, it means the bottom is dry, at this time, take it out, and it is betel palm.About 100 kilograms of fresh fruit can be roasted to 20-25 kilograms.

3. Large palm-like fruit, vertically cut in half, remove the skin, dry, and then dry to make.

4. Betel palm flower, dry the unopened male flowers.The best quality is yellow or light green.

What are the benefits of betel palm?

Betel palm was an important medicinal plant, and in some minority groups in the south, the fruit was also a chewing habit.

Now let's see what are the benefits of betel palm!

1. Anti-parasitic effect: Betel palm juice has anti-parasitic effects, against tapeworms, roundworms, threadworms,andbloodandnematodes,After boiling and eating, it can kill roundworms. Its anti-parasitic effect has also been clinically proven.Especially against tapeworms, it has a strong anti-parasitic effect, and this effect may be similar to nicotine, which can paralyze the nervous system of the worm.Generally, betel palm is most effective againstporktapeworms, and also effective against short tapeworms, broad-head tapeworms and threadworms.It also has a paralyzing effect on earthworms in vitro.

2. Simulated vagal nerve effect: Betel palm alkaloids are similar to mug fruit glycosides, tobaccoalkaloids, and mushroom alkaloids, but they have stable effects and long-lasting effects.They have the most significant effect on smooth muscle, and at an appropriate dose, they can increase the tension and peristalsis of the intestine, which has a laxative effect, and can also relieve stomach discomfort.They can also stimulate sweat glands and saliva glands, increasing sweat and saliva secretion.When a solution of hydrochloric acid betel palm alkaloid is dripped into the eyes, the pupil will shrink, so it can be used to treat glaucoma. In addition, it can contract the bronchi, slow down the heart rate, and also cause blood vessel dilation and blood pressure reduction. Rabbits can also cause contraction of the coronary artery.3. Anti-viral effect: Betel palm inhibits the growth of influenza virus.4. Anti-fungal effect: A 1:3 betel palm extract has different inhibitory effects on some skin fungi.

What are the harms of betel palm?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies betel palm chewing tobacco and non-tobacco chewing tobacco as Group 1 carcinogens.

The harms of betel palm not only include carcinogens, but also have more harms if you eat betel palm regularly. The main harms of betel palm are:

1. Due to the accumulation of calcium and betel palm juice in the mouth, it forms dental calculus, and due to long-term chewing, it damages the tooth structure, and even cracks or breaks the teeth.2. The impact on the temporomandibular joint: Due to the damage of tooth structure and the abrasion of the temporomandibular joint, it causes changes in the bite and pain and disease of the temporomandibular joint, which causes the jaw to make sounds and pain, which is not only uncomfortable but also difficult to treat.

3. The impact on periodontal tissues: Due to the hard and rough fibers of betel palm, it can scratch and block the gums or block the spaces between the teeth, causing the pressure on the gum pads, and due to long-term chewing, it can damage the periodontal membrane, causing inflammation, swelling, pain and exposure of the teeth.

4. The impact on the oral mucosa: Due to chewing betel palm, it causes fibrosis and white spots under the oral mucosa, which is the initial stage of oral cancer. The clinical symptoms are difficulty opening the mouth, pain, numbness, white and ulcerated oral mucosa.

5. The impact on the digestive system: Betel palm juice contaminates the black lip margin and cheeks, affecting the sense of taste and saliva secretion, hindering digestive function, and betel palm residue irritates the stomach, causing gastric inflammation or perforation, affecting nutrient absorption, and causing malnutrition.Eating betel palm will cause erectile dysfunction?

Although chewing betel palm has the effects of promoting digestion, curing diseases, and beautifying, it will also have some side effects.

Will long-term eating of betel palm cause erectile dysfunction?

Since the main population who chew betel palm is male, many men are worried that long-term chewing betel palm will cause erectile dysfunction. Experts point out that there is no reliable evidence to prove that this is true.

However, it can be said that long-term eating of betel palm is not good for health.

However, if you are afraid of erectile dysfunction, you should quit smoking and drinking, and at the same time eat more

healthy foods that are beneficial for male health, such as loach, oysters, donkey meat, and seafood.

However, it is certain that long-term betel nut consumption is detrimental to health.However, if men are afraid of erectile dysfunction, they should quit smoking and drinking, and also eat more.EelOysters,Porkand other seafood, which are healthy foods that benefit men's health, because there is currently no effective evidence to prove that betel nut can cause male erectile dysfunction, so everyone needs to be cautious and avoid excessive consumption.Dietary therapy is an important way to maintain health. I suggest that men choose healthy diets, with fruits and nuts as the first choice.