A few weeks ago, one of Nigeria’s legendary musician, Ras Kimono, died.

It was heart attack that his death was linked to.

Very many of us have also heard or seen someone that was said to be healthy yesterday, slump and eventually died in a hospital.

These deaths have continued to occur and all of them have been linked with matters of the heart.

‘Man must die’ some persons will say, each time some issues about death and lifestyle are raised.

There is a gift nature has given human and that is the fact that all life’s challenges have a solutions to it, if only we will have a strong desire enough to uncover this solution.

Here, in a wonder leaf lies the solution to heart issues and you should Know.

Waterleaf is a wonder leaf and after I studied this plant, its potent power has held me bound to it that I could not take my eyes off it when I saw it at the popular Oyinbo market in Ebutte-Metta area of Lagos State.

I had gone there in search of materials as well as food ingredients for my food blog. I took my time to search for what I really needed.

Seeing lots of fruits and vegetables, I thanked God for Nigeria, even when I still wonder why people still die of diseases that are actually avoidable.

Believe it or not, we are richly blessed. The vegetables were very fresh, affordable and available especially now that we are in rainy season. But I searched for waterleaf diligently.

Almost when I was giving up, I stumbled upon it. It was the leafy freshness that drew my attention. On a closer look, I discovered that I was staring at it – WATERLEAF. Seeing how fresh it looks, I couldn’t resist this amazing vegetable.

Do you know what waterleaf is?

Most people are not so familiar with these vegetable crops. Waterleaf is scientifically categorised the same as weed, it is very plentiful in rainy season, simply cultivated by cuttings and by seeds; it is quick growing and has a short life cycle making it a highly perishable vegetable.

Waterleaf is not only a vegetable but it is also a herb that has efficacy and benefits for health. Before we read the health benefits of waterleaf, let’s first look at the nutrient content in waterleaf.

Nutrition Facts

Waterleaf – Vegetable

Top of Form

Servings:

Bottom of Form

Calories 270 Sodium 55 mg Total Fat 2 g Potassium 543 mg Saturated 1 g Total Carbs 56 g Polyunsaturated 0 g Dietary Fiber 6 g Monounsaturated 0 g Sugars 33 g Trans 0 g Protein 9 g Cholesterol 2 mg Vitamin A 6% Calcium 17% Vitamin C 23% Iron 5%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.. Your everyday values may be bigger or smaller depending on your calorie wants.

5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERLEAF

To avoid feeling ill, you need information on what to eat and not to eat.

Below are the 5 health benefits of waterleaf:

Eating waterleaf often as soup makes it easier to control hypertension and diabetes. Waterleaf is filled with necessary antioxidants and soluble fibres that possess mildly laxative properties. Irregularities in the body can be normalised by eating enough waterleaf. It also regulates the cholesterol level due to the high dietary fibre content of waterleaf. Waterleaf prevents cancer because of the excessive antioxidant found in it. Studies disclose that it is appropriate for stopping the onset of cancer and tumour growths. Waterleaf is also good for the management of cardiovascular illnesses as it can be useful for preventing the onset of cardiovascular diseases, just as it helps in weight administration

Having known all these, it would be splendid to eat this vegetable often in order to stay healthy.

Waterleaf is very nutritious and is used in numerous cuisines for preparing various dishes, for example, waterleaf (soup, stew, sauce, pizza) and vegetable soup (Edikaikong, mgbolodi, gbure and afang).

In preparing vegetable soup, waterleaf shoots and leaves more often than not are combined with bitter leaves, fluted pumpkin leaves and okazi leaves.

This kind of vegetable soup is a soup amongst Igbo, Yoruba, Efik and Ibibio communities. Waterleaf is common and inexpensive especially when raining season is around the corner.

HOW TO PREPARE WATER LEAF SOUP

Cooking tip: Make sure to cook the meat stock until the water dries out so that the soup will not be watery since water leaf comes with its water.

Recipe:

8 medium pieces of assorted beef

4 medium yellow peppers

4 medium dry/roasted fish

3 medium pieces of pomo (cow skin)

5 handful waterleaf, washed and chopped

1 ball bitter leaf washed

½ dry crayfish

2 cooking spoons palm oil

Seasoning and salt to taste

METHOD

Blend the yellow pepper and crayfish into a combo and keep by the side. Rinse the roasted fish and pomo in tepid water and keep by the side. Wash, spice and boil the meat until it is soft. Put in the roasted fish and pomo to the meat in the pot when the water is nearly dried up and cook for 4 minutes Add the blended mixture to the meat, stir, then add the palm oil and cook for 2 minutes Add the bitter leaf and then the waterleaf and cook for another 2 minutes, turn the soup and check for seasoning.

Serve with any swallow of your choice.