Organic Climbing Spinach

“Let food be your medicine.” Hippocrates

Several years ago when I was an intern for the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, I sowed seeds of a plant that I had never heard of before, climbing spinach. It is also known as vine spinach or Malabar spinach. After that I’ve planted them anytime that I could get hold of the seeds. The climbing stems are tender and dark pink and the leaves are dark green, thick, and mucilaginous, growing beautifully without any part bitten by pests. Climbing spinach is very good for thickening soup, stew, curry, and it is delicious in stir fry. It also has purple berries that can be used in jam, jelly, and chutney.

Climbing spinach is a perennial vine popular for its nutritional values in South Asia, Australia, Euroupe and America. It is full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It can protect against aging, smoothly digested reducing cholesterol absorption, and  it can help with bowel problems. It has lots of vitamin A, good for skin and eyes and reducing oral and lung cancers. It has more vitamin C than English spinach and aids the body in resistance to infections. It has vitamin B and folate acids and very good for pregnant women. Climbing spinach also provides iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, and copper. So, this wonderful herb can help in protecting against colon cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and anemia. Just like consuming too much English spinach, it can cause oxalate stones in the urinary tract. Enjoy consuming it in moderation. 🙂

“Let’s always eat and drink healthful food and beverages and do it in moderation.” Dr. Sii

Organic Prickly Pear Cactus

“Let food be your medicine.” Hippocrates

One time when I was shopping in an ethnic market, I saw a strange looking fruit. They were prickly and I was never interested to buy them till I heard that they had a tropical like flavor. I was curious so I did some research. No, it is not yet listed as a superfood, but it has a lot of nutritional values and is very popular in Latin America.

It is believed that prickly pear cactus is beneficial for treating diabetes type 2, high cholesterol, obesity, and hangovers. It also has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It has lots of fiber, antioxidant and carotenoids. You can drink its fresh juice or boil or grill it. I like its jam the best. Since it turns to a watery jam and needs a thickener to form, instead of pectin I added an apple to the jam and the result was fantastic. The taste is unique and very pleasant with edible crunchy seeds. The color is also very pleasant on your breakfast table. Eating too much of this fruit might give you diarrhea and fullness of stomach, so start small and keep the balance and enjoy this fruit of the desert.

“Let’s always eat and drink healthful food and beverages and do it in moderation.” Dr. Sii