KANGKONG

(Water Spinach)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Prevention of Cancer

Reduces Cholesterol

Treatment of Jaundice and Liver Problems

Lower blood sugar level

Useful in treating Anemia

Treatment of fever

Treatment of Indigestion and Constipation

Protection against Heart Diseases

Beneficial for Eyes

Boosts the Body’s Immunity

treat intestinal worm infestation

Promote relaxation and sleep

Rejuvenates Skin

Treatment of skin Diseases

PROPERTIES

Anti-oxidant

Anti-aging

Anti Diabetic

Kangkong is a leafy vegetable usually found in Asian Cuisines that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Kangkong is also used in herbal medicine for the treatment of fever, liver disease, and most importantly diabetes in pregnant women. 

Kangkong, Kangkung (Ipomoea aquatica) is a semiaquatic, tropical plant that flourishes naturally in water and moist soil. Kangkong is an edible plant harvested as a leaf vegetable. Kangkong thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and is more commonly found in Southeast Asian countries.

Kangkong can grow rapidly spreading through waterways forming floating mats that can block water flow and passage of small water crafts. 

Kangkong is a herbaceous trailing shiny vine with milky sap. The stems are hollow, rooting at nodes, usually found trailing in moist soil or floating in aquatic locations. Kangkong leaves are alternate, simple, in the shape of arrow heads about 3–14 cm (1–6 in) long. The hollow vines float on water and the leaves are held above the water line.

Kangkong bears trumpet like flowers whose petals are white or pink-lilac with mauve color at the center. Kangkong has oval or spherical seed pods that contains 1 to 4 gray seeds which may be used for planting.

Kangkong is considered safe even for pregnant women and breast feeding mothers. Kangkong is actually used to treat diabetes during pregnancy. Kangkong might have a side effect of lowering the blood sugar levels. Caution is advised if you are taking diabetes medicine.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) of  Water spinach, raw

                Energy.........................79 kJ (19 kcal)

                Carbohydrates.         3.14g

                Dietary fiber.             2.1g

                Fat.                               0.2g

                Protein.                       2.6g

            Vitamins..........................

                Vitamin A equiv.       315 μg (39%)

                Thiamine (B1)           0.03 mg (3%)

                Riboflavin (B2)          0.1 mg (8%)

                Niacin (B3)                 0.9 mg (6%)

                Pantothenic acid(B5) 0.141 mg (3%)

                Vitamin B6.                0.096 mg (7%)

                Folate (B9)                  57 μg (14%)

                Vitamin C.                  55 mg (66%)

            Minerals............................

                Calcium.                     77 mg (8%)

                Iron.                            1.67 mg (13%)

                Magnesium.              71 mg (20%)

                Manganese.               0.16 mg (8%)

                Phosphorus.              39 mg (6%)

                Potassium.                 312 mg (7%)

                Sodium.                      113 mg (8%)

                Zinc............................  0.18 mg (2%)

OTHER BENEFITS

          In addition to the benefits given above, water spinach is effective in treating ulcers, menstrual pains, toothache, launched urination, nosebleed etc. It acts as a sedative for people who have insomnia or sleeping difficulty. The juice of spinach mixed with water is used as a cold compress to treat fever. Being anti-venom, it is used to promote vomiting in case of poisoning.