What are the health benefits of the black jelly plant?

What is black jelly plant?

The black jelly plant is known by many different names such as fairy grass, grass jelly, fragrant grass, water jasmine, fairy grass, fairy grass, and its scientific name is Mesona chinensis, belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

The stems and leaves of the plant, after harvesting, are often dried and processed into black jelly – a refreshing treat enjoyed by many in the summer. According to traditional medicine, black jelly has a cooling nature and a mildly sweet taste, and is often used to clear heat, detoxify, and help reduce the feeling of heat in the body.

Black jelly plant is used to help cool the body and detoxify. (Illustrative image)

Health benefits of black jelly plant

According to information from Nguyen Tri Phuong General Hospital, the black jelly plant is used to help cool the body, detoxify, and improve some symptoms related to joint pain, colds, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Here are some notable uses of the black jelly plant:

Cools the body and quenches thirst.

This is the most prominent and widely known use of the black jelly plant. The black jelly plant has cooling properties and is often used to make black jelly, a refreshing and cooling dessert that helps the body feel more comfortable in hot weather.

Supports blood sugar control.

Black jelly plant contains fiber and several bioactive compounds that may support the body's sugar metabolism.

Therefore, black jelly is often considered a suitable food in a healthy diet. However, people with diabetes still need to follow their doctor's treatment guidelines.

Antioxidant support

Black jelly plant contains natural antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. These substances help protect cells from the effects of free radicals, contributing to overall health.

Supports the digestive system.

Thanks to its natural fiber content, black jelly can support the digestive system and help the body stay hydrated effectively, especially during hot weather.

Black jelly plant is a dietary supplement and not a substitute for medication (Illustrative image).

Notes on using black jelly plant

According to Vinmec International General Hospital, although black jelly has the potential to offer many health benefits, users still need to use it correctly and be aware of the following issues:

Children should not be given too much black jelly as it may reduce their appetite and affect the absorption of protein and other nutrients.

It is necessary to distinguish black jelly plant from grass jelly plant because they have quite similar appearances.

Currently, many places sell pre-processed black jelly, but you need to be careful when choosing it because the risk of consuming contaminated black jelly is quite high.

Black jelly plant is not only an ingredient in the familiar grass jelly dessert but also contains many compounds beneficial to health. However, it is only a supplementary food and not a substitute for medication. To maximize its effectiveness, users should consume it appropriately and combine it with a healthy diet.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cay-thach-den-co-tac-dung-gi-ar1021757.html