Philippines’ Saluyot

Poor Man’s Vegetable

This Philippine vegetable is dubbed as the “Poor man’s vegetable” because it is abundantly growing everywhere and it is not such demanding on vegetable market. However, this Philippine vegetable will not make you poor rather it will make you rich; rich with good health, youthful looks and long life.

Saluyot or scientifically called Corchorus Olitorius is considered by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as one of the most nutritious vegetables in the Philippines; and also endorse especially by the Department of Health.

Saluyot

Every saluyot leaves and fruits contains vitamin A,C and E, thiamin, riboflavin, phosphorus, niacin, potassium, iron, folate, proteins, beta carotene, calcium and dietary fiber. It has also an anti0 stress contents wherein it is used as an anti-stress medicine in Japan.

Saluyot also could cure dysentery or enteritis, dyspepsia, ascites (or the enlargement of stomach or belly due to liver illness),carminative or relieves from flatulence and frequently farting (or “utot ng utot”),dysuria or hard to urinate, UTI or cystitis, piles or enlarging vein on the rectum or anal area, pectoral pains or pain on the hip and back. Moreover, saluyot have also a purgative ability to relieve one from intestinal worms. It has also demulcent property that could relieve one from very hard stools.

Saluyot

Saluyot is also lactogogue or it increases the milk of breastfeeding mom and this Philippine vegetable is also tonic or it invigorates one from sluggishness.

How to use Saluyot?

1. Make the fruit or its leaves your natural juice or you can make milk beverage stuff with chopped saluyot chunks.

2. You can dry saluyot leaves and made them into tea.

3. You can add saluyot to your vegetable salad or add it as one of the vegetable in your vegetable soup.

4. You can stir-fry saluyot for 3 to 5 minutes over a medium heat and eat it together with your rice or noodle.

Just don’t overcook, for it drains the enzymes and nutrients contains in it.

There is a lot of natural nutritious food, a poor Filipino could serve his family without spending much. The only thing he must do is to unsubscribe his mind from a materialistic mindset conditioned on every society of the world today, so that he will see the free blessings around him and will eventually realize that he is not really poor though one or he do not have large sum of money on his pocket. Health is wealth, is not it?; and long life is a great blessing.