GARDEN EGG LEAVES

GARDEN EGG LEAVES

(Highly nutritious and good for healthy a heart and for maintaining and ideal body weight)

 

KNOWN as akwukwu Anayara in the eastern part of Nigeria, garden egg leaves are currently in season. The leaves are green in colour with pleasantly bitter taste (due to the presence of small amount of nicotinic alkaloids)

They are rich in nutrients such as vitamin c, folic acid, niacin, vitamin A, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin ,phytochemical nutrients(phenoic and cholrogenic acid)

This nutritious vegetable is eaten either raw, when it is used to prepare salad; it can also be boiled or stream.

Though garden egg does not contain huge amount of protein and other nutrients, it is low in sodium and very rich in high dietary fiber.

A high level cholesterol level, more particular low –density lipoprotein cholesterol, is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart disease and garden egg leaves has the power of reducing these risks.

 It is also high in potassium, a necessary salt that helps in maintaining the function of the heart and regulates blood pressure. Regular consumption of the blood sugar level helps in controlling of the blood sugar level due to its high fiber, low carbohydrate content .obese and overweight people can also benefit from this nutritious vegetable because of its low calorie and high moisture content. This green leafy vegetable is also beneficial for people that are suffering from constipation and those that want to prevent cancer because of its high fiber and vitamin content.

Antioxidant vitamin (vitamin A, C) in this vegetable neutralizes the effects of free radicals and contaminant that causes cancer.

Essential tips to have in mind when buying and storing garden egg leaves

For one to enjoy the health benefit of this nutritious vegetable, it is essential to buy the ones  without spot or insect bite, wash it properly under cold running water and cut it with stainless steel knife  and not carbon steel knife because this kind of knife reacts to phytonutrient present  in the vegetable and cause it to turn black. It is also good to store garden egg leaves in cool, dry place and use a day or two days or wrap in a paper and store in refrigerator for up to four days.