It’s another pleasant day to know some of the health benefits of komatsuna.
It’s a brand new year and let’s welcome 2021 with some awesome content about the health benefits of the foods or vegetation around us.
Komatsuna is a green leafy vegetable that’s also known as Japanese mustard spinach or just plain mustard spinach.
Its name means the greens of Komatsu in Japanese. Komatsu is referred to as the village of Komatsugawa in Tokyo.
This is a list of the health benefits of komatsuna.
1. Komatsuna Is Rich In Vitamins And Minerals
Just like other green leafy vegetables, komatsuna is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
When eaten raw, you’ll get vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, and K.
You’ll get minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
Besides these nutrients, it’s also a source of dietary fiber and protein.
2. Has Anti-inflammatory Qualities
Because komatsuna is an excellent source of vitamin K, it can help with inflammatory problems.
Vitamin K is said to help reduce the levels of Interleukin-6. Interleukin-6 is said to have pro-inflammatory effects in the body.
Chronic inflammations can cause serious health problems like heart diseases.
3. Komatsuna Helps Reduce Over Bleeding
Komatsuna is very rich in vitamin K.
Vitamin K is essential in proper blood clotting.
It also works to improve the absorption of iron in your body.
Iron is used by your body to build more red blood cells.
4. May Help Prevent Diabetes
Komatsuna is a source of magnesium.
This nutrient is said to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of getting diabetes.
5. Komatsuna Helps Keep Your Bones Healthy And Strong
It’s well-known that calcium is essential in the development of stronger bones.
Not only does komatsuna contains calcium, but it also has magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
These nutrients optimize the absorption of calcium in your body.
This ensures that your bones are getting enough nutrients, especially calcium for their development and health.
Speaking of calcium, it’s also good for your dental health, in particular, your teeth.
6. Helps Prevent Anemia
Another great thing about komatsuna is that it contains iron.
Iron is essential in the production of red blood cells.
This can prevent anemia, which is a deficiency of iron in the body.
7. Komatsuna Is Good For Your Eyes
Komatsuna contains vitamin A or beta-carotene that’s an antioxidant that helps protect your eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin that’s needed to prevent some age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration and loss of vision.
8. Helps Boost Your Immune System
The presence of calcium and beta-carotene in komatsuna makes it a great vegetable to eat to improve your body’s immune system.
Furthermore, its vitamin C-contents stimulates the production of white blood cells that guards your body against different diseases or infections.
It reduces your chances of getting sick.
9. Komatsuna Helps Keep Your Heart Healthy
Foods rich in vitamin K is good for your heart.
Komatsuna is a good source of vitamin K.
Vitamin K helps prevent calcium deposits in your artery walls which can prevent atherosclerosis.
10. Is Good For Your Skin
Komatsuna contains vitamin A and vitamin C that can act as antioxidants in your body.
As you may already know, antioxidants can help delay the signs of aging especially in your skin like dark spots and wrinkles.
Vitamin C also is used in the production of collagen which gives your skin its texture and elasticity.
To add more, this vegetable contains Kalium. It can help with reducing swelling.
Kalium is a substance that helps in stopping the reabsorption of salt and water in your body.
11. Komatsuna Is Good For Your Digestion
One of the common traits of green leafy vegetables is that it’s good for digestion because of its fiber content.
Komatsuna is not different.
Adding Komatsuna to your meals will help improve your digestion.
Having good digestion means better absorption of nutrients into your body and prevention of digestive disorders like constipation and diarrhea.
If you want to know more about other herbs and plants that are great for your digestion, you should check my article about the health benefits of bupleurum here.
Conclusion
These are just some of the health benefits of komatsuna.
I like eating green leafy vegetables so consuming komatsuna will not be a problem for me.
This vegetable has anti-inflammatory qualities but it didn’t mention anything about helping with arthritis or rheumatism.
But this is still my favorite health benefit of komatsuna. How about you, which one is your favorite?
Komatsuna may be familiar or common to you, but it’s still best to consult first with your doctor or medical professional if it’s safe for you to consume it.
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Thank you!
Stay healthy and safe everyone!