In fact, purslane is one of the wild plants that can grow arbitrarily in a home’s yard. This plant is often cut off entirely because it is considered unsuitable for the beauty of a home garden designed in this way.
However, apart from its identity as a wild plant, this purslane has many benefits that can be felt by humans. In fact, these benefits exist for the health of the body. Want to know more about the benefits of this purslane? Read the explanation below.
Familiar With Purslane
Purslane originated from India, and its population is now distributed throughout the Asian continent, especially in countries with tropical climates. This plant has a number of differences, which can be distinguished from the nature of the shape of the leaves, their thickness, the arrangement of the leaves, and the distribution of pigment.
Purslane grows as a hardy woody plant, requires relatively little water and soil nutrients, grows only 12–15 cm tall and grows well in sunny climates and lowlands. Therefore, it is not surprising that purslane is often found in Indonesia.
The leaves and stems of this plant are light in nature and can be eaten. In addition, yellow flower buds can be added to salads.
Purslane Health Benefits
This plant has a high water content and a characteristic sour, slightly salty taste. In addition to salad mixes, purslane seeds, similar to black tea powder, are often used in mixed herbal drinks. Following are the health benefits that can be obtained by consuming purslane leaves.
1. Prevent Headaches or Migraines
For the treatment of severe headaches or migraines, doctors usually recommend higher doses of riboflavin, around 400 milligrams. The vitamin B2 found in purslane has been tested for the treatment of headaches caused by annoying migraines.
Purslane is a vitamin supplement containing vitamin B2 and has been shown to naturally reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Apart from this, this herb also helps in reducing the symptoms and pain of migraine and shortening their duration.
2. Maintain Bone Structure
Purslane contains a variety of minerals that are important nutrients for bone protection. Iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese are minerals that are important for protecting bone tissue and speeding up the process of bone healing in the body. In addition, the long-term benefit is that it can prevent the development of osteoporosis of the bones, which is often experienced by older people.
3. Supports Healthy Heart
This plant contains several important nutrients that play a role in maintaining heart health. Firstly, purslane is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is considered one of the best sources of these fatty acids. Omega-3s can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and balance healthy cholesterol (HDL) levels in the bloodstream.
Adequate intake of omega-3s has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis, thereby preventing heart attacks and strokes.
In addition, the potassium compounds present in purslane may also help lower blood pressure. This is because potassium can act as a vasodilator, relaxing the blood vessels and reducing the workload on the heart.
4. Cancer Prevention
We are often unaware of the effects of free radicals. From foods with harmful substances to other unbalanced lifestyle. An excessive amount of free radicals in the body is one of the main causes of cancer cells in the body. One way to avoid this is to pay attention to your diet and eat a lot of anti-cancer foods.
Purslane is one of the best anti-cancer foods, being high in vitamins A and C. Both of these vitamins may act as antioxidants to prevent cancer, such as lung and oral cancer.
In addition, purslane also contains betalain pigment compounds, which give leaves their yellow-reddish color. The beta-cyanine and beta-xanthine compounds present in this compound are associated with anti-mutagenic effects in the body. Namely, they can block the effects of mutations on healthy cells caused by free radicals.
5. Keep Your Eyes Healthy
The vitamin A and beta-carotene present in purslane may play a role in maintaining long-term eye health. Purslane may prevent degenerative eye diseases and cataracts by scavenging free radicals that attack eye cells.
6. Improve blood circulation
Purslane also contains iron and copper, which help stimulate the production of red blood cells. Both these minerals are very important for increasing the circulation of oxygen to the vital organs of the body. In addition, this mineral can also improve the healing process of damaged cells and organs, promote hair growth and improve metabolic rate more effectively.
7. Digestive Health
For those who often suffer from digestive disorders like diarrhoea, piles, intestinal bleeding and dysentery, you can start taking purslane as an herbal remedy. This benefit is due to the fact that purslane contains many organic compounds that are beneficial to the digestive system, such as malic acid, citric acid, alanine, dopamine, glucose, and others.
8. Lose Weight
While dieting, one should pay more attention to the intake of fiber so that the body feels full for a long time and the absorption of nutrients can be increased. Purslane is low in calories, rich in fiber and good nutrients. Adding purslane to your diet can help you reach your weight loss goal because the stomach may feel full, but the calorie count is not so much.
9. Supports Healthy Skin
Apart from the health benefits, purslane is also one of the best options for treating various skin conditions. The high levels of vitamin A and other compounds in this wild plant may help reduce the inflammatory effects of bee and snake stings when applied to the surface of the skin that has been bitten.
In addition, in the long term, purslane can make skin healthier, reduce wrinkles, and promote skin cell healing to clear away scars and blemishes.
10. Support the development of children
In addition to adults, purslane can also be used to support the growth of your child. Foods high in omega-3s have been linked to a lower risk of children’s developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD and other problems that affect millions of children worldwide.
Although purslane is known as a wild plant, it turns out that purslane has various benefits that anyone can use. Focus on how best to consume it to feel the benefits, and always consult a dietitian or physician regarding the use of purslane as an ingredient in herbal remedies for certain medical conditions.