Traditionally the Chinese drink Mung (Moong) Bean soup to remove toxins (food additives, natural metabolic wastes, excess unused food nutrients and 'fire' causing toxins (due to excess Yang energy).
Pregnant women in China are generally advised not to drink Mung bean soup. They may use other foods or herbs for detoxification.
Pregnant women in China are generally advised not to drink Mung bean soup. They may use other foods or herbs for detoxification.
Toxins and other natural metabolic waste products cause inflammation of all sorts, lowers immunity and makes us vulnerable to colds, flu, cancer, ulcers, gum infections, abscesses, pimples, high blood pressure etc.
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How often should you drink Mung Bean soup?
- Once a week during any season ( summer, winter, autumn etc)
- 2 times a week during flu season
- Immediately if you experience pre-flu symptoms: cold / flu, gum aches abscess, sore throat / tonsils, runny nose, mouth ulcers, itchy eyes or bleeding nose, continue daily till symptoms start to improve, then stop.
- Do not drink Mung bean soup more often that you should or your body may build natural tolerance to its detox effect and render it ineffective in future
- Do not drink it if you have upset stomach or digestion problems
Philip Kewley and occasionally Payal Thakare, have been taking Mung bean soup since late April 2011. Some believe in it, others are still a little unsure how or why it works.
~ Steps to make Mung bean soup ~
Method 1: Strong detox effect but minimum nutritional benefit
1. Grab a fistful of dry mung beans
2. Wash and rinse
3. Place beans in 500ml ( 2 cups) water, soak for 8-12 hours overnight
3. Place beans in 500ml ( 2 cups) water, soak for 8-12 hours overnight
4. Do not throw out this water as it contains the beneficial substance you want
5. Heat until boiling, next reduce heat and let simmer for 1 minute
6. Shut off the fire.
7. Let the beans soak 10 mins more, the yellow-green stuff dissolves into the liquid
8. Drink liquid but don't eat beans as they are still raw and hard and will make you fart
In this case the liquid soup has pretty strong detox cooling ( Yin ) effect
9. If you wish to eat beans, add more water and boil further 30mins ( as in Method #2), and eat it on a different day, they contain many minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium
Method 2: Mild detox effect, maximum nutrition benefit (Eg. Magnesium source etc)
1. Follow steps 1,2,3 as in Method #1
2. Heat until boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes
3. Let the bean soup cool in a wide plate
4. Eat beans and drink soup
* The longer the boil time, the less the detox effect.
* Use of pressure cooker or microwave ovens is NOT recommended as the temperature exceeds 100 Celsius and may damage / alter the useful properties of the mung beans.
* Use of mung beans is not recommended if you have an upset stomach or gastro intestinal or stomach type flu as the Yin qualities of mung bean will aggravate the stomach condition .