Health and Nutritional Benefits of Fluted Pumpkin Leaves

Womenscorner Desk
December 14, 2020

Fluted pumpkin leaves are greenish leafy vegetables grown in Nigeria and other West African countries. they're edible when boiled or cooked with foods; it also can be taken as a vegetable salad or as juice when mashed as fresh leaves and therefore the juice extracted. It is called sokoyokoto in Yoruba, Ugu in Igbo language, kabewa in Hausa, and Ikong-Ubong in Efik. It contains calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese also provides an honest amount of vitamin C, A, B2, and E.

Here are some nutritional benefits of fluted pumpkin leaves or vegetables :

Good Source of Dietary Fibre : Fluted pumpkin leaves are a source of dietary fiber that helps within the healthy maintenance of the gastrointestinal system. It plays a crucial role in improving digestion thereby reducing the probabilities of health conditions like irritable movement , constipation and people causes by indigestion problems like ulcers and gastroparesis. Green leafy vegetables like fluted pumpkin leaves are rich in dietary fiber and will form a neighborhood of our daily meal to realize the advantages of this fiber.

Maintains the Body Tissues : The vitamin contents present during this vegetable helps in maintaining healthy tissues, cells, membrane also as maintaining the skin and treating of wounds within the case of vitamin C . The protein in fluted pumpkin leaves also helps within the improvement and maintenance of the body tissues which incorporates the connective tissues, muscles and therefore the nervous systems.

Rich in Antioxidants : They are rich in alkaloids, resins, prussic acid , tannins and flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants that provide some system and anti inflammatory benefits. Foods that are rich in antioxidants are known to be effective within the prevention of cancer and other associated health conditions like ulcer thanks to its ability to prevent the damages which should are caused by the oxidative stress within the body.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are a number of the underlying causes of cancer and other age-related illnesses and may cause changes within the DNA which could end in cancer formation.

Balances the Hormones : The vegetable is understood to possess high protein content. Ugu contains the quantity of protein needed for hormone balancing; tissue repairs and regulates the acidities of body cells and organs. This is why consuming fluted pumpkin leaves is extremely essential as its content of protein also will help in improving the body cells also as replacing broken ones in the body.

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Serve as Anti-Diabetic Agent : It has an anti-diabetic effect which suggests that it's the power to treat DM by reducing the extent of glucose within the blood. This is made possible thanks to the content of polysaccharides and ester which are effective in lowering the blood glucose level. they're also effective in promoting glucose tolerance also because the levels of serum insulin. The extract of Ugu leaves has proved effective during this case, and it's been used as an anti-diabetic agent to manage the blood sugar level.

Improves Blood Production : Fluted pumpkin leaves are always recommended for patients that suffer from a shortage of blood thanks to the effect of certain illnesses; the presence of iron and other important minerals in it contribute to the boosting of blood within the body system and stop anemia. Iron being one among the essential minerals within the red blood cells, can cause adverse reactions like the one stated above when there's its deficiency. Therefore fluted pumpkin leaves are utilized in improving the extent of blood within the body.

For the effectiveness of helping boost blood production, it's recommended to be pounded, then strain the mashed vegetable to gather the liquid/juice. Most times milk is additionally added to the juice before drinking.

Improves the Bones and Teeth : Fluted pumpkin vegetable contains an honest amount of calcium that the body needs for maintaining healthy bones and teeth also keep the skeletal systems in normal functioning conditions. It also contains magnesium which plays an important role in making the bone firm and powerful , it'd be surprising to mention that without magnesium, calcium is nearly ineffective to bones because it helps the adequate absorption of calcium by the bones.

It also plays an equivalent function on the teeth, as adequate magnesium within the body helps in making the teeth stronger and firm. Ugu also has potassium together of the minerals it contains which also helps in maintaining the bone mineral density which suggests that it helps to form the calcium content within the bones intact avoiding the leaching of the mineral. This helps to stop osteoporosis, which affects the bones especially within the aged.

Treat Convulsion : Ugu leaves have been found effective in treating convulsion in children. It becomes medicinal in this case when sliced and mixed with coconut water and with a small amount of salt. Scientifically there might be no proof of this, but it has been used hundreds of years ago in the treatment of high fever and convulsion, and serve as a remedy to many other health conditions.

Effective for Weight Loss : Foods that help in weight loss are recommended for its effectiveness in weight management. Vegetables such a fluted pumpkin leaves contain a high amount of dietary fiber which can help you lose weight as it makes one fuller and lowers their appetite. Not only that, it contains little or no calories which eliminates the chances of storing more calories in the body.

In as much as calories are good for the body which helps provide energy, if they are not totally utilized can start accumulating in the body thereby leading to weight gain.

Promotes Fertility : Fluted Pumpkin leaves have been used locally in the treatment of infertility issues in both men and women. Its content of many vital nutrients and compounds have proven effective in its use to boost/improve sperm count in men and the overall functioning of their
testicles. It boosts fertility in women and improves post-pregnancy health as it helps the nursing mother to adequately feed their babies by increasing breast milk production.

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Can Improve Memory : Fluted pumpkin leaves just as most green leafy vegetables contain certain compounds that help to improve memory. It also contains vital nutrients such as vitamins and magnesium which aid in the improvement and normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. This can help in improving cognitive reasoning, memory loss (Dementia) and other health conditions associated with memory health such as Alzheimer's disease.

They are rich in dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins A, B6, C, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, thiamine, manganese niacin, folate, magnesium, iron, potassium, antioxidants and vitamins flavonoid, poly-phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, xanthins, and carotene.