Garden egg leaf, just like other vegetables contains essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in a good quantity which play an important role in human health improvement.
These vegetables are known as natural blood pumping vegetable especially when eaten raw. In West Africa, notably in Nigeria where it is found in great quantity, it is called Akwukwo Anyara in Igbo and its seed is also called Mkpuru Anyara, Efo Igbo in Yoruba and Ganyen Gauta in Hausa.
They are considered as curative as well as nutritious diet due to the nutritional contents that serve as medication to certain ailment and substitutes for medical supplements.
Garden egg leaves or African eggplant leaves contain Vitamin B, C, potassium, and calcium which are beneficial to human health in several ways.
HERE ARE SOME NUTRITION FACTS AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDEN EGG LEAVES.
(1.) IMPROVES KIDNEY HEALTH
It helps to prevent dialysis by the total cleansing of the kidney naturally.
This leaves serves as detoxifiers to the kidney and it’s more effective when eaten raw or converted into juice by boiling for few seconds and then filtering the juice in a container; this juice can be taken 3 times per day or more.
This means that eating of garden egg leaves will naturally help in cleansing the kidney by filtering the blood and unwanted materials from entering the organ.
Thereby preventing any form of kidney-related issues especially the ones that will disrupt the blood filtration and purification like in kidney failure.
The mineral potassium which can be found in garden egg leaves also help the kidney to improves its function of filtering blood.
(2.). GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
Garden egg leaves is a healthy vegetable for pregnant women because it contains a good number of vitamins and minerals that are required for an improved health condition during pregnancy.
As it helps provide good development, normal weight, and prevention of birth defects for the unborn babies.
(3.) PROMOTES FERTILITY
Just like garden egg itself, many African cultures believed that garden egg and its leaves represent fertility, and have been used locally in the treatment of infertility and libido issues.
Though there is no scientific proof to back this up for now, in many locals where it is used for this purpose, they believe it works and it helps to boost their sexual health as well for both men and women.
(4.) CAN PREVENT CANCER
Garden egg leaves contain an anti-inflammatory property which makes it one of the suitable vegetables which can be used to reduce swelling and prevent cancer-causing inflammations.
These vegetables help in the prevention of cancer formation due to the presence of phytochemicals that fight free radicals that are prone to cause inflammations that might lead to cancerous diseases in the body system.
(5.) PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS
Garden egg leaves are used in managing obesity and reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood due to the presence of some micronutrients.
With the level of cholesterol in the body being low, weight reduction can be easily achieved; it does not only help in weight reduction but also maintains a fresh and toned skin when consumed in good quantity on regular basis.
Adequate intake of garden egg leaves is required in this case, and for anyone who wants to lose weight or improve heart health.
It is recommended that you eat healthily in order to improve the effectiveness of the garden egg leaves as it concerns weight reduction and its other health benefits.
(6.) SERVES AS BLOOD TONIC
Garden egg leaves serve as a blood tonic for people suffering from a shortage of blood or are anemic, it has long been a miracle vegetable for anemic patients and is the most time recommended by medical experts for use in increasing the blood levels.
To get this benefit, it is advisable that one gets the fresh leaves, wash it in clean cold water, slice and eat it raw, it can be prepared with Ukpaka (fermented oil bean seeds), crayfish, salt and oil to serve as a side dish or squeezed to get the juice.
Whichever way it is consumed, it performs the same function.
(7.). REGULATES THE HEART BEAT
The presence of potassium which contains an important salt helps in maintaining the heart condition and regulating the blood pressure. This makes this leaf very important for heart health.
One of the vital functions of potassium to the heart is to help in the regulation of heartbeat, therefore having too much (hyperkalemia) or low potassium (hypokalemia) can cause changes in the heart rhythm which is dangerous to health.
(8.). REDUCES SUGAR LEVELS
This may be new to some persons but it has been locally used in the reduction of sugar levels in the blood due to its content of high fiber and magnesium. It is also low in carbohydrate which makes it a good food source for diabetic patients.
Foods rich in fiber are slow to digest unlike some types of carbohydrates and do not provide the body with any calories. This makes the blood sugar levels more stable, eliminating the fear of a spike in blood pressure.
For reducing your sugar level, it is best eaten raw or drank as juice.
(9.). HELPS IN DIGESTION
One of the benefits of fibers in food (fruits or vegetables) is its ability to help in the digestive processes.
Fibers don’t get digested in the body or slow down digestion, which helps in the effective maintenance of the movement of materials in the human digestive tract.
This improves the digestive system and increases the bulk of the stools.
Garden egg leaves are rich in this content and should be consumed adequately in order to aids in proper digestion, maintain the digestive tracts and as well help in constipation reduction.
(By Peters. M.)
