Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Health office promotes malunggay By Ben O. Tesiorna
IN CELEBRATION of the nutrition month this July, the Department of Health (DOH) is launching its campaign promoting the common household plant Kamunggay (scientific name - Moringa oleifera Lamk) as a "super vegetable."
The Mindanao-wide campaign dubbed as "Kamunggay sa Kada Balay" is aimed at promoting the kamunggay or malunggay as one of the most nutritious and useful vegetables that could be easily found in our own backyards.
Kamunggay leaves are excellent sources of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, amino acids, cystiene and minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium.
Kamunggay helps in strengthening the immune system, control blood pressure, restores skin condition, relieves headache and migraine, reduces inflammation and arthritis pains, manage the sugar level thereby preventing diabetes, restrict growth of tumors and heal ulcers.
Lactating mothers are also advised to consume kamunggay because of its high calcium content. It also promotes digestion and facilitates bowel movement. Its leaves are also traditionally used as antiseptic for wounds.
Most importantly, kamunggay is a well known recipe for many delicious and nutritious viands. Its leaves are for soups with either chicken, fish, sautéed with beef, mongo and sardines; blanched as salads; tasty for bola-bola, torta and others.
Its fruit pods and pulp are cooked as dinengdeng or lao-uy and can also be sauteed.
