Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
What do I know kwanu? I thought cocoyam leaves are for waste just as many of you may be thinking. But this post will shock so many just as it happened to me when I first stumbled on the topic. Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits.
Welcome to my page once again dear reader. Sorry, for the little break in our update. The rain is heavy and constant over here. So, we have the kids to look out for and take care of them against cold. Again, something else took my attention for the whole month.
However, yours truly is back, and am back for real. Previously, we have done research on many topics that people still call us to date to appreciate us for the help they got through the posts. We have written about:
Tested and Trusted Remedies to Shrink FibroidÂ
Health Benefits and Uses of Wonders of the World Plant (Odaa Opuo)
Natural Ways to Cure Anovulation (No Ovulation)
How to Boost Sperm Count Using Watermelon Seeds
How to Make Fallen Breasts Firm with no Side effects.
In this post, we are going to discuss cocoyam leaves. Yes, I mean the edible cocoyam leaves. many farmers are yet to know that cocoyam leaves are useful just as the cocoyam itself.
In fact, from our findings and research, cocoyam leaves are more useful and rich in medicinal properties than the tuber itself. But cocoyam leaves are dangerous when eaten raw. Don’t eat cocoyam leaves raw! It must be cooked or boiled.
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
What is Cocoyam?
Cocoyam or Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is known as ede in the Igbo language. It is a starchy edible tuber that bears broad greenish leaves.
It is grown in several places around the world. It is cultivated along with yam and cassava or alone. There are types of cocoyam and they are all edible.
All cocoyams are edible but you must cook them the way they should before can be eaten. Some species of cocoyam can be dangerous when eaten. They are known for dangerous itching in the throat when eaten with the normal cocoyam.
In that sense, that species of cocoyam are either used for soup thickener (ede uli), for swallow (utara ede) or overnight boiled cooked cocoyam (ede nghucha). For this last option, you need to cook the dangerous cocoyam species overnight. In the morning, the body will turn gray when you peel them.
In my growing up days, we ate this type of cocoyam with ncha sauce. Ncha is a sauce made of Edible potash (Ngu), ogiri, and Red oil (very delicious).
Cocoyam roots tubers locally called kontomire and their leaves can be consumed by humans. Both the root and leaves have many health benefits for the body because they are rich in nutrients. Here are 22 health benefits and uses of Cocoyam leaves.
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
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Boost immune system
One (1) cup of cocoyam leaves contains about 145mg of Vitamin C, about 86% of our body’s daily requirement. This will help boost your immune system effectively.
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Prevention of cancer
Cocoyam leaves are rich in vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant. This fights against free radicals that cause cancer and help to prevent many diseases.
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Healthy eyes.
Cocoyam leaves are rich in vitamin A in addition to vitamin C. The amount of vitamin A can be as high as 123% of our daily requirement. It is very good for the eyes to stay healthy, maintain visual acuity, and prevent the eyes diseases such as myopia, cataract, and blindness.
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Aid digestion and prevent digestive problems.
The high dietary fiber in cocoyam leaves helps in food digestion and absorption. Cocoyam leaves can prevent digestive problems such as indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea.
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Cholesterol level reduction
Cocoyam leaves have no cholesterol and only 1% of total fat, and so, is the best diet for reducing cholesterol. The dietary fiber and methionine contained in cocoyam leaves can reduce cholesterol effectively. They bind and break down fat and cholesterol especially triglycerides.
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
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Help in weight loss
Cocoyam leaves are low in fat and high in protein. It is, therefore, the best diet to reduce your fat and get your muscle mass.
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Reduce inflammation.
Cocoyam leaves contain Omega 3 which plays a role in the inflammation process and can inhibit the release of inflammatory substances. It can help to treat diseases like arthritis, gastritis, or lupus disease.
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Protect the nervous system
Are you feeling the symptoms of tingling, numbness, or pain in your limb? You can eat cocoyam or taro leaves to reduce those symptoms. The vitamin B complex including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6 in cocoyam leaves protects the nervous system. They also boost the immune system.
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Control the blood pressure
Omega 3, an essential fatty acid, helps produce hormones to control the contraction and relaxation of arteries wall. If this mechanism is going well, the blood pressure can be kept at a normal level.
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Healthy bone
Cocoyam leaves also contain calcium which is good for the formation and maintenance of healthy bone. It works with phosphorous to strengthen the bone and teeth.
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Fetal brain and nervous system development
Besides its rich nutrients content, the leaves also contain folate which is essential for the development of your fetal brain and nervous system. It is, therefore, good to consume cocoyam leaves when you are pregnant. However, be sure to cook them well before you eat.
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Anemia prevention
Cocoyam leaves diet is recommended in the prevention of anemia. This is because they contain iron minerals which help in red blood cell formation. The vitamin C content additionally helps to absorb the iron well.
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Fetal bone and teeth development
Additionally, the manganese in cocoyam leaves helps in the fetal cartilage, bone, and teeth formation during pregnancy.
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
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Prevention of preeclampsia in pregnancy
The consumption of cocoyam leaves helps to prevent preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys) during pregnancy. The magnesium mineral helps in muscle relaxation and can be used to prevent preeclampsia.
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Reduce wrinkle on the skin
Cocoyam leaves also contain the amino acid called threonine. The threonine helps in the formation of elastin and collagen which are good for healthy skin. They prevent the skin from wrinkle and rejuvenate skin.
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Quick treatment for diarrhea
The zinc in cocoyam leaves protects intestinal mucosa. When you get diarrhea, the intestine wall loses its mucosa. Zinc helps to release the mucosa quickly to immediately stop diarrhea.
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Very good energy source
Cocoyam leaves present one of the best energy sources for the body through its essential amino acid called isoleucine. This protein regulates blood sugar and increases muscle strength and energy levels. This is the best diet for people who love to work out.
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Promote bone and skin healing
An essential amino acid called leucine is contained in cocoyam leaves. It promotes bone and skin healing by releasing the natural painkiller called enkephalins. It does not only facilitate bone healing but also relieves pain as well.
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Enhance the memory and mood.
Cocoyam leaves release dopamine (a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system) which acts in the brain and nervous system. Synthesized by phenylalanine, it enhances your brain memory and controls your mood.
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Help to treat nicotine addiction
Cocoyam leaves contain tyrosine, a crucial amino acid in the human body. It becomes an adaptogen substance that helps to minimize the effect of nicotine, cocaine, and coffee addiction.
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Increase sperm production
Cocoyam leaves contain arginine, an amino acid that helps to increase sperm production. This makes it good for men.
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A detoxification agent
Histidine, one of the essential amino acids is also contained in cocoyam leaves. It serves as a detoxification agent that helps to remove the heavy metals from the body and protect the body from damage from radiation.
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits (Summary)
You have read the above. Cocoyam leaves Boost immune system, Prevention of cancer, and gives Healthy eyes. It also aids digestion and prevents digestive problems, reduces Cholesterol level reduction, Helps in weight loss, and reduces inflammation.
However, This post will be incomplete if we fail to tell how you how to prepare cocoyam leaves for consumption. Cocoyam leaves contain dangerous toxins. On this note, it must not be eaten raw. If you dare eat it raw, the way your through will itch may be terrible.
First, you must soak them in the clean water for about 10-15 minutes. After that, cook them well to remove their toxic substance. Like I said before, it is usually itchy in the throat if not well cooked.
Remember, it is the leaves you are eating. Preferably, you may boil it for 10 minutes, bring down the pot and sieve the water.
Chop the cocoyam leaves like the vegetables you use in cooking. Cut them to your desired size. Put them back into the pot and pour a little clean and fresh water. You may add salt and other ingredients to taste better.
Boil for another 5 minutes and bring down the pot. That is cocoyam leaves for you. You can prepare a delicious soup with cassava leaves, learn it here.
Meanwhile, you may like to grow cocoyam to get fresh leaves. It is very simple. It grows anywhere and at any time. You can use plastic plates or buckets if you don’t have a garden in your place.
Just get cocoyam tuber and tuber insert it deeper in the loamy or black soil. Make sure the head where the leaves will sprout is standing upward before covering them with soil.
Good luck!
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
Uses of Cocoyam Leaves and Health Benefits
