Nutritional benefits of indigenous SA plants
SOUTH Africa possesses a huge diversity of indigenous food crops, which include grains, leafy vegetables and wild fruit types. These crops are produced and found growing in the country under various weather conditions.
The nutrients composition, especially micronutrients, are important for healthy functioning of the body. Some of the vegetation provide the following:
Iron: for growth and development, some hormone production and carries oxygen to the body cells.
Magnesium: strong bones, improves sleep, reduce depression, lower blood pressure and helps with exercise performance.
Calcium: bone health, functioning of muscles, heart and nerves.
Copper: immune health support, helps with making red blood cells.
Phosphorus: strong bones and teeth, helps the body use and store energy from fats and carbohydrates.
Protein: it is important for growth, is a building block of bones, muscle, skin and cartilage, used to build and repair body tissues, carries and delivers oxygen in the body, it makes antibodies that help the body fight off infections
Generally, the bitter leaves have high phytonutrients which are beneficial for gut health. They also have anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Registered dietitian and Association for Dietetics in South Africa spokesperson, Mpho Tshukudu, shared his knowledge of common indigenous plants.
Colocasia esculenta (Amadumbe)
They are low glycemic index - the sugars rise and fall slower, making you fee fuller for longer. This is ideal for diabetics and those who are watching their weight.
It contains plant sterols, that may be beneficial to diabetic and hypertensive patients.
They have higher protein and amino acids (9%) than any other root crop. Potatoes have 1.9% protein and sweet potatoes have 1.7% protein.
They are also high in fibre Micronutrients: Magnesium, potassium, iron, vitamins A, B1, B2 and C
Vigna unguicalata (cowpea) The leaves have 4.7% protein Micronutrients: Vitamins C - A portion of 100g provides an adults with 50% of the daily requirements. Phosphorus.
Black nightshade (Solanum retroflexum)
The edible parts are tender shoots, leaves and berries
The nutritional information is on fresh leaves and tender shoots
Micronutrients: They have more Iron, calcium, magnesium and copper than commonly consumed exotic vegetables such as spinach, kale, mustard green, rapini and Swiss chards
Macronutrients: They have more protein (6%) than other African traditional vegetables such as pumpkin leaves, pigweed, Jew’s mallow, Tsamma melon leaves, spider flower and black jack.