Vietnam is a paradise for vegetables, tubers, and fruits. In our country, green vegetables are abundant, diverse, and especially cheap. There is a type of vegetable in Vietnam that is very cheap, but in the US, it is more expensive than pork, with a price of about 175,000 VND/kg, and during off-season, it can reach 360,000 VND/kg, and that is morning glory.
Morning glory – a type of vegetable in Vietnam that is very cheap, but in the US, it is more expensive than pork
In the past few days, the image of a foreign guest picking morning glory seeds at Noi Bai airport went viral on social media. Also from this image, the story about the price of morning glory in the US has attracted the attention of the online community.
In the state of Georgia in the US Southeast, for many decades, this vegetable was considered illegal. According to Atlanta magazine, morning glory has been banned in this state since the 1970s due to its invasive nature. This plant species needs moist soil to grow. They are described as growing like weeds, consuming nearby water resources, and causing harm to native plants. In addition, morning glory is also seen as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, damaging ponds and lakes, especially in areas with a warm and humid climate like Georgia and Florida.
For a long time, people of Asian descent living in Georgia had to buy morning glory from the states of Florida and Texas. They even secretly sold the vegetable in their cars at supermarket parking lots or delivered it to customers’ homes. Jenny Vo, CEO of two local supermarkets, City Farmers Market, and Hong Kong Supermarket, revealed that at one point, the price of morning glory sold in the black market reached 22 USD/kg (over 515,000 VND). This price was 3 times higher than in other states.
In the 2021 election in Georgia, morning glory continued to be a hot topic. State representative Marvin Lim discovered this vegetable when he visited the village where his mother grew up in the Philippines. Since then, he has researched and discussed with experts from Florida, Texas, to learn how these states cultivate morning glory without harming the environment. The petition to allow the cultivation of morning glory in Georgia received 100,000 signatures with high approval.
In 2022, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) officially allowed restaurants in the state to import and include morning glory in their menus to serve customers. However, the cultivation of morning glory is still not permitted in Georgia. Supermarkets and grocery stores are only allowed to sell morning glory in cases where “the roots are deeply cut to prevent regrowth” so that customers cannot replant it. Until now, this vegetable has appeared in regular grocery stores, selling at a more reasonable price, about 6 USD/kg (over 140,000 VND). But during off-season, the price can reach 143,000 VND/0.454kg, equivalent to 360,000 VND/kg.
What are the benefits of morning glory?
In morning glory, there are many essential vitamins and minerals for the body such as:
– Vitamin A: 315.0 µg; Vitamin C: 55.0 mg; Vitamin B3: 0.9 mg
– Calcium: 77.0 mg; Magnesium: 71.0 mg; Iron: 1.7 mg; Sodium: 113.0 mg; Potassium: 312.0 mg
Morning glory is excellent for human health
+ Cholesterol Reduction
Most green vegetables are rich in fiber, and morning glory is no exception. The fiber content in morning glory is relatively high, providing many health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
+ Assisting in treating jaundice and liver problems
In Ayurvedic medicine (traditional Hindu medicine system), morning glory promotes detoxification activity of enzymes along with its antioxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities, thereby improving jaundice conditions and aiding in the treatment of liver problems.
+ Assisting in treating anemia
There is a high iron content in morning glory. Iron is an important component of red blood cells and plays a crucial role in patients with anemia and pregnant women. Therefore, supplementing morning glory in daily meals helps reduce symptoms and improve anemic conditions.
+ Treating indigestion and constipation
Fiber in green vegetables is beneficial for the digestive system. Morning glory is a green vegetable that contains abundant fiber, which can improve issues such as indigestion, bloating, and constipation by promoting intestinal peristalsis and enhancing intestinal health.
+ Assisting in preventing diabetes
Morning glory has the ability to absorb excess sugar in the blood. There have been many studies on the effects of morning glory in preventing diabetes, especially being beneficial for women with gestational diabetes.
+ Improving cardiovascular health
Morning glory contains antioxidants such as vitamin A, C, and beta-carotene that help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, limiting the risk of blocked arteries, heart pain, or stroke.
+ Preventing cancer
Morning glory contains various antioxidants with the ability to eliminate free radicals from the body, thus avoiding the risk of cancer. Morning glory has been studied to prevent breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and skin cancer.
+ Improving vision
Morning glory has a high content of carotenoids, vitamin A, and lutein. These nutrients play a vital role in eye health, helping to positively improve visual conditions.
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