What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating persimmons?

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In September, the persimmons turn red in color, marking the arrival of autumn. It’s time to harvest these persimmons, which are enjoyed by many people. Here are some useful facts to know: The therapeutic benefits of persimmons: 1. Reducing heat and relieving coughs: The frost that forms on persimmon cakes has the effect of reducing heat and dryness, as well as helping to resolve phlegm and relieve coughs. It is particularly effective in treating symptoms such as coughs caused by lung heat, sore throats, dry mouths, and mouth ulcers； 2. Reducing qi and relieving cough: Persimmon calyxes have a good therapeutic effect on hiccups, nausea, whooping cough, and enuresis ； 3. Lowering blood pressure and stopping bleeding, as well as having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects: Tea made from persimmon leaves, when consumed regularly, can boost the body’s metabolism, promote urination and bowel movements, purify the blood, help revive body tissue cells, and is beneficial for stabilizing and lowering blood pressure, softening blood vessels, preventing arteriosclerosis, and reducing inflammation ； 4. Suitable for people with thyroid problems: Fresh persimmons contain a high amount of iodine, and consuming them can be beneficial for those suffering from goiter ； 5. Preventing and treating constipation, hemorrhoids, etc.: Eating dried persimmons can regulate the gastrointestinal tract, and it offers certain benefits in preventing and treating conditions such as constipation and bleeding from hemorrhoids. Persimmons: The persimmon tree is a specialty of our country, with a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. “The ‘persimmon’ was first mentioned in The Book of Rites • Inner Rules; it is a wild plant with a wide distribution. It was introduced to Europe in the second half of the 19th century. Currently, there are over 200 persimmon varieties in our country, with cultivation having begun since the Han Dynasty. Persimmons are also known as mi guo or hou zao, and belong to the Persicaceae family. There are over 200 varieties. The persimmon trees cultivated in Southeast Asia and European and American countries today are mostly descendants of those in China. Our country has many varieties of persimmons, including the Shaanxi Chicken Heart Yellow Persimmon and Sharp Persimmon, the Beijing Large Millstone Persimmon, the Hebei Lotus Persimmon, the Heze Mirror Surface Persimmon, the Henan Red Persimmon, as well as the Zhejiang Copper Basin Persimmon and Square Persimmon, which are regarded as famous persimmon varieties. In addition, the Sweetheart Persimmon from Yi County in Hebei, the Golden Bottle Persimmon from Qingdao in Shandong, the Large Flower Persimmon from Meitan in Guizhou, and the Bell Lamp Persimmon from Anhui are also all valuable varieties. Persimmons can be divided into sweet persimmons and astringent persimmons. Sweet persimmons can be eaten once they are ripe, while astringent persimmons must undergo processing to remove their astringency before they can be consumed. Persimmons have a sweet taste, plenty of juice, and tender flesh; the ancients praised them, saying: “Their color surpasses that of gold, and their sweetness exceeds that of precious nectar.” ”Persimmons are rich in nutrients, and every part of them is valuable. Persimmons contain a large amount of vitamins, with levels that far exceed those in apples, pears, peaches, apricots, and plums. Fresh persimmons also contain carotenes, inorganic salts, minerals, and flavonoids. Medical scholars throughout our country’s history have written about the benefits of persimmons. The book \"Mingyi Bielu\" written by Tao Hongjing during the Liang dynasty states: \"Persimmons can clear heat, moisten the lungs, and resolve phlegm to relieve coughs.\" ”According to the Compendium of Materia Medica ； “Kaki is a fruit that benefits the spleen, lungs, and blood. It has a sweet taste and a neutral nature; its astringent properties enable it to strengthen the spleen, tighten the intestines, and stop bleeding. ”In \"Sui Xi Ju Yi Yan Pin\" written by the renowned physician of the Qing dynasty, Wang Shixiong, it is stated: \"Fresh persimmons are sweet and cold in nature.\" It nourishes the yang of the lungs and stomach, and is suitable for those with a constitution characterized by fire excess and fluid deficiency. Dried persimmons are sweet and mild in nature. Strengthenes the spleen and stomach, moistens the lungs and averts diarrhea, stops bleeding and relieves hunger, eliminates parasites, treats hemorrhoids, and cures nausea. ”Modern medical literature states that persimmons can help strengthen the spleen and stomach, reduce heat and moisten the lungs, promote saliva production to quench thirst, eliminate phlegm and relieve coughing, lower blood pressure, and increase blood flow in the coronary arteries of the heart. They also possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. Grinding the dried leaves into a fine powder can treat thrombocytopenic purpura and various bleeding disorders. Persimmon frost has a sweet taste and contains mannitol; it is sweet in nature, can moisten the lungs and relieve coughs, and can also treat sores in children’s mouths. The stem of the persimmon contains oleanolic acid and betulinic acid; in traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used together with ginseng and cloves to be ground into a powder known as Shixian San, which has the effect of reducing excessive qi and stopping hiccups. The flowers, roots, and bark of persimmons are also excellent medicinal materials. The persimmon tree can truly be considered a treasure in every part. Persimmons are delicious, but they should not be consumed in large quantities; be especially careful not to eat them on an empty stomach. Since persimmons contain large amounts of tannic acid, tannins, and pectin, these substances coagulate into hard masses when they come into contact with stomach acid, causing a feeling of fullness and abdominal pain; in severe cases, it can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric perforation, and intestinal obstruction. Furthermore, it is not suitable to consume it in cases of physical weakness after illness, indigestion, exposure to wind and cold, diarrhea, or after childbirth. Persimmons should not be eaten together with crabs, as this can easily cause abdominal pain and vomiting; in severe cases, it may lead to poisoning. Those who eat persimmons must remember not to be careless.