Bitter Leaf (Dried)

Description

Bitter Leaf – Cut Up & Washed is a vegetable that is known naturally for its distinctive bitter taste and foamy nature while being washed and largely regarded as a good condiment for soup preparation in the Eastern part of Nigeria, not leaving out some parts of the South-southern parts as well, it is one plant that has been identified as a wonder vegetable over the years. Every part of this plant is bitter starting from the leaves to its roots. The bitterness of this plant is actually good for the body. Popularly known in Nigeria as Ewuro by the Yorubas, Shiwaka by the Hausas, Onugbu by the Igbos, and Aforloh amongst the Idoma people, bitter leaf is scientifically called Vernonia amygdalina. Bitter leaf is generally considered a liver herb because it stimulates, cleanses and supports the liver. The liver is one of the most important organs of the body. There are a lot of major functions that the liver should do every day and this includes the production of bile acid that helps in fat metabolism. Without the liver, fats will not be digested inside the body to be used as energy. Bitter leaf can be very helpful in maintaining the liver’s optimum health to release bile acid every time people eat fatty foods. Also bitter leaf is an abundant source of the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acid. Because your body can’t make these two fats, they are required from the diet. A study found that diets rich in these two fatty acids were protective against cardiovascular disease.