4 Benefits of kenikir leaves, a vegetable that is often eaten as fresh vegetables: uses, side effects, interactions

There are various types of vegetables, but did you know about kenikir leaves? This plant, which has another name, ulam raja, may not be as popular as spinach, kale, or mustard greens. However, many people don't know that there are a myriad of benefits of kenikir leaves for the health of the body, you know. Are you curious to find out more about this vegetable? Read on this review, yes!

What are the nutritional content in kenikir leaves?

Kenikir or the Latin name Cosmos caudatus is a plant with longitudinal leaves that have a long stalk. This plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. C. caudatus which originally came from parts of Latin America, until later the body and developed in Southeast Asia.

The kenikir or king ulam plant has a height that can reach 3 meters, with pink or purple flowers. The leaves are one part of this plant which is usually taken and processed as food.

Generally, this vegetable is more often used as a direct meal with fresh vegetables and chili sauce, aka eaten raw. However, some people also like it when it is boiled to eat as a side for other vegetables in ointment and pecel.

Not to be outdone by other types of vegetables, kenikir leaves will provide a number of good nutrients for your body as long as they are successfully cleaned and processed properly.

This is proven that per 100 grams (gr) of kenikir leaves can contribute nutrients such as 45 calories (cal) of energy, 3.7 grams of protein, 6.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 5.8 grams of fiber. Interestingly, this type of vegetable is also equipped with various minerals and vitamins. Starting from 328 milligrams (mg) of calcium, 65 mg of phosphorus, 2.7 mg of iron, 6 mg of sodium, 431 mg of potassium, and 0.6 mg of zinc.

Some of the vitamins contained in this vegetable are 12 micrograms (mcg) of carotene, 0.5 mg of vitamin B1 (thiamin), 0.3 mg of vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and 4.5 mg of niacin. It doesn't stop there, the king ulam also has a lot of antioxidant content in it which further enriches its nutrients.

Various benefits of kenikir leaves for health

After knowing the myriad of nutritional content in this one vegetable, maybe you are still wondering what other properties the king ulam has to make it worthy of being a distraction from the daily family meal menu.

Well, here are some of the benefits of kenikir leaves to help support the health of the body:

1. Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are unique compounds whose job is to ward off the bad effects of free radical attacks that enter the body. If not immediately stopped, these free radicals can develop into various chronic diseases that are detrimental to health.

In fact, the human body has the natural ability to produce its own antioxidants. Unfortunately, the amount produced by the body is sometimes not enough to meet optimal needs, so it needs antioxidant intake from outside.

Fruits and vegetables are the best antioxidant contributors that are easily available, one of which includes kenikir leaves. According to research results published in the Global Journal of Pharmacology, from about 37 types of raw vegetables that were tested, kenikir leaves or king ulam actually contain high types of flavonoid antioxidants.

Researchers believe that the types of antioxidants contained in these vegetables have a positive impact on preventing digestive disorders. In addition, the leaves of the king's ulam are also equipped with phenolic compounds (a type of flavonoid) which have the potential to be efficacious as a basic ingredient for medicines.

2. Prevent hypertension

The leaves of the king ulam are predicted to have an antihypertensive effect, so it is good for consumption by those of you who are at risk of developing or want to prevent hypertension. It has been shown that the leaf extract of Raja Ulam can inhibit the increase in heart rate in experimental animals, according to a study from the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.

When compared, the results of these studies are equivalent to the effects of antihypertensive drugs. On the other hand, there are more interesting things that further strengthen the benefits of kenikir leaves to prevent hypertension. This vegetable can actually help lower blood pressure thanks to its diuretic effect.

3. Reducing the risk of diabetes

Still in research with the same journal, get the benefits of other kenikir leaves that have an antidiabetic effect. These results were obtained after the researchers found a significant decrease in blood sugar in the obese, experimental animals that had previously been given the extract of the king's ulam leaves.

This is because the leaves of the king ulam have an enzyme that can inhibit glucose absorption in the digestive system. More than that, this king ulam leaf also has the potential to manage hyperglycemia conditions or blood sugar levels are too high in the body.

4. Prevent osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that is prone to occur in old age. In this case, the benefits of kenikir leaves are believed to help prevent osteoporosis in women who have experienced menopause thanks to its ability to protect bone function and condition.

For about 8 weeks, a group of experimental animals that had changes in bone composition resembling bone loss in menopausal women were given Raja Ulam leaf extract. As a result, it was concluded that the volume and composition of the animal bones in general could gradually improve.

In addition, the benefits of kenikir leaves were also found to increase the number of minerals, osteoid volume, and osteoblasts in the bones. Increasing these three bone compositions can stimulate the formation and repair of bone condition in the body.

Regardless of the processing process, make sure to always wash the kenikir leaves first before cooking or eating them raw, huh!