“It’s food for those who treasure life. A healthy nation starts with you. Let’s prevent NCDs by including greens that our foreparents introduced us to.”
Lusaka, May 15 – In fact, it may be getting more affection soon as a must have relish at home, thanks to a new analysis published in the journal HortScience that found it to have 3 times more vitamin B6, 5 times more vitamin C and almost 10 times more riboflavin than actual sweet potatoes.
Nutritionally, this makes kalembula similar to spinach but it has less oxalic acid, which gives some greens like spinach a sharper taste.
In addition to vitamins B6 and C and riboflavin, Kalembula is a great source of antioxidant, Vitamin A, thiamin, niacin and folic acid. And it possesses a lot of dietary fiber and nutrients.
Also Read: Don’t throw away watermelon seeds.
Because of its high content of antioxidants, it is suitable for combating inflammatory problems like asthma, arthritis, gout, etc. Equally, vitamin C makes it great for fighting off free radicals thus preventing premature aging and disease.
The high beta carotene content in Kalembula is the key anti-inflammatory compound that makes it a natural painkiller. So instead of only eating it as relish, you can take it as a smoothie to benefit from its painkilling properties. But this relish offers much more as it can lower blood pressure and also help with anxiety and stress.
In fact, the dietary fibers present in these magical leaves regulate the flow of blood and prevent any fat deposition in arteries and veins. And it is suitable for diabetic consumption as it contains a very good blood sugar regulator that helps to stabilise and lower insulin resistance.
To get the best out of Kalembula, do not over cook it. Remove the leaves from the stems and set aside. Heat cooking oil, olive oil if you can afford, in a pot or pan over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté until just softened for about 3 minutes. Add kalembula, salt and pepper to taste. Sauté until leaves are wilted, for about 2 minutes.
Also Read: The Health Sector in Zambia will never be the same!
The diet that our foreparents chose ensured a healthy lifestyle, let’s get back to their eating habits if we want to avoid some of our unexplained nouvelle illnesses.
Remember to share the article if you have found it useful. A healthy nation starts with you. Let’s prevent NCDs by including greens that our foreparents introduced us to.
About The Author: Dr. Chilufya, a PF presidential candidate, is a public health physician, Mansa Central Member of Parliament and former Minister of Health who led a transformational agenda of the national health system, focused on creating a resilient health approach to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
©2022 Woodpecker’s Digest Inc.
Putting news into perspective
Great stuff. Thank you.
It’s really healthy!