Can eating ginkgo nuts cure diabetes? Can soaking ginkgo leaves in water lower blood pressure and blood lipids? Improper consumption may...

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Ginkgo is a perennial woody plant of the Ginkgoaceae family and the Ginkgo genus. It is a rare tree species that is unique to China and a relic of the Mesozoic era. Because of its beautiful shape, green leaves in spring and summer, and yellow leaves in autumn, it is quite beautiful. It is often used as a garden tree and street tree, and can be seen in many cities today.

In addition to its ornamental value, there are also claims that eating ginkgo nuts grown on ginkgo trees can treat diabetes, and soaking fresh ginkgo leaves in water can lower blood pressure and blood lipids . Are these true?

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analyze

The truth is that both statements lack scientific basis and may cause new health problems if you are not careful.

Ginkgo nuts are also called "white nuts". Like cycads, ginkgo is a dioecious gymnosperm and does not produce fruit. Ginkgo nuts are actually the seeds of ginkgo, or more precisely, the kernels with the fleshy outer seed coat removed. They are named after their white shells.

Ginkgo is rich in nutrients, containing a certain amount of vitamin C, vitamin B2, carotene, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium and other trace elements, as well as ginkgolic acid, hydrogenated ginkgolic acid, hydrogenated ginkgolic acid, ginkgo alcohol, ginkgo phenol, pentacylglycerol and other ingredients.

Can eating ginkgo nuts really cure diabetes?

There is no relevant record in medical books, nor clinical evidence to support the effect of ginkgo in improving blood sugar. Diabetic patients are also not suitable for eating ginkgo, which is still high in calories. 100 grams of dried ginkgo kernels contain about 68 grams of starch, 13 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat.

Why is there a saying that eating ginkgo nuts can cure diabetes? This may be related to ginkgo biloba leaves. Ginkgo leaf extract has a certain improvement effect on microvascular lesions caused by diabetes, but ginkgo nuts do not have this effect.

Since ginkgo leaf extract has medicinal effects, can soaking fresh ginkgo leaves in water also improve blood pressure and blood lipids?

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Ginkgo leaf soaked in water

Can it improve blood pressure and blood lipids?

Drinking ginkgo leaf tea not only fails to improve blood pressure and blood lipids, but drinking too much will cause other health problems . Although ginkgo nuts and ginkgo leaves have been included in the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia", this does not mean that they can be used as both medicine and food at will.

The flavonoids contained in ginkgo leaves are its main active ingredients. Clinically, they are mainly manifested in the form of ginkgo leaf preparations, which do have the effect of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis and unblocking meridians. However, the effect of flavonoids in health preservation is still under study, and more than 95% of flavonoids cannot be absorbed into the body through the form of soaking in water. What's more, the flavonoids contained in the few leaves used for soaking in water are not many. Therefore, it is useless to drink fresh ginkgo leaves soaked in water even if you drink a lot.

Ginkgo seeds dropped on the roadside

Can I take it home and make ginkgo nuts for consumption?

Not recommended.

On the one hand, ginkgo seeds and ginkgo nuts are two different things. The fleshy part on the outside not only has a peculiar smell, but also contains ginkgolic acid (the general term for ginkgolic acid and ginkgolic phenolic acid), which can corrode the skin and is toxic if not handled properly.

On the other hand, fresh ginkgo also contains a lot of ginkgolic acid, the content can reach 200 mg/kg, this kind of substance has clear allergenicity, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity . When a certain amount of toxic substances is ingested, poisoning symptoms will appear, including irritability, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, coma, convulsions, breathing difficulties, and even death.

Not only ginkgo nuts, but also ginkgo leaves contain ginkgolic acid, so it is not recommended to drink them in water.

In addition, the ginkgo seeds and leaves on the roadside will be contaminated by harmful substances such as smoke, automobile exhaust, etc., and the ginkgo trees are treated with drugs all year round to prevent diseases and pests. Therefore, the ginkgo nuts and ginkgo leaves on the roadside cannot be "picked", let alone eaten.

What are the precautions for eating ginkgo?

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First of all, ginkgo nuts are not suitable as dried fruit snacks. Improper consumption or excessive consumption may cause poisoning.

Secondly, ginkgo nuts cannot be eaten raw. Only high-temperature cooking methods can remove most of the toxic components in ginkgo nuts, reduce allergenicity, and ensure food safety.

Furthermore, the amount consumed must be controlled. It is recommended that adults should not exceed 10-20 pills, children should not exceed 5 pills, and infants and young children should not consume it.

At the same time, pregnant women, women during menstruation, people who have undergone surgery, people with allergies, and people taking anticoagulants or painkillers should not eat it.

in conclusion

Eating ginkgo nuts cannot cure diabetes. Ginkgo nuts are high in calories and are not suitable for diabetics. Drinking ginkgo leaves soaked in water cannot improve blood pressure and blood lipids. Moreover, ginkgo nuts contain a lot of ginkgolic acid, which has clear allergenicity, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity. Improper intake will cause poisoning symptoms. Ginkgo leaves also contain ginkgolic acid, so it is not recommended to soak in water.

Author: Zhang Yu, researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, supervisor of medical doctorate and master's degree students

Reviewer: Zhang Na, Associate Researcher, Doctoral Supervisor, Peking University School of Public Health

References:

1. Shen Pian. Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Part 2)[M]. Jilin Science and Technology Press, 2020.6.

2. Zeng Zhaolong. Practical Clinical Chinese Medicine[M]. Henan Science and Technology Publishing, 2020.6.

3. Qi Lijuan, Li Guojun, Gao Shan. Health hazard assessment of ginkgolic acid compounds in ginkgo nuts[J]. Journal of Toxicology, 2021, (4): 267-273,279.

4. Shao Jiping, Wang Bochu, Chen Xin, et al. Research progress on the medicinal value of Ginkgo biloba extract [J]. Journal of Chongqing University (Natural Science Edition), 2003, 26 (1): 130-134.

Planning丨Zhong Yanping

Editor｜Li Mengxin

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