Waterleaf is a popular leafy greens vegetable botanically known as *Talinum Trangulare* is an edible leafy green vegetable & originally from West Africa. As the name suggest, this leafy greens vegetable is referred to as Waterleaf due to its high moisture & water contents of approximately 90.8gper 100 gram of the leaf.i preferably call it leaf as the local or the African Spinach because it has the same nutritional value as the main spinach an even more powerful than spinach.
I also call the root as the local or the African ginseng because it medicinal properties are equal to that of the normal ginseng we all know.
HERE ARE SOME UNKNOWN HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERLEAF
?it heals wound faster due to its high zinc & vitamin C properties.
?it treat high blood pressure due to high potassium content.
?it treat & prevent Anemia especially for pregnant women due to its high level of iron & folate( vitamin b9). known as the blood pumping vegetable, it boost the production of red blood cells for any body in shortage of blood.
?it heals ulcers due to it high zinc, vitamin c & Omega 3 fatty acids content.
?it boost brain power due to it high level of Omega 3 fatty acids, zinc & iron.
?it prevent osteoporosis & other bone problems associated with old age because of it high calcium, magnesium & Omega 3 fatty acids content.
?excellcent for eye disorders like glaucoma, cataract ect due to it high level of beta-carotene ( converted into vitamin A) & vitamin c.
?it lowers bad cholesterol due to it Omega 3 fatty acids & antioxidants properties.
?it prevent constipation because of it high dietary fiber & water contents.
?it prevent skin dryness, maintain good skin moisture, enhances skin brightening, prevent wrinkles, fight skin blemishes like pimples, ache, eczema ect due to it high collagen, vitamin C , Vitamin E & Omega 3 fatty acids properties which maintain the skin elasticity.
?it makes teeth & bones stronger because of it high level of calcium, vitamin C & zinc levels.
?it build stronger muscles due to it high protein values.
?it treat liver disorders, help lower elevated liver enzymes, & prevent cirrhosis & liver cancer.
?it treat & prevent diabetes because it’s a non starchy vegetable that can’t raise your blood sugar levels & also high in magnesium which is critically used in the production of Insulin ( the controller of blood glucose in the body).
?it prevent atherosclerosis ( hardness of the blood vessels)due to its Omega 3 fatty acids & potassium levels.
?it prevent thrombosis ( blood clot) which allows free blood flow & proper circulations the body.
?it prevent premature ageing due to its high antioxidants properties such as tannins, saponins, polyphenols flavonoids quercetin ect. All these help eliminate Free radicals (toxins) from the body.
?it treat erectal dysfunction in Men due to its high potassium, zinc & Omega 3 fatty acids contents.
PREPARATION
* Can be use to prepare soups, sauces, stews ect. But note that which ever way you choose to prepare your Waterleaf dish, always remember not to overcook the vegetable in other to avoid significant loss of its vitamins & minerals.
*Can be used as salad along side with other vegetables.
*Can blend a hand full & take half cup twice daily before meals.
* The root can be dried then grind into powder which can be sprinkled on food before eating. One teaspoon of it powdered root can be mixed with half cup of warm water taken once daily for the treatment of prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, prostate infection ( inflammation), UTI, gonorrhea & other sexually transmitted disease.
SIDE EFFECTS
*water leaf contain some amount of OXALATE which can worsen the condition of people having kidney stones if consumed in excess.
*The same OXALATE can worsen inflammation in some people with autoimmune condition like lupus Multiples Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis ect if consumed in excess.
* Water leaf may contain histamine which can trigger allergy in some people having allergy issues.
