What is Molokhia?
Many people around the world have never heard of Molokhia, and that’s understandable. In the regions of the Middle East, however, it is a staple that is often processed into broth and used in soups.
Scientifically, Molokhia belongs to the Corchorus plant species and seems to come from Egypt according to historical records. As a result, it spread throughout the Mediterranean and is now used in other parts of the world.
Regardless of whether it’s the first or five hundredth time you consume Molokhia, there are many other ways to consume it besides preparing soup. From salads to toppings to curries, there are many ways to enjoy this versatile vegetable.
What is Molokhia 13 amazing health benefits (and recipe tips)
Nutrition information (per cup 216g)
Calorie-142
Total fat 8.6g
Carbohydrates total – 5g
Fiber – 2,7g 11% RDI
Protein -12g
Potassium 317mg 9% RDI
Vitamin A- 161% RDI
Vitamin C- 5% RDI
Vitamin E-15% RDI
Calcium – 12% RDI
Iron 10% RDI
Magnesium 35% RDA
13 Amazing health benefits of Molokhia
1. Helps in controlling blood pressure
The blood pressure is complex and has many factors in the game. These include electrolyte and fluid imbalances, which Molokhia helps optimize. Thanks to its potassium content, Molokhia helps to purge excess sodium from the blood via the urine and also promotes vasodilatation. Sodium causes blood vessels to narrow, but ensuring that you get more potassium in your diet helps to balance the effect of water retention of blood pressure.
2. Can help prevent constipation
It is surprising and astonishing to learn that up to 75% of the world does not meet their daily recommended intake of fiber, although it has many important functions for health. Molokhia falls into the class of cruciferous vegetables, which have generous amounts of fiber that can help prevent constipation, if you are so inclined. Fiber aids the stool, ensuring that it is sufficiently hydrated and facilitates uninterrupted transport through the digestive tract. These benefits help to resolve constipation and reduce its incidence.
3. Help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine.
Migraine is complex because it can have many causes, but one thing magnesium seems to have a positive effect on. Magnesium is a common mineral, but many people do not consume enough daily. Studies have shown that migraine has a strong association with magnesium intake, with lower values correlating with an increased incidence of migraine.
4. Molokhia can help with occasional insomnia
When it comes to getting enough sleep, our bad habits usually prevent us from getting enough. This could include having too many electronic distractions in bed or consuming strong stimulant-based products. When it boils down to it, the root cause is increase in the specific hormones and neurotransmitters that cause you insomnia. Fortunately, magnesium is back to the rescue. Magnesium promotes the synthesis of melatonin and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that play an important role in the regulation of sleep.
5. Excellent for the health of the eyes
When it comes to the health of our eyes, the most discussed and in fact one of the most important vitamins is the family of related vitamin A compounds. These include the carotenoid compounds such as beta-carotene. Molokhia is loaded with vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that compensates for age-related macular degeneration, optic nerve damage due to diabetic complications, and decreased cataract formation. Vitamin A also plays other important roles in general health, including reduced cancer development, as well as maintaining skin health.
6. Molokhia is good for your bones
Vegans and vegetarians have to cling to any non-milky calcium source, so Molokhia is a welcome addition to the fight. Calcium, together with magnesium, zinc and vitamin D, is an important quartet for maintaining bone health, with calcium deficiency having the most profound effect on bone integrity. If left unchecked, calcium deficiency leads to brittle bones, as the blood leaches that mineral, allowing the body to maintain its essential processing. The result is an increased probability of fractures and the potential development of osteoporosis, just to name a few.
7. Molokhia can help treat anemia
Anemia is a condition that causes red blood cells carrying hemoglobin to be below average, resulting in poor energy levels and poor circulation, to name a few. In most cases, hemodors resolve these issues, with iron being the most popular mineral to remedy this problem. Molokhia contains modest amounts of iron in addition to vitamin C, which improves the absorption of this mineral into the diet. It can not happen fast, but over the course of 3 months a significant improvement should be noted.
8. Helps with weight loss
Hunger is the number one factor that leads to the failure of a diet plan simply because our original urge to eat for survival exceeds our “need” to be thin. However, filling your guts does not necessarily have to be a bad thing, at least if you strategically fill it with low-calorie, fiber-rich foods like Molokhia. Studies have shown time and again that diets that contain the highest fiber intake result in the greatest weight loss, as dietary fiber has a significant impact on appetite loss.
9. Can help to maintain the health of the heart
There are many factors that can affect heart health, but electrolytes have the potential to improve or worsen heart function. An example of this is potassium, which, when consumed normally, is extremely beneficial to the heart’s conduction and fluid balance, but can cause bad things if overdosed. Regardless, it remains extremely important, yet many people fail to meet their ideal intake recommendations. Molokhia can help you reach your goals when you run out of opportunities or just get bored.
10. Good for your skin
Molokhia contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin that protects against oxidative sun damage, but also reflects some UV rays so as not to harm the skin at all. Vitamin E and C, which are consumed on a regular basis, help maintain the youthful vitality of your skin over the next few years.
11. Promotes immune function
The immune system benefits greatly from the consumption of antioxidants, especially in the form of fruits and vegetables. Molokhia contains the 3 most popular antioxidant vitamins that help to stimulate the production of immune cells to protect us from various infections we can come into contact with.
12. Reduces the risk of cancer
Although there are many things about cancer that we do not yet know, there has been a definite link between its evolution and higher levels of oxidative processes leading to the inflammation going on in the body. This is one of the reasons why a strong herbal diet is superior for protecting against cancer since many of them have compounds and vitamins that act as natural antioxidants. At Molokhia, vitamins A, C and E play an important role in prevention.
13. Help to lower cholesterol levels
Molokhia, in much the same way as many other cruciferous vegetables, have a potential to promote the elimination of bile. Bile is an enzyme that is involved in the breakdown of fat and is synthesized from cholesterol, but is also recycled to cholesterol after use. By encouraging its excretion, cholesterol is not reused, and the result is more cholesterol needed to make new bile acids. In the long term, it reduces blood cholesterol.