Do you ever dream of escaping to an exotic tropical island? I admit I have…
It started way back when I was a boy. My father told me stories about the time he spent on the Indonesian island of Bali. He was stationed there as a young soldier during WWII.
The sacred lotus is much more than a beautiful blossom. This powerful plant breaks down fat and drains it from your fat cells.
He described the captivating volcanic mountains, cascading waterfalls and white stretches of sand leading to a clear blue sea…
It’s no wonder Bali is called the Island of the Gods.
For me, traveling to this beautiful island was a dream come true.
As my plane circled in low over the lush landscape, I saw shades of green and blue I’ve never seen before. But one of the most breathtaking things I saw was the sacred lotus flower. Its bright, pink blossoms floated above the surface of the freshwater ponds that dot the landscape.
But there’s more to this flower than its stunning beauty.
The sacred lotus is also a potent fat fighter. And it’s one of the slimming secrets that keep Balinese women so slender.
In fact, on my first visit to Bali, I couldn’t help notice how thin everyone was — both men and women. I figured everyone of this island ate like a bird!
But I was wrong. The Balinese love to eat rich, decadent foods. And an important ingredient in their dishes is the lotus. They eat every part of the plant — from the petals and the leaves to the roots and stems.
It’s only recently that modern science has studied the weight-loss potential behind the plant.
The sacred lotus may hold the key to helping you achieve accelerated fat reduction.
Researchers were able to see this at work in a recent animal study. They found that sacred lotus appears to have slowed down the animals’ natural process of making new fat cells… and signaled for the breakdown of existing fat at the same time.1
Sacred lotus seems to specifically target fatty tissue. It helped keep the animals from gaining more weight — and many even dropped weight.
Another animal study suggested that sacred lotus interfered with the body’s digestion and absorption of fat and carbs. At the same time, it accelerated the breakdown of fat and helped the body melt it faster.2
The study found that the extract was especially useful in preventing parametrial adipose tissue weight — or weight gain around the uterus area.3
This makes the lotus particularly important when it comes to women and weight loss.
But the sacred lotus benefits your health in more ways than just fighting obesity. In fact, research shows it can:
- Lower blood sugar
- Boost immunity
- Stabilize blood pressure
- Reduce inflammation
In Bali, they cook with and eat every part of the lotus plant. The roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute. The root is stir-fried or pickled in vinegar. And the leaves are often added to salads.
Stuffed Sacred Lotus Leaves
One of my favorite ways to eat lotus leaves is to wrap them around different kinds of vegetables and meat and then bake it. Kind of like an Indonesian version of stuffed cabbage. Here’s a recipe my Balinese friends taught me:
- First, soak dried lotus leaves in hot water for an hour.
- While your leaves are soaking, heat up a wok on the highest temperature setting. Add a tablespoon of oil and stir-fry whatever vegetables you like for no more than a couple of minutes. Set those to the side.
- Add a bit more oil and stir-fry the rice.
- Pat the lotus leaves dry then lay it in a large bowl. Spread the stir-fried vegetables in the center of the leaf, and add the rice around it.
- Now, fold the lotus leaves around the rice and vegetables. Press down until it’s flattened.
- Steam the entire thing for around four minutes. Then take the bowl out of the steamer or off the steam, and turn upside down on a plate. Enjoy!
Lotus leaf is available in supplement form. You can also use the dried leaves to make tea: Just steep in hot boiling water for at least 3-4 hours. Be aware that lotus leaf has a slightly bitter taste.
Lotus leaf may increase bleeding, so be sure to check with your health care provider before taking lotus leaf if you have a bleeding disorder.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
1. Bin X., et al. “Nelumbo nucifera alkaloid inhibits 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and improves high-fat diet induced obesity and body fat accumulating in rats.” Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2011.
2. Ono Y., et al. “Anti-obesity effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract in mice and rats.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2006.
3. Takaya J., Higashino H., et al. “Intracellular magnesium and insulin resistance.” Magnes Res. 2004 Jun.Ono Y., et al. “Anti-obesity effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract in mice and rats.” Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Feb.