Common Purslane

Purslane is best known as an invasive weed, but this wild-growing succulent plant is also completely edible, and it's delicious, too. Also known as little hogweed, verdolaga, common purslane, portulaca, and pursley, summer purslane adds a slightly tangy note to soups and stir-fries, and its juicy leaves can be used to add texture to salads. Culinary aspects aside, purslane is also an all-around healthy food that contains a whole range of health-boosting nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, and minerals. Here's a lowdown of the nutritional value and health benefits of purslane.

Purslane is a particularly good source of alpha-linolenic acid, or ala. Studies investigating the remarkable longevity and low rate of cardiovascular diseases among people living on the greek island of crete suggest that the high dietary intake of ala from foods like purslane, walnuts, figs, and stamnagathi might be a key contributor to cretans' exceptionally good health. Similarly, the elderly population of kohama island, japan, famous for having an exceptionally long life expectancy and one the lowest coronary heart disease mortality rates in the world, has exceptionally high concentrations of ala their blood.

Like in flaxseed, you can also find ala (alpha linoleic acid) in purslane. It is an essential substance and can be converted by our body to become the omega 3 fatty acid. Many vegetarians miss out this beneficial substance, because they don't eat fishes. Wild purslane is rich in the precursor of the omega 3 fatty acid, so that even the most stubborn vegetarian can get the benefit of omega 3. It's not known how much ala that can be converted by our body, however, it appears that ala offers a number of benefits to our heart and has anti-inflammatory effects. In turn, omega 3 helps our body in producing compounds that are needed to regulate our immune system, blood clotting and blood pressure. Omega 3 may control coronary spasms, aid in weight control, and prevent certain types of cancer. It can improve the effectiveness of treatment for hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism, alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder and depression.

Purslane is not only a good source of fatty acid, it also offers plenty of minerals, including, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium and copper, plus vitamins, antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients like alpha tocopherol (vitamin e), tocophenals, riboflavin, vitamin c and beta carotene.

Purslane contains carbohydrate and protein plus amino acids which can help our body to make protein. A few other beneficial substances found in this weed is: pectin which is believed to reduce ldl (low-density lipoprotein, the bad cholesterol), antioxidant, gluthatione, dopamine (a muscle relaxant agent), noradrenaline and coq-10 (conenzyme q-10), which found in every living cells and supply them with energy. Since the time of hippocrates, purslane has been widely used in europe for its cathartic (activates bowel evacuation), anthelintic (anti-parasitic) and deuretic properties. In ancient egypt, purslane was used to treat heart disease and heart failure. If purslane is not available in your area, you may use lingoberry, hemp, seabuckthorn, walnuts, flax seed, perila (a poisonous herb for cattle) and chia seeds as another source of omega 3.

At only 16 calories per 100 grams, wild purslane packs plenty of nutritional punch without giving excess calories. Purslane is also rich in b-complex vitamins, which help to regulate our nervous system and carbohydrate metabolism.

Although a substantial body of evidence suggests that a high dietary intake of ala from foods like purslane is associated with a lowered risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, the mechanisms by which this omega-3 fatty acid exerts its cardioprotective effects are still relatively poorly understood. It has been suggested that ala might work its protective magic by controlling platelet function, endothelial cell function, inflammation, arterial compliance, and arrhythmia.

Aside from delivering a hefty dose of vitamins, purslane supplies a slew of minerals. It contains calcium and magnesium which are crucial for keeping your bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. It also provides plenty of potassium, important for keeping your blood pressure in check and for avoiding problems associated with a high intake of salty foods. Eating purslane can also supply your body with some extra iron, a mineral that is needed for oxygen transport within your body.

Because of its ability to produce large numbers of seeds, common purslane can rapidly colonize any warm, moist site. A few scattered plants in the first year can become an almost solid carpet of purslane the following year. Its ability to reroot after cultivation or hoeing frequently enables it to survive these cultural control practices. Common purslane is low in stature and forms dense mats. These vegetative mats utilize available moisture and nutrients and screen out light to the soil surface, preventing emergence of other seedlings. Common purslane is unsightly, reducing the esthetic value of turf and ornamental plantings. In commercial situations common purslane can limit summer vegetable production and reduce the efficiency of harvesting nut crops, such as almonds and walnuts, from the orchard floor.