Cocoyam root and tuber crops are well known for their high nutritional content. Quite many of them offer high nutritional benefits that can help bridge the gaps and balance certain dietary requirements. Among these beneficial root and tuber crops is the cocoyam. It is an aroid because it is grown mainly for its edible corms, however, their leaves can also be used for both medicinal and culinary purposes.
Cocoyam can be consumed in different ways through roasting, cooking, frying, baking, pounding and milling etc. Cocoyam can also be processed into various food products used for industrial and culinary purposes. Africans usually blend cocoyam and use it as a thickener for baking and cooking soups such as oha soup and bitter leaf soup etc. It can also be cooked as porridge and the leaves can be used for cooking soups.
Cocoyam is usually available throughout the year with other similar staple root crops such as yam, potato and cassava. Cocoyam bear corms, stems and leaves, however, they are differentiated by their leaf attachments as some species have their leaves emerging near the centre while others have their stalks attached.
Cocoyam possesses high nutritional values when compared with others like cassava and yam, with substantial vitamins, minerals and proteinous contents.
Cocoyam has more calories than potatoes. 100 g provides 112 calories which mainly comes from complex carbohydrates known as amylose and amylopectin. However, the roots are very low in fats and protein than in cereals and pulses. Their protein levels can be comparable to that of other tropical food sources like yam, cassava, potato, banana, etc.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCOYAM LEAVES
(1) Boost immune system 2. Prevent cancer 3. Keep eyes healthy 4. Aid digestion and prevent digestive problems 5. Cholesterol level reduction 6. Help to lose weight 7. Reduce inflammation 8. Protect the nervous system 9. Control the blood pressure 10. Healthy Bones 11. Fetal brain and nervous system development.
12. Anaemia prevention 13. Prevention of preclampsia in pregnancy 14. Reduce wrinkles on the skin 15. Quick treatment or diarrhea 16. Very good energy source 17. Promote the bone and skin healing 18. Enhance the memory and mood 20. Increase sperm production 21. A detoxification agent.
BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM
Cocoyam leaves are good for your immune health.
You can find 145mg of vitamin in one cup of cocoyam leaves.
This amount of vitamin C will cover the 86% of vitamin C that your body needs. So this will help your immune system to boost efficiency.
If you want to keep your immune system fresh you can take cocoyam leaves.
PREVENT CANCER
You already know that cocoyam leaves are rich in vitamin c.
The antioxidant property of cocoyam leaves can fight cancer. Cocoyam leaves kill the free radicals which are reason for developing cancer cells.
So consumption of cocoyam leaves can reduce the risk of developing cancer diseases.
KEEP EYES HEALTHY
Besides vitamin c, cocoyam leaves also contain a good amount of vitamin A Taking cocoyam leaves can protect your eyes health .
A research found that a serve of cocoyam leaves contains 123% vitamin C of our regular requirement. Myopia, blindness and cataract disease can be prevented by the consumption of cocoyam leaves.
It will improve your vision power. It also can maintain your visual acuity.
AID DIGESTION AND PREVENT DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
Many people are suffering from several digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, indigestion etc. Cocoyam leaves contain a higher amount of dietary fiber.
This healthy property is very helpful to food digestion and absorption. So the people who are suffering from these digestive problems are highly recommended to take cocoyam leaves for cure.
CHOLESTEROL
LEVEL REDUCTION
Cocoyam leaves is a cholesterol free food. It has almost no cholesterol and it includes less than 1% of harmful fat. So if you have a diet plan to not take cholesterol at all you can keep the cocoyam leaves on your meal. Cocoyam leaves are high in dietary fat and methionine which are very helpful to reduce the cholesterol from your body very effectively.
So this is a perfect food to decrease the cholesterol level in your blood.
HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT
Cocoyam leaves have a very few amount of fat (only 1%) and it has a good amount of protein.
So by the consumption of cocoyam leaves, you can have the best diet to lose some weight. But as it has a proper amount of protein it also helps to gain muscle. So, if you want to lose some weight and keep your body fit you should eat the cocoyam leaves.
It will be a good diet plan for you without any doubt.
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Consuming cocoyam leaves can be a good solution to reduce the inflammation. Cocoyam leaves have the omega 3 property which can control the inflammation procedure.
The inflammatory substances can be controlled by the omega 3 property. It can also cure some diseases. arthritis gastritis etc. Diseases can be reduced by taking Cocoyam leaves.
PROTECTS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Many people feel the weak nerve system.
This is not good for physical and mental health. Sometimes they may feel pain on their limbs.
This is not a good sign for their nerve system.
Cocoyam leaves contain riboflavin, vitamin b6, thiamin, niacin and vitamin b complex.
These properties can protect the nervous system. Your immune system is also boosted by these healthy properties.
CONTROL THE BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure is a common problem nowadays. Many people around the world are facing this problem.
HEALTHY BONE
Want a healthy bone? Cocoyam leaves can be the supplement to make your bones and teeth stronger. Cocoyam leaves have the calcium property which helps to form and maintain healthy bone.
The leaves also contain phosphorus which is necessary to get strong teeth and bones. So if you want a healthy bone and teeth try to consume the cocoyam leaves.
FETAL BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Cocoyam leaves are very effective in the development of fetal brain nervous system.
So pregnant women can eat the cocoyam leaves for their babies. Cocoyam leaves contain the Folate element which is necessary for fetal brain and nervous system development. But you have to be very careful before eating it to make sure that it is clean.
ANAEMIA PREVENTION
To prevent anemia eating cocoyam leaves can be a good idea. The reason is that cocoyam leaves contain iron mineral and this element is helpful to form red blood cell. It is also rich in vitamin c which helps to absorb the iron property. So, a diet plan with cocoyam leaves is highly recommended by the specialists for the prevention of anemia.
FETAL BONE AND TEETH DEVELOPMENT
Cocoyam leaves also contain manganese property. This healthy element is necessary to form and develop fetal Bone and teeth. So women can eat this cocoyam leaves when they are pregnant.
PREVENTION OF PREECLAMPSIA IN PREGNANCY
During pregnancy, women can face several complications. Preeclampsia is one kind of complication caused by high blood pressure and it can cause harm to other organs. Most of the time it hampers the kidneys. The magnesium element in cocoyam leaves can reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia.
REDUCE WRINKLE
ON THE SKIN
Threonine is an amino acid which is found in cocoyam leaves. This threonine property helps to form the elastin and collagen. A study found that elastin and collagen are very effective in making your skin healthy. It can help to reduce the wrinkle from the skin and make the skin healthy.
