## Wild Vegetables: A Treasure Trove of Health Benefits
Taro Leaves
Taro leaves are a familiar sight in rural areas, often growing wild in gardens and along fences. While this vegetable is common across Vietnam, not many are aware of its powerful health benefits. Taro leaves boast anti-cancer properties and are effective in managing diabetes, yet some dismiss it as a mere weed.
In traditional herbal medicine, taro leaves are prized for their bitter taste, known to aid in dissolving stones, cooling the body, expelling phlegm, and promoting diuresis. In some parts of Vietnam, taro leaves are a daily staple, although their true potential remains unknown to many.
Water Spinach
Water spinach, or morning glory, is a nutritional powerhouse. It comprises 92% water and 8% essential vitamins and minerals, including beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.
According to nutrition experts, 100 grams of water spinach provides 24 calories and essential nutrients such as 277 mg of potassium, 224 mg of calcium, 62 mg of magnesium, and 5.2 mg of vitamin C. Additionally, water spinach has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties due to the presence of prostaglandin, making it useful in treating fever, cough, headache, cold, and arthritis. Its fever-reducing capability is even comparable to aspirin. So, don’t overlook this vegetable when you come across it.
Chinese Watercress
Chinese watercress, often considered a weed, is a common sight in Vietnamese gardens and fields. It has a distinctive taste—a blend of sweet and slightly sour flavors. While it is primarily used as a vegetable in Vietnam, its consumption is limited, and in some places, it is even fed to cattle.
In traditional Chinese medicine, however, this plant is revered as a “longevity herb,” used to treat various ailments. Its taste is characterized as sweet and slightly sour.
Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth, also known as water cabbage, is a common aquatic plant in Vietnam, often used as animal feed for poultry and pigs. But don’t let its humble usage fool you; water hyacinth possesses anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties, making it an effective remedy for abscesses and reducing swelling. Include this vegetable in your diet to reap its health benefits.