Health Benefits of Dahon ng Gabi

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Aug 31, 2023 • 3 min Read

Taro leaves or dahon ng gabi in Tagalog, are the heart-shaped leaves of the taro plant. It is a low-calorie green leafy vegetable that is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Taro is considered one of the first cultivated plants in history and over 10 percent of the world’s population uses taro as a staple food and taro leaves are used for culinary and medicinal applications.

Taro leaves must be cooked before consumption and are best suited as steamed, fried, sautéed, or boiled. The leaves can be added to soups, stews, and casseroles.

The Pinoy way of cooking taro leaves is through coconut milk, a Bicolano cuisine called Laing.

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of dahon ng gabi, from Truemeds website:

1. Prevents cancer

Taro leaves are rich in vitamin C which is a very efficient antioxidant that helps in preventing all diseases and fighting against free radicals that cause various types of cancers.

2. Boosts the immune system

Just a cup of taro leaves gives you 86% of the total vitamin C that your body needs every day. By eating a few taro leaves every day, you can boost your immune system and keep your body free from all kinds of diseases.

3. Keeps your eyes healthy

Taro leaves are also rich in vitamin A and their daily value is around 123%. Vitamin A is essential in maintaining good visual activity and helps in preventing eye diseases like cataracts, myopia, and blindness.

4. Minimizes cholesterol levels in the body

Taro leaves have no cholesterol and have only 1% fat in them. They contain dietary fiber and methionine in large amounts which can reduce the cholesterol levels of the body by binding and breaking down fat and glycerol, especially triglyceride.

5. Helps in weight loss

Taro leaves are very low in fat and very high in protein content. It is a great choice in reducing fat from your body and gaining muscles.

6. Helps in controlling blood pressure

Taro leaves contain a very essential fatty acid, Omega 3 that helps control the contraction and relaxation of the walls of the arteries. If this mechanism works well, the blood pressure of the body is maintained at a normal level with ease.

7. Helps prevent anemia

Taro leaves are rich in iron minerals that helps in red blood cell formation. It is also rich in vitamin C, which helps in the correct absorption of iron by the body. This process helps in procuring the overall need for red blood cells in the body.

8. Helps in getting wrinkle-free skin

Taro leaves contain an amino acid called threonine. This protein helps in the formation of two fundamental building blocks of the body – elastin, and collagen. These are beneficial for healthy and glowing skin. They help prevent wrinkles from the skin and help in rejuvenation.

While taro leaves may offer some benefits, it’s important to note that the raw leaves are poisonous for they contain high levels of calcium oxalate that is insoluble and may cause kidney stones. This can be neutralized by cooking or soaking them overnight in cold water. If you are eating taro, it is important to consume calcium-rich foods with it.

Adding taro leaves to your balanced diet can improve your health & and wellness.

Stay healthy and safe!

Featured Image Source: Pinterest – Mari