Now that fall is upon us and winter is right around the corner, summer fruits like peaches, cherries, watermelon, and mangoes will all but disappear from the fruit stands and grocery stores. During the fall and winter months, a variety of powerhouse fruits will take their rightful place in the produce department of grocery stores and in farmers’ markets all across the country.
The fall and winter months are also when we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas; we indulge ourselves in many guilty pleasures in the form of food, food, and more food! And although turkey seems to be the guest of honor at most dinner tables, winter fruits such as cranberries, figs, and mandarin oranges are often in attendance!
The persimmon is a colorful, tasty, and festive winter fruit that has been cultivated in Japan for at least 1,000 years. Although it is considered the national fruit of Japan, it takes a back seat to the figs and cranberries usually found at our holiday table.
Each day for the past three months, I have been drinking an herbal tea containing persimmon leaves with each meal. Not only is it delicious, it is also a good source of vitamins A and C and has amazing medicinal properties.
The tannins, flavonoids, and fiber found in persimmon leaves can prevent, regulate, or alleviate the following dis-eases and conditions:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity, by removing fats through fecal matter
Photo by Apolonia. Published on 23 February 2015 - Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- HDL cholesterol levels
- Anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic actions
- Constipation, gastro-intestinal irritation, dysentery, chronic diarrhea, ulceration of the bowel and stomach, catarrh of the rectum and colon, and hemorrhoids; it is also effective in stopping bleeding
- Dermatitis, itching, and, if used topically, can help clear the skin and eliminate dull and dark areas
I am sure that you now understand why I have been drinking persimmon tea for the past three months! With its ability to reduce weight gain by lowering and removing lipids, I believe the persimmon deserves a seat at the table this holiday season. So guess who’s coming to dinner at my house this holiday?
Source: Shirley’s Wellness Café
