Oha leaf (Ora): Nutrition, Health benefits, and Recipes

Will humans ever be free from toxins? Unfortunately, the answer to this question lies with us all. But thank goodness, Oha leaf is available for you and for the elimination of toxins from your body.

Toxins come from different things that we are exposed to daily. Our food, water, air, cream and more.

Pesticides, most especially, find their way into foods that we eat.

Not too long ago, a viral video of a beans seller in Nigeria who adds sniper (a pesticide) to beans to prevent pests shocked everyone.

But beyond that, what of the vegetables that you eat Do you know that people who farm vegetables use pesticides to keep pests away?

Some months back, after I watched a video of how people grow cabbage from the one they bought, I decided to try it.

My cabbage sprouted and was doing well, but few days into its life, pests ate it up and it died.

Imagine if I had used pesticides to chase the pests away. We will have a big size of cabbage, but will also enjoy a big volume of toxin.

Pesticides And Health Issues They Cause

Most farmers use these chemicals and theyIt can also cause Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and reproductive outcomes.

The study further states that exposure to pesticides has been associated with an increase in the incidence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcoma, lung sarcoma.

That said, it is not every food you eat that has the capacity of flushing this toxin which causes oxidative stress away.

This is where Oha leaf [Pterocarpus soyauxii], which you can use as spice for your soup, comes in.

Health Benefits Of Oha Leaf

The leaf is popular among eastern Nigerians who prepare a delicious soup – Oha soup – with it.

You can explore this soup and get the health benefits which we will list below.

1. Oha Leaf Is Rich In Nutrients

Oha is a nutritious vegetable. It is rich in calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, potassium, manganese, sodium and iron .

The leave is also rich in protein and contains a good amount of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Also, Oha leaf contains other phytochemicals. An analysis of different solvent extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and tannins.

These phytochemicals are necessary for the protection of your cells from damage that could lead to chronic diseases.

For instance, potassium regulates the activity of muscles and nerves because its cations are important in neuron function.

Also, it helps in the maintenance of the body’s pH level.

On the other hand, sodium helps to maintain the balance of water, acids and bases in the fluid outside the cell.

Iron is a component of the haemoglobin and mycoglobin. It is required for oxygen and carbon dioxide transport and oxidative phosphorylation.

2. Oha Boosts Your Immune System

Oha is one of the vegetables you can take to boost your immune system. You even need it in a world that is facing chronic variance of corona virus.

At the end of a study of the leaf, researchers concluded that the presence of vitamin A and Vitamin C in the leaves make them good for the maintenance of immune system .

3. Improves Your Eyesight

According to the study cited above, Oha is good for your vision. This is because of the vitamin A content.

4. Oha Leaf Is A Good Source Of Antioxidants

Everyday, you are exposed to toxins that become radical in your body. Some of these come in from pesticides.

However, with a vegetable like Oha, it is easier for your body to flush out these toxins .

One unique thing about Oha leaf is that it is hardly attacked by pests. This is an indication of its power to keep pests away.

5. Oha Leaf Helps Maintain Your Bones

Furthermore, Oha is one leaf that helps your bone a lot.

Basically, the presence of vitamin C in this vegetable shows that the leaves could be used to promote healthy living.

It helps in the maintenance of tissues, bones and teeth. Also, it protects against scurvy contaminate your veggies with toxins that are dangerous to your health.

Some other forms of cancer this could cause are cancer of the pancreas, stomach, liver, bladder and gall bladder.

and other ascorbic acid deficiency related diseases

6. Improves Heart Health

Also, Oha leaf helps in boosting your heart health.

This is one of the functions of fibre in the body. It helps ensure that cholesterol build-up, which could affect the heart, does not happen.

Also, sodium helps to maintain the balance of water, acids and bases in the fluid outside the cell.

Oha is also rich in iron which is a component of the haemoglobin and mycoglobin. It is required for oxygen and carbon dioxide transport and oxidative phosphorylation.

Iron deficiency is harmful to the heart.

According to a 2018 study, saponins are able to lower bad cholesterol in the body. That also have hemolytic and anticoagulant properties that make them great for cardio-protection

As a result, with this compound, Oha will help lower risk of heart diseases.

7. Oha Leaf Lowers Blood Sugar Level

Again, saponin is another active compound that helps lower blood sugar level for pre-diabetics and diabetics.

According to a study, saponin can reduce the increment of blood glucose by inhibiting the enzymes that break down disaccharides into monosaccharides

The study concludes that this effect is remarkable for the treatment of both Type I and Type II diabetic patients and helps to prevent high blood sugar levels postprandial .