The African indigenous vegetable cocoyam leaf, locally known as Kontomire, is very rich in vitamin A and C. Regular intake of it contributes to healthy weight loss due to its low fat, fewer calories and high protein content. It also improves eyesight, prevents cancer, reduces cholesterol levels and many more. Kontomire can be used in the preparation of soups, stews and smoothies.
A discussion on The Day Show with Naako Dua, founder of Gofigure Meal Prep Company, and Khadijah El-Alawa, nutritionist, educated that kontomire can be added to other fruits like banana, pineapple, apple and avocado for a healthy smoothie. Khadijah revealed that the taste wouldn’t change as most people imagine. Instead, the colour outcome of the blended fruits will be dominated by the green colour of the Kontomire.
Khadijah El-Alawa said, “You can add Kontomire to all other fruits. You have to understand that all the fruits you’ve put in your blender have flavours, so it will mask up to your kontomire. So you will not even taste it. At the end of the day, you will get a green smoothie. Which I know you will call Kontomire smoothie. Just add some ice cubes if you want some foam in it and enjoy. It is really healthy.”
She also advised individuals interested in losing weight to measure the number of fruits they mix. Especially those rich in calories, such as banana and avocado, because one might gain weight due to the high content of calories in these fruits.
“You have to measure the fruit because you will have to manage your calories as well. You see, at the end of the day, if you are trying to lose weight, your caloric deficit is important. You have to make sure that you are not eating more than you need,” Khadijah El-Alawa said.
“So for someone who has a sweet tooth, you might want to add a little honey or sugar. But honestly, if your fruits are sweet, you don’t need any of that,” she added.
By Lordina Nayeram Bessie|3news.com|Ghana