THRIVE WITH GREEN

JUTE MALLOW (EWEDU);

THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND WHY YOU SHOULD PLANT IT.

Introduction

You eat jute (ewedu)  and you feel this is not for you? Well, you are wrong! You need enough reasons to look for a space to plant it.

There are several species of Jute grown. Jute can be grown either for food or fiber(It is one of the most important fibers after cotton). The scientific name for Jute mallow, which is popularly known as ewedu in Nigeria is Corchorus olitorius. Jute is known to be native to Africa and Asia. It is an important leafy vegetable in Africa. The leaves can be eaten fresh or can be sun-dried to be eaten later in the year. In countries like Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, Jute is used as a potherb.

Nutritional Composition of Jute (Ewedu)

Jute is nutraceutical- contains health-giving additives. It contains very important antioxidants needed for good health. Jute contains active nutrients like Protein, Fat, carbohydrates, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Fiber, Ash, Calcium, Sodium, Phosphorous, Sodium, Manganese, Zinc, Iron, beta-carotene, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Ascorbic acid. With all these nutrients, you can tell Jute is suitable for every age group. Such a gift!


Food or Medicine?

Jute is said to have different culinary use in different regions of Africa and Asia. In Nigeria, the leaves are boiled to form a sticky mucilaginous paste. The soup is usually accompanied by stew and African swallow food(Amala, Eba, Fufu, etc)

 Although this has not widely been acknowledged, Jute can serve both as a source of food and medicine. Research shows that jute can be used to treat fever, stomach problems, loss of appetite, and waist pain. It is surprising to find out that the macerated fresh jute leaf can also be applied externally to treat a boil.


What to do?

I know I’m not the only one that wonders what exactly our ancestors eat to live long with little or no illness. I think with this right here, the answer is obvious. It is not just enough to eat but to eat healthily. Now, Imagine you take a walk to harvest some of the jute you planted just when you need it. It means you can get the fresh produce and get all of these nutrients because they have not been exposed to harmful chemicals and you can just be sure of the inputs you used. In the next blog post, I’ll be sharing with you the necessary tips you need to successfully grow your Jute. If you don't have a space to plant, then get your containers ready. Yes, you do need to grow yours!

Comments

  1. FolaMay 18, 2022 at 11:15 AM

    Learnt alot with what i knew before, thank you for this 🙏 ❤

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thrive With GreenMay 19, 2022 at 1:21 AM

      I'm glad you were able to learn more. Thank you!

      Delete

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