When shopping for vegetables, buy more ‘Amunututu’
By Olamiotan Afolabi
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Malabar spinach is a dark green leaves with the scientific name Basella alba, popularly known as “Amunututu” in Yoruba land which originated from India, it is widely grown and consumed in Asia and Africa countries (mostly Nigeria).
It can be grown easily as annual cultivation in summer months, as it grows very well in hot weather unlike other spinach. It is also highly ornamental and it is beautiful in landscaping. It is commonly used to prepare different kinds of soup.
Malabar spinach contains essential nutrients (macronutrients) like Protein; which helps to build and repair body tissue. The vegetable also contains Carbohydrate that serves as good source of energy and small amount of fat.
Amunututu also contains some minerals (micronutrients) like sodium and potassium (Electrolytes) which helps to regulate fluid balance and nerve signal
It supplies magnesium to the body which helps to lower blood pressure, to maintain normal nerves and muscle function. It also helps to fight depression.
The vegetable is also a good source of Calcium, a mineral which is essential for the development, growth and maintenance of bone, it also help muscle contraction.
Malabar spinach is also rich in Iron which is important in making red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body and also supports healthy skin, hair and nails.
Another mineral present in this vegetable is Copper, a mineral that works with Iron to help the body form red blood cells and also keep the nerves, immune system and bones healthy).
It also contains Zinc in small quantity, an essential mineral that helps greatly in wound healing, sense of taste and smell; it also helps the immune system and metabolism function.
Manganese is also present in Malabar spinach though in small quantity which helps in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar regulation and helps in normal brain and nerve function).
Malabar spinach also contains essential vitamins like Vitamin A which helps to improve eyesight and five (5) classes of vitamin B which are B1, B2, B3, B6, B9.
Vitamin B9 also known as Folate or Folic acid carries the large quantity among the group of vitamin B present in Amunututu. It is needed to make red and white blood cell in the bone marrow, converts carbohydrates into energy and also help to produce DNA and RNA.
It also contains vitamin C which helps in promoting the immune system.
With the presence of the Vitamins, macro and micro nutrients in “ Amunututu”, there are many health benefits one gains from its consumption.
First, Malabar Spinach helps to maintain blood pressure with the present of potassium and sodium which helps to balance body fluids.
Second, it helps to prevents and treats cancer like lungs and oral cavity cancer due to the folate present in the leaves.
Third, Malabar Spinach supplies sufficient quantities of magnesium, a mineral which maintain normal nerves and helps to relax the stress mules to give better sleep.
The presents of vitamin A in Malabar spinach protect eyes from free radicals to improve eye sights
The vegetable also helps in treating depression with the present of Folate (vit.B9) and certain Amino acids from protein supplied by these leaves can control mood and anxiety levels.
Folate (Vit. B9) which is a B complex vitamin present in the leaves nurtures the embryo, particularly its neural tube, promoting the proper growth of foetus during pregnancy. Pregnant mothers who make the green leaves (amunututu) as part of their diet are found to have normal formation of placenta.
Malabar Spinach also promotes bone strength with the help of calcium and magnesium present for strong bones and proper absorption of calcium in the body respectively.
The folate (Vit. B9) present in the vegetable also help in the absorption of Vit. B12 (Cobalamin) to cure anemia and to keep the body energetic and healthy.
In addition, Amunututu helps in the treatment of Dementia; a disease affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life.
Lastly, the vegetable is an excellent source of dietary fiber which is one of the most important aspects of proper digestion. Thus, Malabar Spinach facilitates smooth movement in your intestine and helps in prevention of bowel problems.
10 Health benefits of Malabar spinach
Controls blood Pressure
Prevention of cancer
It aids better sleep
It improves good eyesight
Treats depression and control mood
Help in pregnancy and DNA production
Promotes bone strength
Prevents and treat Anemia
It helps in treating Dementia
It aids good digestion