Mung Bean Benefits and Recipe

In China, mung beans are a very popular food, especially in the hot summer months. They are grown in almost all the provinces of China.
Most families in China eat mung beans and use them widely in different recipes, such as mung bean noodles, mung bean cake, mung bean rice, mung bean soup, mung bean desserts and even mung bean wine.
They are also commonly sprouted to make bean sprouts. Mung bean soup is an extremely popular family dish in China during summer.

1. The health benefits of mung beans

A very famous ancient Chinese doctor and pharmacologist, Li Shi Zhen (1518-1593), stated in his book Ben Cao Gang Mu that “mung beans are highly recommended not only as a rich source of nutrients but also as a medicine”.
He described that mung beans can help to clear heat and toxins from the body, balance the organs and skin, and tonify Qi. Mung beans can also improve circulation throughout the twelve channels of the body.
Today, we know that mung beans are low in calories and rich in fibre. They also contain vitamins A, Bs, C, D, E, K, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

i) Clear heat and prevent summer heat-stroke

Chinese Medicine understands that the external environment has a strong influence on the body.

For example, in a hot climate, the body will absorb more heat from its external environment. If the body cannot release this heat by itself, physical symptoms may occur including: feeling hot and sweaty, red face, thirst, dry skin, constipation, lack of energy, headache and/or dizziness.
Mung beans have been shown to regulate body temperature and prevent heat stroke. Cooked mung bean soup is best kept refrigerated which helps to preserve and increase its health effects.
Drinking two or three cups a day of this soup will help to release the summer heat and rebalance the body’s yin and yang.
During the hot seasons, traditional Chinese medicine recommends foods that are cooling in nature which can assist the body to release excess heat and cool down. Ideally, these types of foods should be part of the daily diet during summer.

ii) Clear the skin and reduce acne

Traditional Chinese medicine texts categorise mung beans as sweet in taste and cooling in nature. Mung beans affect the Heart channel and clear heat and toxins from the skin, and cool heat in the blood.
Therefore, mung beans can help acne and other skin symptoms, such as the common skin rash, cold sores, mouth ulcers, pimples and boils.
The phytoestrogens in mung beans contain anti-ageing properties that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which benefit healthier skin.
Furthermore, scientific studies have shown that mung beans provide anti- inflammatory benefits by inhibiting the release of the protein HMGB1, which regulates the inflammatory response.

To benefit skin conditions, mung bean soup should be thick in consistency and consumed at room temperature (see the recipe below).

iii) Clear toxins from the body

The proteins, tannins and flavonoids in mung beans are also considered effective for binding to and clearing pesticides and heavy metals like mercury and lead from the body.

2. Mung bean soup recipes

i) Mung bean soup recipe for summer heat and hot weather

This recipe is suitable to clear body heat and prevent heat stroke during a hot summer.
2 handfuls of mung beans 7 cups of water
Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes on low heat. Set the soup aside to cool (once cooled it can also be refrigerated).
Drink this thin soup as required. The beans can also be eaten if soft enough.

ii) Mung bean soup recipe for skin conditions

This recipe can help to clear skin heat and reduce acne and other skin complaints as mentioned above.
2 handfuls of mung beans 4 cups of water
Bring to the boil for 3 minutes in a saucepan, then remove from heat and cover with a lid. Allow the beans to soak in the boiled water for 30 minutes then strain and drink the thick liquid soup.
This process can be repeated once more using the same batch of mung beans.
It is recommended to drink one cup of this soup twice a day in conjunction with regular treatment. Give yourself two days break from the soup after every five days.

3. Precautions and diet advice

Mung beans are generally not suitable for people who have a cold body constitution. Avoid eating mung beans if you have diarrhoea or often experience cold symptoms such as cold hands and feet.
If you are unsure of whether or not mung beans are suitable for you, or if your symptoms persist, please consult with your experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.