In the previous posts this week, we have been discussing the health benefits of sweet potatoes and we have illustrated how sweet potatoes can be great for children, diabetics and those with HIV or AIDS. In this post I will try and explain, based on research by nutritionists, a few reasons why sweet potato leaves are some of the most nutritious vegetables on the planet. In the next post, I will explain the nutritional and health benefits of sweet potato tendrils, which in Philippines, are a great delicacy!
In Kabondo and many other sweet potato growing areas in the larger Homa Bay District in the Nyanza province(to the West of Kenya) , the only sweet potato product that's considered useful is the sweet potato tuber. Everything else is discarded, normally, used as manure or used as animal feed. Well, what we discard as "waste" are probably some of the most nutritious vegetables on planet earth!
The sweet potato leaves, mostly used as animal feed are well poised to become the next big health craze. I think maybe Oprah has not yet heard of the nutritional effects of the sweet potato leaves. Like the tubers, Sweet potato leaves are some of the world’s richest sources of disease-fighting antioxidants, according to a research done by the University of Arkansas and other Universities in the United States' potato belt. Most of the research in the sweet potato cultivation and the sweet potato value chain development are done by the American Universities and research organizations since in Africa, we still consider sweet potatoes as poor people's food which is rather, very ironic!
Sweet potato leaves are packed with over 15 compounds that help fight diseases such as diabetes, heart ailments, hypertension, and various forms of cancer. While sweet potatoes do not cure cancer, they can prevent or even slow down the growth of cancer due to the presence of antioxidants, which as we previously discussed, help in eliminating free radicals from the body thus minimizing cell damage. In this regard, sweet potatoes can also slow down the effects of dementia. The sweet potato leaves are more nutritious than spinach based on the sheer number of nutrients and vitamins that it contains.
I think the African middle class will have to do more research and undergo education on the best dietary needs for us and our children because the food that's considered good and "healthy" by urban standards is contributing to more cases of diabetes and other conditions associated with unhealthy eating habits. In Kenya alone there are more than 2 million people living with diabetes!
Sweet potato leaves have a very short shelf life and normally wither in a few hours unless kept in moist conditions. So sometimes, it helps if you can plant them in buckets on your balcony and when cooking you can steam the leaves and mix them with other vegetables such as spinach, cabbages, kale, rice, onions, garlic, ginger, or even beef and chicken. You will be doing a great favour to your health and body. Stay healthy by adding a daily dose of sweet potato leaves in your diet!
For special orders of sweet potato leaves within Nairobi, please drop us an email at kabondofarms[at]yahoo.com
 |
| Sweet Potato Leaves |
 |
| Cooked Sweet Potato Leaves: Sweet Potatoes are the newest health craze due to their numerous nutrients |
Sweet potato leaves are packed with over 15 compounds that help fight diseases such as diabetes, heart ailments, hypertension, and various forms of cancer. While sweet potatoes do not cure cancer, they can prevent or even slow down the growth of cancer due to the presence of antioxidants, which as we previously discussed, help in eliminating free radicals from the body thus minimizing cell damage. In this regard, sweet potatoes can also slow down the effects of dementia. The sweet potato leaves are more nutritious than spinach based on the sheer number of nutrients and vitamins that it contains.
I think the African middle class will have to do more research and undergo education on the best dietary needs for us and our children because the food that's considered good and "healthy" by urban standards is contributing to more cases of diabetes and other conditions associated with unhealthy eating habits. In Kenya alone there are more than 2 million people living with diabetes!
Sweet potato leaves have a very short shelf life and normally wither in a few hours unless kept in moist conditions. So sometimes, it helps if you can plant them in buckets on your balcony and when cooking you can steam the leaves and mix them with other vegetables such as spinach, cabbages, kale, rice, onions, garlic, ginger, or even beef and chicken. You will be doing a great favour to your health and body. Stay healthy by adding a daily dose of sweet potato leaves in your diet!
For special orders of sweet potato leaves within Nairobi, please drop us an email at kabondofarms[at]yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment