WATERLEAF AND YOUR HEALTH: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!.

WATERLEAF:

Some of the health benefits of waterleaf include:

Bone Health

Waterleaf is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are essential for healthy bones. In fact, some research has shown that taking calcium without phosphorus does very little for bone strength. The two elements appear to work together. They are especially good for helping women over 60 who are already suffering from osteoporosis.

Eye Health

Maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes. Research indicates that vitamin A can slow the progression of retinal disease, reduce the risk of cataracts, and improve low-light vision. Waterleaf is a good source of vitamin A.

Iron

Waterleaf is an excellent dietary source of iron. Iron deficiency can range from mild to severe. Those who experience milder symptoms benefit the most from shifting to an iron-rich diet.

Cognitive Health

Research indicates that eating a diet rich in vitamin C reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and slows age-related cognitive decline. Waterleaf is an excellent source of vitamin C, with about 31 mg for every 100 grams of vegetable matter.

Waterleaf is a rich source of the essential nutrients Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, and VitaminC.

It is also a good source of:

Vitamin A

Thiamine

Riboflavin

Niacin

Nutrients per Serving

Every 100 grams of waterleaf contains approximately:

Calories: 25

Protein: 2.4 grams

Fat: 0.4 grams

Carbohydrates: 4.4 grams

Fiber: 1.0 grams

Portion Sizes

How to Cook Waterleaf

Waterleaf should be washed thoroughly to remove debris and soil. It can be prepared by stir-frying, used as an ingredient in stew and soup with other seasonings like onions or chili peppers, or boiled as a vegetable.

 Waterleaf can be prepared with fish, ground melon, chicken, beef, or tofu to give different flavors. Waterleaf can be mixed into cookies to make veggie cookies. 

Leaves and young stems are often used as a softener in cooking fibrous vegetables or thickener in sauce in the southern region of Nigeria. 

The cooking of waterleaf should be on a low heat at 5–10 minutes to minimize denaturing. Waterleaf can be preserved by freeze-drying, solar drying, or oven drying.

THE DOWNSIDE OF WATERLEAF:

Waterleaf is extremely nutritious. However,

it is also high in oxalate. Oxalate is a natural chemical found in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, sweet potatoes, and waterleaf. For those with kidney disorders, oxalate may contribute to kidney stones.

Up to 50 percent of the soluble (dissolves in water) oxalate can be removed through blanching or cooking. Cooking can also remove lectins from waterleaf. Lectins are generally harmless, but they can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb micronutrients like calcium, iron, and zinc.

Do not drink the cold raw juice!

Add hot water to blanch before drinking!

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HEALTH ISSUES FROM PROLONGED STAY IN AC (Air-conditioned) ENVIRONMENT!

That air-conditioned room may seem very relaxing and nice..but did you know that staying in an AC space for a long period of time, especially in a sedentary position can lead to ma y health issues?.these include:

√Slow body metabolism..this affects your digestion, circulation, excretion and other bio-processes..

√Slow digestion and subsequent constipation.

√ Dyslipemia (fats in the blood).

√ It causes fats in your body to congeal leading to an increase in Visceral/Abdominal fats!

√ Prolonged and untreated constipation can precipitate to Colorectal cancer.

√ Reduction in body temperature and distortion of thermoregulation.

In addition, 

Dry eyes, lethargy, dehydration, dry or itchy skin, headaches, respiratory issues, allergies and asthma, noise pollution, infectious diseases, and indoor pollutants are among the common health concerns associated with prolonged exposure to air conditioning.

It is advised to turn off your Ac after your room is cooled during the day..turn it off at night and open your windows!.

Avoid sleeping in AC rooms except where the room is crowded!

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COMMON CAUSES OF "SLUMPED & DIED" AND HOW TO AVOID THEM!

COMMON CAUSES OF "SLUMPED & DIED" AND HOW TO AVOID THEM!

There is this menace that have been happening around us..even people we are close to have fallen victims..I call it "slump and die!.

It's a hidden health danger..and it happens to persons of all age groups, fat or slim, male or female..and anywhere..

Sometimes medical reports or autopsy could come back with such terms as "Heart attack, cardiac failure etc..

But do you know that there is a silent killer which most medical checks ignore or neglect?.This is known as VISCERAL FAT!

NO!.It is not the usual "body fat" that you know..Visceral fat occurs "inside the body and is not noticeable by physical observation..

According to WebMD:

"Visceral fat is fat that wraps around organs in your belly that are deep inside you. It can surround your liver, intestines, stomach, and other internal organs.

It's healthy and normal to have some visceral fat. Everyone does. This fat can protect your internal organs. Sometimes it's called "active fat" because it affects the way your body functions. But too much visceral fat isn't good for you. It comes with more risk for health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, hypercholesterol and stroke.

While this type of fat might go along with having a bigger belly you can see on the outside, you can't see visceral fat. It's also possible you could have a flat stomach and little fat you can see and still have visceral fat inside you. But usually the amount of visceral fat you have will go up along with your other body fat.

Most regular medical check-ups cannot detect it but fortunately, we have our non-invasive devices we use to detect Visceral fats in patients.

CAUSES OF VISCERAL FATS BUILD-UP  IN THE BODY INCLUDE:

1. Drinking chilled water: this has the tendency to congeal fats in your body and make them indissoluble. Take room temperature or tepid water.

2. Transfats: This is usually found in hydrogenized foods such as your common vegetable oils, seed oils, margarine etc.

3. Read your vegetable oil labels, if you see palm olein as the main ingredient, run!.it means ultra-processed palm oil. Use ordinary red palm oil for your cooking..do not bleach!

4. Avoid fried foods: frying incorporates too much oil into your food..Moreover, during high heat cooking, oils can produce harmful compounds acrylamides or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) which are carcinogenic. 

There are many ways to enjoy your meals without frying with oils..we would discuss that in subsequent posts.

5. Sugars: in a process called lipogenesis, the liver converts excess sugar in your body to fats and is stored in the body!.Avoid refined sugars!

6. Lack of adequate fibre intake: fibre helps to bind and remove excess fats from the body. You can get fibre from vegetables, whole grains and fruits. 

7. Regular aerobic exercise should be included in your lifestyle regimen!

8. Avoid staying in Air-conditioning (AC) environment for long period of time as it can reduce your body temperature and cause fats to congeal.

9. Many commonly used prescription drugs also cause visceral fats accumulated. eg. antidepressants, insulin, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, glucorcorticoids, anticonvulsants etc

10. Sunlight exposure: Exposure to early morning or late evening sunlight is also a measure to help regulate visceral fats.

Chat us on WhatsApp for your Non-invasive Assessment, Clinical Consultation and Therapeutic Meal Plan.

Message Jsprings Nutrition Diet Health on WhatsApp. https://wa.me/2348033257478