Why You Should Always Eat WaterLeaf Vegetable (Talinum triangulare)

Water leaf is a herbaceous annual and perennial plant that has green leaves that are edible. This vegetable is mostly found in West Africa and western North America. This vegetable is loved in most parts of Nigeria and is used in making different delicacies.

The botanical name of this vegetable is Talinum triangulare and is known as Gbure, Inene, Alenruwa, Nte oka. The leaves and stems of this plant are consumed as vegetables. In some parts of the country, it grows as a weed and is usually more abundant in rainy season. Water leaf like most vegetables has a short life cycle and is considered a perishable plant. It is used in the preparation of soups and stews. Sometimes, it could be eaten raw when it is added into salads. It could be sometimes added to okro soup to make it richer and greener.

This leafy plant is considered to be a rich source of vitamins and proteins. The protein content could be likened to that of cashew nuts, millets and cowpeas.

Below are the health benefits of eating water leaf:

1. Prevention of heart diseases and stroke Eating water leaf on a regular basis has the ability to prevent you from having stroke and other heart related problems. This vegetable would keep you healthy and fit as long as you take it regularly. This way it will reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and will this also includes the lowering of blood pressure.

2. It enhances cognitive ability Research has shown that water leaf has some positive effects on the neurons in the cerebrum and may improve one’s memory, perception and retaining abilities. It helps the body to keep fit and the mind to be sharp.

3. Pharmacological uses Water leaf has a range of biological and pharmacological uses. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial functions. Water leaf could also be mixed with alligator pepper and avocado in the treatment of hypertension.

4. The perfect remedy for weight loss Water leaf could be taken regularly while on a diet plan which is aimed at weight loss. This is because the vegetable is low on calories and has high fiber content. This would be filling to the body and at the same time would not make you accumulate fat. It is a vegetable that will keep you healthy and fresh while you are trying to shed weight.

5. Treatment of diabetes Consuming water leaf also helps diabetic patients as it regulates blood sugar levels in the body. Most of the staple foods consumed have glucose as their end product. Eating this vegetable helps you stick to a balanced diet and helps you to be fresh while you are conscious about your health.

6. Reduction of blood cholesterol level

Another health benefit accrued to eating water leaf is its ability to reduce blood cholesterol levels because of its soluble fiber content. This would prevent one from developing chronic health issues at the long run.

 7. As a laxative Sometimes, the body system feels weird and may come up with issues that involve constipation. Water leaf can be eaten to treat this irregularity in the body system. It is used as a mild laxative which could restore the body to its normal form. Water leaf also has antioxidant properties which makes it useful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Having known all these, it would be awesome to eat this vegetable often in order to stay healthy. The good thing is that it is quite affordable and can be gotten with little or no stress in the market. 

 

Water leaf can be eaten to treat this irregularity in the body system. It is used as a mild laxative which could restore the body to its normal form. Water leaf also has antioxidant properties which makes it useful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) is one of those underrated and ... can help the red cells to remain longer and be effectively utilised by the body.

• It boosts their blood levels. Eating waterleaf regularly in soup also helps to regulate hypertension. The dried herb can be infused in water to extract the content for drinking. One disadvantage however is that the leaves are succulent and easy to decay.

• Waterleaf is a herbaceous perennial plant that is native to the Caribbean, central America and Mexico. This herbal plant is called by many names such as waterleaf, spinach, bologi and sweetheart. As a leaf vegetable, these plants are widely grown in the tropical region.  As a great herbal plant, waterleaf contains many nutrients and vitamins that is good for  the body.

  
  

  •Prevents Disease

  AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis disease is a disease affecting the arterial wall where the growth of excess fat in the section. The growth of the fat in artery walls can cause obstructed blood flow and perfect flow to the brain and the heart. Thus, consuming waterleaf may prevent atherosclerosis.

  
  

  •As an Anti-Diarrhea

  Diarrhea is a disease that often descends on children and the elderly is indeed a serious problem because it often eliminates lives. Diarrhea can cause the body to dehydrate. It can be avoided by eating foods that are clean and nutritious. One of them is waterleaf. 

  
  

  •Avoids Thrombus

  Waterleaf can also make red blood flow in our body without clots or thrombus. Blood clots in the body can give serious effects, for example clotting in the brain that can cause disease like meningitis.

  
  

  •As an Antioxidant

  As already mentioned, the benefits in general of Flavonoids are compounded to repel free radicals. Free radicals can develop by oxidation of healthy cells. Therefore, the body needs to benefit enough antioxidants to prevent oxidation. Flavonoids act as oxidation.

  
  

  •Increases Immune System

  Vitamin C inside of Waterleaf is a vitamin that is very important because it helps to increase body resistance to disease and restore the body’s condition after activity or daily activities in order to re-fit body. Thus, consume waterleaf may boosts your immune system.

  
  

  •Reduces Hypertension

  Waterleaf has been shown to lower blood pressure, and reduce the possible risk of hypertension and other serious health problems associated with high blood pressure.

  
  

  •Prevents Cataracts

  Our eyes need vitamin C in order to function properly. Lack of vitamin C can cause cataracts, where the eye’s lens becomes increasingly opaque. Cataracts causes blurred vision and can end in blindness in adults. A high intake of vitamin C will prevent cataracts because it will increase the amount of blood flow to the eye.

  
  

  •Maintains Eye health

  Vitamin A inside of Waterleaf plays an important role in helping to distribute items that are received by the retina of the eye to the brain, in the form of an image. Compounds that act is called retinol. Retinol compounds are high in vitamin A, serves to make the eyes to be able to catch the light and any object that is received by the retina to the brain’s neurones, which then visualise accurately.

  
  

  •Prevents Cancer

  The importance of adequate consumption of waterleaf to the body is useful in inhibiting and preventing the emergence of DNA that thrives in cancer cells, in organs such as lung, colon, breast, cervical, prostate and liver.

  
  

  •Lowers Cholesterol

  To avoid and overcome cholesterol problems, the intake of waterleaf is beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. It is important to protect you from heart disease and stroke.

  
  

  •Prevents Osteoporosis

  Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become porous suffered due to lack of calcium. By eating a lot of foods that contain calcium like waterleaf, the bones will get much intake to become healthier and stronger.

  
  

  •Makes Your Bones and Teeth Stronger

  It’s certainly already widely known that calcium is useful to help ensure strong teeth and thus prevent dental problems that torment. Calcium will also improve bone mass decrease with age, thus going away from your osteoporosis in old age. This is because calcium helps to facilitate the movement of nutrients across cell membranes. Good calcium intake will help reduce back pain because it will strengthen your spine.

  
  

  •Prevent Bladder Stones

  Kidney stones occur as a result of crystallisation of calcium oxalate (a kind of salt that is generally present in food). Excessive consumption of foods containing calcium oxalate or uric acid result in the occurrence of kidney stones

  
  

  Waterleaf for Brain Health

  Also, waterleaf is perfect for your brain. In order to get a healthier brain and improves its function, take a lot of waterleaf.

  
  

  •Maximizes Brain Function 

  Iron is  beneficial for the development of the human brain. The human brain needs more than 20% of blood oxygen to work optimally. If there is deficiency in brain iron, then one will not be able to think clearly and quickly.

  
  

  •Copes with Stress

  Waterleaf can help the body to cope with stress, by reducing the levels of stress hormones or cortisol. Thus, stress is also indicating that brain is working too much in negative way. Thus, consuming waterleaf may relax you and get back the brain function to stay positive.

  
  

  •Improves Mood

  The health benefits of waterleaf is to improve your mood. By regularly consuming Waterleaf as an antioxidant, the free radicals caused by stress can be resisted so that it can improve someone’s mood.