Description

Local Name: Nderema

English name: Vine Spinach (also Malabar Spinach)

Botanical name: Bacella alba

Nutritional Value: Rich in vitamins A, B, C. Vitamins A help with digestion and proper liver functioning. Vitamin B1 helps with energy production and nerve impulses. Vitamin C help with cardiovascular health. It also contains Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium which are good for strong bones. In summary, Vine/Malabar Spinach contains 25% more calcium than common English Spinach. Calcium is vital for strong bones and teeth, it helps blood clotting, nerve transmission and heart-beat of your body.

Best for expectant mothers (and expectant cows too): Vine/Malabar Spinach supplies the highest amount of folate among the 6 greens in this brochure. It contains 114μg folate per 100g, which means a cup of it can deliver 13% RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake) of the folate an adult needs daily. Folate is essential for normal maturation of red blood cells, it also plays an important role in early foetal development, preventing neural tube defects, so this is especially valuable for pregnant women. Besides, dietary folate can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as it lowers the homocysteine level. Homocysteine is an amino acid in blood, too much of it is related to develop atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in blood vessels) by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.

Bone Weakness and Cancer prevention: Akin to spinach, regular consumption of basella (Malabar spinach) in the diet helps prevent osteoporosis (weakness of bones), iron-deficiency anemia. Besides, it is believed to protect the body from cardiovascular diseases and cancers of the colon.

Safety profile

• Phytates and dietary fiber present in the leaves may interfere with the bioavailability of iron, calcium, and magnesium.
• Like in spinach, basella too contains oxalic acid, a naturally-occurring substance found in some vegetables, which may crystallize as oxalate stones in the urinary tract in some people. Individuals with known oxalate urinary tract stones are advised to avoid eating them. Adequate intake of water is, therefore, encouraged to maintain normal urine output.

DISCLAIMER: This information is for enlightenment purposes only. Consult your doctor before making any health-related decisions.

Additional information