Add that bitter leaf to your diet


It usually grows in the wild and is a long time medicinal herb for stomachache and helps in the management of malaria symptoms. Bitter leaf, also known as Mululuza, is an important herbal plant, according to Amanda Twebaze, a freelance nutritionist. It has anti-oxidant chemicals that fight against inflammation in the body and boost the immune system. It can also help to cleanse the digestive system from worms and other parasites.
Benefits
Bitter leaf is said to have leansing properties, which helps to cleanse vital organs like the liver and the kidney. It is also used in the treatment of skin infections such as ringworm, rashes and eczema. In this case, the leaves can be squeezed to make foam and then applied to the affected area. 
She also adds that “drinking raw freshly squeezed bitter leaf juice has for a long time been known as a remedy for stomachache with immediate relief and eases indigestion. It is also helpful in weight loss because it suppresses your appetite, thereby reducing calorie intake.”
The leaves of this plant are said to boost one’s immunity because it contains minerals like potassium, zinc, magnesium and sodium, which help the body fight diseases. 
There are people who claim to have been cured from coronavirus by using the juice extract of this herb.

 However, Twebaze says Covid-19 is still under study, “no clear remedy has been proven yet. It is, therefore, important to stay on the safe side from speculations by keeping abreast with the new updated findings from credible sources like Ministry of Health,  World Health Organisation and following stated guidelines that have helped us stay relatively safe thus far, as well as getting the right treatment from medical centres.”
Your best bet is to boost your immune system not solely on mululuza but on a variety of antioxidant foods like berries, cinnamon, turmeric, beetroots etc
Incorporating it into your diet
Some people chew the leaves and the stem, while others eat them as vegetables but like the name goes, it has a bitter taste and is, therefore, best taken as a drink after being mixed with water. You could add a few leaves of it to your vegetable smoothies as well. 
Twebaze also remarks;“Its daily intake is not recommended because it can irritate the digestive tract and cause diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting.” She warns pregnant women to first discuss with their nutritionist or doctor before use.
When you make juice from the bitter leaf, it loses bitterness after a day but it will still be effective. You can add some honey to preserve the solution.
According to Ethel Nambowa, a gardener and landscaper at Green Gardeners, although the plant usually grows as a wild herb, you can have it as a potted plant in your compound. It can either be propagated by seeds or stem cuttings. “The seeds can be collected from dry flower heads and first planted in nursery beds then the seedlings transplanted to a favourable place with direct sunlight and water in well-drained loam soil.

Benefits of drinking bitter leaf
● Helps get rid of fever. 
● Lowers blood pressure
 ● Treats a bad stomach
● Good for bones and teeth
● Improves metabolism function
● Fights free radicals
● Fights against diabetes

Compiled from www.pulse.ng