Who should limit eating Malabar spinach?
Malabar spinach is a dish loved by many people, but not everyone can eat it, so who should limit eating Malabar spinach?
Nutritional composition of Malabar spinach
Malabar spinach is a familiar vegetable in Vietnamese meals. Malabar spinach is not only delicious but also has many health benefits. Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Dr. Huynh Tan Vu - lecturer of traditional medicine department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy (HCMC) - saying that Malabar spinach, also known as bo ngot, bu ngot, and black face god, grows wild and is planted everywhere in Vietnam to get leaves to cook soup. When making medicine, many people often choose Malabar spinach plants that have lived for 2 years or more, picking fresh leaves to use immediately.
Some studies show that 100g of Malabar spinach contains 6.5g of protein, 0.08g of fat, 9g of sugar, 503mg of potassium, 15.7mg of iron, and 85mg of vitamin C.
Therefore, Malabar spinach (compared to other leafy vegetables) contains a lot of protein, iron, manganese and provitamin A.
With such high quality vegetable protein, Malabar spinach is recommended to replace animal protein to limit calcium metabolism disorders that cause osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Who should limit eating Malabar spinach?
Although Malabar spinach is nutritious, it is not suitable for everyone. An article by Dr. Phan Bich Hang - Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Hanoi Medical University in the Health & Life Newspaper said that the following cases are advised to limit eating Malabar spinach:
- Pregnant women:Some studies show that consuming too much Malabar spinach can cause uterine contractions, leading to the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women, especially in the first months, should limit or avoid using Malabar spinach.
- People with kidney problems:Malabar spinach contains purine, a compound that can be converted into uric acid in the body. For people with kidney problems or gout, consuming Malabar spinach can increase the risk of uric acid accumulation, which is harmful to health.
- People with low blood pressure:Malabar spinach can lower blood pressure, so people with a history of low blood pressure should consider before using it.
The above information answers the question "Who should not eat Malabar spinach?". Malabar spinach is not only a nutritious food but also a valuable medicinal herb in traditional medicine, with many health benefits. However, the use of Malabar spinach must be appropriate to ensure safety and effectiveness.
