Nutritionist recommends 3 cups of bitter leaf juice daily

Madam Veronica Zaki, a nutritionist, has advised people to drink a glass of bitter leaf (vernonia amygdalina) juice three times a day for healthy living.
Zaki gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday.
She added that bitter leaf should always be taken raw and fresh as an alternative health remedy.
According to her, boiling or cooking the leaves reduces its potency, stressing that the leaves have high nutritional value.
According to her, the infusion of the juice induces haemolysis – the disintegration of red blood cells with the release of haemoglobin occurring in the living organism or in a blood sample.
She said: “Bitter leaf is popularly consumed in many homes in Nigeria as vegetable in the soup.
“The infusion is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria fever.”
Zaki added that it was usually used as anti malarial, anti-bacterial, anti-parasites and anti-cancer.
“It is also effective in preventing indigestion, scurvy, sciatica, rheumatism, and also useful in protecting the body against pollutants as cigarette smoke and some dangerous gases.
“Bitter leaf is also good in treating stomach ache, skin infection, diabetes, loss of memory, prostate cancer, general weakness, stroke, pneumonia, insomnia, arthritis, sexually transmitted diseases, kidney and liver problems.’’
She said the result of a study conducted on bitter leaves by the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, revealed that it has high protein, fat and fibre.
“The result also showed that the leaf has ash and minerals and low cyanide.
She urged people to squeeze and rinse the leaves very well before using, adding that by so doing, glycosides – the distinctive foam, is removed.
“After this, the juice is suitable for the body to handle. The important thing the juice does is to cleanse the blood and prevent sickness.’’
Zaki said bitter leaves can grow anywhere unlike other leaves that only grow in certain places and temperature.
“The leaves flourish anywhere and add beauty to places where it is present.
“The plant is a reminder that life is not always sweet; it takes bitter taste before you can achieve sweetness.’’