Purslane: The Weed With Great Health Benefits
As I wrote in the previous “health tips” post, most people in the US, and assuming in other western countries, don’t seem to be aware of this great vegetable either (the other one was beets). In fact, in the US it is considered an unwelcome plant in the garden and weeded out. Fortunately for us, it is consumed widely in Turkey; cooked and eaten hot, cooked with olive oil and eaten cold and eaten raw as a salad, my favorite.
This “superfood” has antibacterial, antiscorbutic (combats against scurvy), depurative (detoxifying and purifying), diuretic (increases the amount of water in the body), and febrifuge (reduces fever) properties.
Here are some of the additional health benefits that consuming purslane provides.
- Its leaves contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for helping to prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Omega-3 fats also play a role in lowering the risk for the development of heart disease by combatting inflammation, and also help manage cognitive function and normal growth and development.
- Contains zinc, phosphorus, manganese, copper and calcium. Zinc is responsible for maintaining and improving immune system function. It is also responsible for fighting off free radicals that may cause cancer.
- An excellent source of vitamin A. In fact, purslane contains the highest amount of vitamin A present in any leafy vegetable. As you know, vitamin A is important for the improvement and maintenance of visual health, and is also crucial for bone and cell growth.
- Low in calories. Purslane contains only 16 calories per 100 grams. Besides the obvious benefit to those trying to limit their caloric intake, purslane is also packed with dietary fiber, which contributes to the feeling of fullness.
- Believe it or not, purslane also works as a topical treatment to alleviate headaches, fevers and inflammation.
How about that? Before moving on, my favorite is a raw purslane salad topped with homemade yogurt with garlic; salt and pepper too of course.
Five Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds For your Body
These seeds kill cancer, affect your sleep, and improve sight and much more. I think it’s worth your while to consider consuming them regularly.
I, for example, put pumpkin seeds into all my salads; try it, you’ll like it.
Let’s briefly go over the benefits of one of nature’s perfect foods.
- They are loaded with magnesium. This mineral is responsible for over 300 different biochemical reactions, which are essential for you to function properly. ½ cup contains 92 % of your daily requirement.
- They naturally boost testosterone. I see our male reader’s interest increasing for some reason? They really do wonders for sexual health. These seeds contain vitamins A, C, D, E and K, which play a very important role in libido. Additionally, pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc, which is the power behind high testosterone.
- They improve mood and diminish hot flashes; something for the ladies. Pumpkin seeds improve your mood because of the tryptophan they contain, which is needed to produce serotonin in the brain. As they contain magnesium, which helps balance body temperature, they assist in diminishing your hot flashes.
- They contain compounds known as cucurbiatacins and a new study has found that these compounds are known to fight different kinds of cancer cells.
- They are a great help in beating insomnia. Tryptophan, contained in pumpkin seeds is an amino acid, which plays an important role in the production of melatonin and serotonin. These two hormones are responsible for our sleep/wake cycle. Eat some before you go to bed and you’ll fall asleep easier.
That’s all for this week; see you next time.
