Eat indigenous vegetables to curb lifestyle diseases
A shopper buys vegetables in a supermarket. Research suggests that the indigenous vegetables such as Nightshade (Managu), Amaranthus (Terere), Spider plant (Saget), Cowpea leaves (Kunde), Jews Mallow (Mrenda) and Crotalaria (Mitoo) are rich in iron, protein, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, foliate and dietary fibre. Photo/FAITH NJUGUNA
What you need to know:
- In school, we were encouraged by teachers to study hard so that we could afford to lead a good life with plenty of good food- which in this case is meant roast meat (nyama choma) and junk-food.
- It could be argued that the education system, then, stigmatized the traditional foods as something meant for the poor.
Reports indicate an increasing number of deaths arising from lifestyle related diseases, in Kenya and the world over.
A while back, there was hardly a record of deaths resulting from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
Currently, however, these are the common killer diseases.
Growing up in the village, Ugali and indigenous vegetables such as Nightshade (Managu), Amaranthus (Terere), Spider plant (Saget) and Crotalaria (Mito) were the staple food.
In school, we were encouraged by teachers to study hard so that we could afford to lead a good life with plenty of good food- which in this case is meant roast meat (nyama choma) and junk food.
It could be argued that the education system, then, stigmatized the traditional foods as something meant for the poor.
For this reason, one abandoned traditional foods and embraced junk-foods as soon as one started getting a regular income.
STIGMA PERSISTS IN SOME EATING PLACES
The stigma persists in some eating joints, particularly fast-food joints, where if you ask for Managu with Ugali you belong to the poor, as our teachers intimated.
Yet research suggests that the indigenous vegetables such as Nightshade (Managu), Amaranthus (Terere), Spider plant (Saget), Cowpea leaves (Kunde), Jews Mallow (Mrenda) and Crotalaria (Mitoo) are rich in iron, protein, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, foliate and dietary fibre.
Therefore, Kenyans should eat these foods to keep lifestyle diseases at bay.
Furthermore, presence of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Iron lowers the cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, malnutrition and skin infections. Research based on 100grams sample shows that Saget has 18.8 milligrams of Iron and Terere has 10.9 Milligrams.
HEALTHY FOODS
Hence, these vegetables are recommended to leukaemia patients, expectant women, teenage girls and the elderly. while infants and those with eye problems are advised to consume Terere.
Calcium is required for bone development.
With the majority of Kenyan population being under 25 years and the middle class, who drive the country’s economy, aged between 25-50 years they should be informed on the importance of taking healthy foods.
It will reduce illnesses and in the long-term turn improve the country’s economy.
