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Friday 30 December 2016

Benefit of Bitter leaf

Bitter leaf as the name implies is a bitter leafy green or sometimes gray vegetable known in Nigeria as onugbu by the Igbos, ewuro by the Yorubas and chusa-doki shawaka by the Hausas. Scientifically, it is called vernonia amygdalina and sometimes referred to as ironweed.

Food Musings: 13 Health Benefits Of Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf offers many health benefits including but not limited to blood sugar regulation, helping with repair of the pancreas and may also help reduce the risk of breast cancer amongst other things. Nigeria is blessed to have bitter leaf growing any and everywhere. It is among the cheapest vegetables or herbs you can buy. As such, there is absolutely no reason not to incorporate it into your diet. Here is a quick run-down of thirteen major health benefits of adding bitter leaf to your diet.

1. May reduce the risk of breast cancer
2. Can reduce cholesterol which in turn helps reduce the risk factors associated with Stroke, Heart Attack and Alzheimer’s
3. Contains Antioxidants in abundance which helps to check oxidation thereby increasing the body’s disease fighting properties.
4. It aids digestion

5. Helps in maintaining the liver and kidney

Food Musings: 13 Health Benefits Of Bitter Leaf

6. It helps to cleanse the body.
7. It increases metabolism which, along with other factors, helps in maintaining a healthy weight
8. Bitter leaf is a great source of essential fatty acids such as poly unsaturated fatty acids, linolenic and linoleic acid which helps protect against cardiovascular diseases.

9. It may help to eradicate pain.
10. It helps regulate the blood sugar thereby helping to reduce the risk of Type II diabetes.
11. It is a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and B2, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
12. May help relieve fevers.
13. Contains antibiotic and antifungal properties which helps cure skin ailments and diseases.
Food Musings: 13 Health Benefits Of Bitter Leaf

So whether you decide to chow it down fresh or in the form of bitter leaf juice and drinking up, or as a tonic which you store in your fridge and take tablespoons daily or the more popular way of cooking it and incorporating it into various recipes (which is more pleasing to the palate, we might add), you definitely can’t go wrong with bitter leaf in your diet.

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