Purslane (scientific name Portulaca oleracea) is a herbaceous plant. It originates from India and China, but it now thrives in many places, adapting well to various environments. In our country, purslane can be found in most provinces, often growing wild in moist areas along roadsides, canals, and ponds.
Purslane has a slightly sour taste, is non-toxic, cool in nature, and rich in nutritional value. All parts of the plant, such as the stem, leaves, and flower buds, can be used, except for the root.
Some delicious dishes made from purslane include stir-fried purslane with garlic and shrimp, purslane soup with minced meat, and purslane salad. This is not only a food that can be used to prepare many tasty dishes, but also a natural remedy with various benefits.
Improves Vision
Purslane is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can bring important health benefits. For example, vitamin A helps keep your eyes healthy and improves your immune system. Vitamin A is also essential for the health of your organs as it supports healthy cell division.
Helps Wounds Heal Faster
This vegetable is also rich in vitamin C, which is important for keeping your collagen and blood vessels in good condition, thereby helping wounds heal faster.
Protects Cardiovascular Health
Purslane has many benefits in supporting the cardiovascular system. It is one of the few vegetables rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for maintaining healthy arteries, preventing strokes, heart attacks, and other forms of cardiovascular disease.
In fact, purslane has the highest omega-3 fatty acid content compared to any other terrestrial plant.
Benefits for Bones
Two minerals found in purslane, calcium and magnesium, are extremely important for building and maintaining strong bones. Calcium deficiency is a common cause of osteoporosis, so eating purslane can reduce the risk of developing this condition.
On the other hand, magnesium indirectly affects bone health by influencing bone cell development. Therefore, ensuring sufficient intake of both these minerals can improve bone health, preventing complications caused by osteoporosis and bone aging.
Rich in Cancer-Fighting Antioxidants
Purslane also contains many antioxidants, including Vitamins C, E, and A. Besides these vitamins, purslane also contains Glutathione, which helps protect cells from damage.
Beta-carotene is another antioxidant found in purslane. Beta-carotene is effective in reducing the number of free radicals in your body. Free radicals can increase the risk of cell damage, thereby increasing the risk of cancer. Thus, increasing your beta-carotene intake can help reduce the risk of cancer.
Helps You Sleep Well
This vegetable also contains the natural hormone melatonin, which helps you maintain a good and deep sleep. Try eating purslane at dinner to help yourself get a better night’s sleep.
In general, purslane is a vegetable you can easily incorporate into your recipes. So, head to the kitchen and start cooking some purslane dishes to take advantage of its wonderful benefits.
However, like other foods, consuming too much of anything is harmful to health. The only side effect of eating a lot of purslane is that it can lead to an increased risk of developing kidney stones. The reason is that this vegetable contains oxalic acid, a natural substance that can crystallize into oxalate stones in the urinary tract in some people.
100g of fresh purslane leaves contains 1.31g of oxalic acid, more than in spinach (0.97g/100g) and cassava (1.26g/100g). Therefore, people with oxalate urinary stones should absolutely avoid eating purslane.
