Carmen, Cebu - Ever heard of Malabar Nightshade? Locally named alugbati, it is also called Malabar Spinach. It is a leafy green vegetable and it is a member of the Basellaceae family, and its botanical name is Basella Alba. It has nothing to do with spinach. When raw, it has fleshy, juicy leaves that taste like citrus and pepper. It tastes like spinach when cooked. Malabar spinach is a popular nutritious vegetable that acts as a natural coolant. It nourishes, strengthens the body, purifies the blood, rejuvenates, and acts as an aphrodisiac. Its inclusion in a regular diet helps prevent bone weakness, anemia, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer.

Other than those mentioned, Malabar Nightshade has different health benefits. Here are the following:

• Improve eyesight - Free radicals are known to cause damage at the cell roots in retinal tissues. Malabar spinach contains anti-oxidants such as vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein, which protect the eyes from free radicals.
  
  
• Help aids in digestion - The fiber in basella provides roughage that aids in proper digestion, which aids in nutrient absorption and protects against the risk of colorectal cancer through detoxification.
  
  
• Promotes bone strength - Both calcium and magnesium are required for bone strength. While calcium is required for strong bones, magnesium is required for proper calcium absorption in the body. Because calcium and magnesium are found in Malabar spinach, it provides the necessary strength to the bones.
  
  
• Prevents dementia - High levels of homocysteine and a lack of folates in the body cause mental dullness, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Malabar spinach, which is high in folate, can help reduce the effects of homocysteine while also improving mental activity and preventing Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
• For better sleep - Malabar spinach contains enough magnesium, a mineral required to relax the tense muscles caused by a lack of sleep. When the muscles relax, the body falls into a deep, restful sleep.
  
  
• Helps in pregnancy - The B-complex vitamin folate nurtures the embryo, specifically its neural tube, promoting proper fetal growth during pregnancy. Pregnant women who include the leafy vegetable in their regular diet have normal placental formation and give birth to healthy babies.
  
  
• Prevent anemia - Anemia is caused by a lack of folate, which results in an insufficient presence of red blood cells. Basella leaves, which are high in folate, aid in the absorption of vitamin B12 and iron, which helps to cure anemia and keep the body energetic and healthy.

To sum it all, Malabar Nightshade is high in vitamin A (approximately 8,000 units per 100 grams), vitamin C, iron, and calcium. It has a high protein content for a plant and is also high in magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that our bodies require. Including this food in our diet makes our bodies healthier, and it is inexpensive. // ND II Geraldine Mae S. Pausanos, RND