Kamias is not as widely known as other tropical fruits, but it fast gaining recognition in many countries. To Asian countries and islands, especially in the Philippines, its nutritional and medicinal value is common knowledge. The kamias fruit, also called bilimbi, has close relations to the balimbing or star fruit. Unlike the star fruit, however, it has a sour flavor that many use as a cooking agent.
Types of Nutrients in Kamias
The main use of kamias in a lot of countries is for food preparation. Many cooks find its sour flesh versatile and use it as a base or ingredient for many dishes. Apart from versatility, kamias provides nutrients. Although the amount of nutrients is smaller than other tropical fruits, its nutritional profile is broader. This fruit has significant traces of vitamins B and C, calcium, phosphorus, iron and fiber.
Kamias and Disease Prevention
Filipino locals are familiar with the medicinal abilities of the kamias fruit. Alternative medicine practitioners use it to treating an array of ailments, from inflammation to fevers. The healing agent is ascorbic acid, which is actually a form of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is an effective, natural immune booster and helps to build up a protective shield against bacteria and free radicals.
Kamias and Digestion
Even if the kamias fruit is not the most fibrous food around, it still contains enough dietary fiber to add to your daily requirement. If being constipated is a frequent occurrence, it is advisable to get into the habit of eating fresh produce and whole grains. Kamias is just one addition that you can make to a lifelong, fiber-rich diet.
Kamias and Bone Health
You might not be aware of it or have any symptoms, but bones and teeth become weaker and less dense as you age. Calcium supplements might be a great option, but filling up on calcium-rich food is even better. Of all nutrients, kamias is the most prominent in kamias and can support your entire skeletal structure. Phosphorus complements calcium by increasing the mineral’s effectiveness of adding strength and density to teeth and bones.
Kamias and Weight Loss
Finding low-calorie snacks to go with your meal plan can be a bit of a challenge. Kamias, on the other hand, has very few calories. It can be added to drinks and dishes without hiking up the calorie count. It has a delicious, tart taste that you can use to flavor sauces and other condiments. In addition, foods with vitamin B have been shown to have a positive effect on the metabolic rate as well.
Alugbati is a leafy green vegetable, usually grown as a
garden plant. Also, it is familiar as Malabar Spinach and it is very favored in
the Philippines. This vegetable has a bright red stem with heart-shaped leaves
growing along. Its fruit can range from red to dark green color.
As well as the other green leaves vegetables, the Alugbati
leaves are rich in iron and have a lot of nutrition. According to the
nutrition data, only 100 grams of Alugbati leaves has the following calories,
minerals, vitamins, protein, and water:
·Calories – 19
·Iron – 6%
·Fat – 0.3 gr
·Protein – 1.8 gr
·Vitamin A – 160%
·Magnesium – 16%
·Vitamin B6 – 10%
·Sodium – 24 mg
·Vitamin C – 170%
·Potassium – 510 mg
·Carbohydrate – 3,4 gr
·Calcium – 10%
We present you with 14 health benefits of
consumption of the Alugbati Leaves, which are as follows:
Cancer Prevention
Alugbati is packed with antioxidants just like
the other vegetables. It fights the free radicals, considered to be the
principal reason of forming some cancer types. According to medical studies,
all green vegetables including the Alugbati are superb in prevention of the
growth of cancer cells, in particular in the oral cavity and the lungs.
Control of the Blood Pressure
Alugbati leaves have high contents of
manganese and potassium making them very beneficial for the blood pressure and
the heart rate. These contents are the key reason why it can prevent heart
disease and can relieve a high-blood-pressure related headache.
Reliever of Ulcer
The smoothness of the Alugbati leaves can act
as reliever of stomach ulcer. Also, it is safe to use for any other digestive
matters.
Kangkong, Kangkung (Ipomoea aquatica) is a semiaquatic, tropical plant that flourishes naturally in water and moist soil. Kangkong is an edible plant harvested as a leaf vegetable. Kangkong thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and is more commonly found in Southeast Asian countries.
Kangkong can grow rapidly spreading through waterways forming floating mats that can block water flow and passage of small water crafts. The USDA categorized kangkong as a “noxius weed” and is included in prohibited aquatic plant list.
Kangkong is a herbaceous trailing shiny vine with milky sap. The stems are hollow, rooting at nodes, usually found trailing in moist soil or floating in aquatic locations. Kangkong leaves are alternate, simple, in the shape of arrow heads about 3–14 cm (1–6 in) long. The hollow vines float on water and the leaves are held above the water line.
Kangkong bears trumpet like flowers whose petals are white or pink-lilac with mauve color at the center. Kangkong has oval or spherical seed pods that contains 1 to 4 gray seeds which may be used for planting.
Kangkong Traditional Medicinal Use
Kangkong buds, used as poultice to treat skin diseases such as ringworm, athletes foot etc,
Kangkong is used to promote vomiting in poisoning.
Kangkong juice mixed with water are used as cold compress to treat fever.
Juice from boiled kangkong is used to loosen constipation.
Kangkong is also used to treat intestinal worm infestation.
In Indian Ayurveda Medicine, kangkong is used to treat jaundice and liver problems.
Kangkong leaves are used to treat diabetes in pregnant women.
Kangkong is also used as a sedative to promote relaxation and sleep.
Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera), is a popular plant known for high nutritional value as well as an herbal medicine. Malunggay is a plant that grows in the tropical climates such as the Philippines, India and Africa. Malunggay is widely used as vegetable ingredient in cooking, as herbal medicine for a number of illness and other practical uses.
The Malunggay plant can grow to as high as 9 meters with erect white trunks. The compound leaf has about 3 to 9 leaflets. Malunggay has white fragrant flowers that produces long pods with 3-angled winged seeds.
Malunggay may be propagated by planting its seeds about an inch in the ground or matured malunggay stem cuttings of about 3 feet in length may also be planted into the ground. Planted malunggay cuttings grows faster compared to planted seeds.
Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) has been used as herbal medicine in many cultures for hundreds of years, Malunggay is known as a very nutritious plant where it is used to combat malnutrition in third world countries especially for infants and nursing mothers.
The malunggay pods are the most valued and widely used part of the plant. Malunggay pods contains essential amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients. Malunggay pods may be eaten raw or may be prepared or cooked. Malunggay pods may be fried and may produce a clear, odorless and sweet oil mostly called - Ben Oil.
Malunggay leaves may be eaten as greens, in salads and as vegetable ingredients for soups and other tropical viands. Malunggay flowers are cooked and eaten either mixed with other foods or fried in batter.
Malunggay Traditional Medical Uses and Health Benefits
Malunggay has a long history of medical usage and has a long list of folkloric health benefits for the following conditions.
Malunggay is widely believed to contain high value nutrients and consumption of which promotes general well being. Malunggay is also called a "miracle tree" primarilly for the various health benefits it can provide for almost all kinds of diseases and medical conditions. More over almost all of its parts have use - from its roots, pods, barks, flowers and leaves. Listed below are some of the traditional herbal treatment of malunggay.
Scalp problems. Malunggay leaves pounded and combined with coconut oil is used to treat scalp problems and to promote hair growth.
Boosts immune system. Boiled malunggay leaves contain immune boosting nutrients used in sickness recovery.
Milk production in nursing mothers. Boiled malunggay leaves used to promote milk production in nursing mothers.
Asthma. Malunggay leaves combined with honey and calamsi to treat cough and asthma
Skin rejuvenation. Malunggay is used as skin restorer to promote skin rejuvenation.
Hypertension. Malunggay soup is used to lower highblood pressure
Relaxant. Malunggay tea from bark or leaves is used to treat insomnia and restlessness.
Anthelmintic. Malunggay pod is chewed to treat and prevent intestinal parasites in children.
Diabetes. Malunggay is also recommended for sufferers of diabetes
Source of calcium. Malunggay is consumed to strengthen the bones especially for growing children and older people due ot high calcium content.
Anti-inflammatory. Malunggay oil or poultice is used to treat bone and ligament related conditions that involve inflammations such as gout, rheumatism, back pain, sprains and all srts of swelling.
Eye problems. Malunggay is also used to improve eye problems. Believed to contain high amount of vitamin A, more than that of a carrot.
Anti-cancer. Malunggay is used along with other herbal medicines to treat cancer. Leaves and fruit used for constipation and as diuretic.
Skin diseases. Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores, cuts, skin ulcers, wounds and other skin diseases to alleviate pain and promote healing.
Stomach problems. Malungay is also used for stomach and intestinal problems such as ulcers and constipation.
Abortificient. Malunggay roots and bark have been used as abortifacient.
Boosts fertility. Malunggay flower with soy milk is used as aphrodisiac and promote fertility for men.
Contraceptive. While malunggay roots are believed to suppress fertility, chewed as a contraceptive by women.
Snake bites. Malunggay roots are also used to treat snake bites,
Ear problems. The juice from malunggay roots is used to treat ear related problems (otalgia).
The Akapulko leaves contain chrysophanic acid, a fungicide that is used to treat fungal infections, like ringworms, scabies and eczema.. Akapulko leaves are also known to be sudorific, diuretic and purgative, usedto treat intestinal problems including intestinal parasites. Akapulko is also used as herbal medicine to treat bronchitis and asthma. Because of Akapulko’s anti-fungal properties, it is a common ingredient in soaps, shampoos, and lotions in the Philippines. The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) has helped develop the technology for a Akapulko herbal medicine lotion.
Akapulko is an erect, shrubby legume with dark green compound leaves. Akapulko leaves have orange rachis that has 16-28 leaflets. Akapulko produces an axis of golden yellow flowers that has 4-winged pods containing 50-60 flattened, triangular seeds. Akapulko flowers are enclosed by yellow-orange bracts that are later shed in time.
Akapulko Traditional Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits
Akapulko has a long history of medical usage and has a long list of folkloric health benefits for the following conditions.
Skin problems and diseases. Akapulko is commonly used as an antibacterial and anti-fungal treatment for various skin diseases that include
tinea infection,
ringworms,
eczema,
scabies
insect bites
and all sorts of skin itchiness.
Stomach problems. Akapulko has long been used to treat stomach related problems that include:
Laxative to expel intestinal parasites,
diuretic purgative.
Anti-inflamatory activity. Akapulko is known to alleviate symptoms related to inflammation and is used in the treatment of the following
arthritis,
gout,
rheumatitis
bursitis
and other joint and muscle problems.
Lung problems. Akapulko tea is also a folkloric remedy to prevent symtoms of lung problems such as
asthma attacks
bronchitis.
coughs
Mouth problems. Akapulko is used as mouth wash for various mouth problems that include ulcers, sores, and toothache.
Recent studies also suggests that it is a strong antioxidant that may have anti-peroxidation activities that is beneficial in preventing the development of cancer.
