Numerous Health Benefits and Uses of Fluted Pumpkin

Telfairia occidentalis a leaf popularly known as Fluted Pumpkin or Ugwu is an African tropical vine planted in Nigeria, normally the eastern part of the country. Fluted pumpkin belongs to the leafy green family. It is a valuable commercial crop grown across the low-land humid tropics of West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. Common names for the plant include Fluted gourd, Fluted pumpkin, and Ugwu. The junior shoots and leaves of the mother plant are the essential ingredient of the popular Nigerian soup , Edikang Ikong of the Calabar people of Nigeria. Ugwu leaf can be taken when cooked as a soup, but it is best taken and highly nutritous when it is in a liquid form, all have to do is to extract the juice from the leaves. Telfairia occidentalis is a tropical vine grown in west Africa Telfairia occidentalis is an important staple vegetable grown in Nigeria. The plant produces luxuriant edible green leaves, which are rich in iron and vitamins. Stems of the plants have branching, long twisting tendrils and the leaves are divided into three to five leaflets with the terminal leaflets up to 15 cm long, while the male plant is grown principally for leaves and seeds, which are important soup condition.Harvesting of fluted pumpkin takes place 120-150 days after sowing. Health benefits of Fluted Pumpkin include increase blood volume, boost immunity, good for heart health, improve fertility etc.