bimbima (/health)

Daily life experience of ayurvedic medicines, complementary therapies.

Health Benets of Bathua

(Chenopodium album)
1. January 2015 Anupama (http://www.bimbima.com/health/author
/Anupama.aspx)

Chenopodium album is known by many common names such as White

goosefoot, pigweed, lambsquaters and Bathua (Hindi), Chandan betu (Bengali),
Parupukkirai (Tamil), Pappukura (Telugu) and Katu ayamoddakam (Malyalam).
This leafy vegetable is actually a weed that grows in waste places and with
other cultivated crops. It occurs throughout the tropical regions of world.
Human are consuming its leaves and seeds for time immemorial. In several
countries this plant is cultivated for its seeds. There are many medicinal uses of
goosefoot (http://www.bimbima.com/health/post/2011/12/31/medicinaluse-of-bathua-or-goosefoot-or-chenopodium-album.aspx) and used as home
remedies.

In India the leaves are consumed as leafy vegetable and cooked like any other
Saag, curd bathua raita (http://www.bimbima.com/health/recipe/post/recipegreen-leaf-vegetable-raita-palak-bathua-raita.aspx) and Bathua paratha
(http://www.bimbima.com/health/recipe/post/bathua-ka-paratha.aspx). The
leaves are boiled and eaten. The raita and Paratha of Bathua leaves are also
tasty preparation. The dried leaves of goosefoot are ground to make powder
that can be added to regular flour. In one cup regular flour you can add
one-fourth goosefoot powder. Bathua seeds are edible. They are very nutritious
and contain whole set of essential amino acids.

Scientic classication
KINGDOM - Plantae plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants DIVISION- Tracheophyta
vascular plants Infradivision- Angiosperm flowering plants,
angiospermsCLASS- Magnoliopsida ORDER- Caryophyllales FAMILYAmaranthaceae pigweed, amaranthes GENUS- Chenopodium L. goosefoot
SPECIES - Chenopodium album L. common lambsquarters, lambsquarters
goosefoot, white goosefoot, lambsquarters

Bathua or Goosefoot Seeds

Bathua seeds are ground to make flour that is used to prepare bread. The seeds
are also cooked as rice and can be eaten with Dal. Nutritionally Bathua seeds
are superior to wheat, rice, corn, millet and Buckwheat. The seeds are also
prepared as soup, porridge, cakes, fermented beverage (known as Soora in
Shimla), alcoholic drink (Ghanti) etc. The seeds are given to animals and poultry

as supplements.
Seeds are also used medicinally for improving appetite, or treating parasitic
infestation, as aphrodisiac, laxative and for improving general health.

Nutritional Value of leaves & Seeds

In per hundred grams of edible Bathua leaves there is about:Water 84 grams,
energy 44 kcal, carbohydrate 7g, fat 0.8 g, protein 4.3 g, bre 2.1 g, iron 4g,
Calcium 280 mg, Phosphorous 81 mg, Vitamin A 11, 300 IU, thiamine 0.15 mg,
Riboflavin 0.4 mg, niacin 1.3 mg and Vitamin C 90 mg.
In per hundred grams seeds of cultivated variety there is about:Energy 400 kcal,
Protein 16 g, fat 7 g, carbohydrate 66 g.

Health Benets of Bathua or Goosefoot

Goosefoot or Bathua leaves and seeds are very nutritious. They are non-toxic
and consumed all across the world for centuries. Like any other leafy vegetable
they offer innumerable health benets.
10 important health benets are given below.
1. Bathua leaves are very good source of high quality protein, nutrients,
antioxidants and vitamins, particularly vitamin c and vitamin A. Its
vitamin A content is comparable to carrots. About 2 cups of leaves
provides 14, 000-16, 000 units of vitamin A (daily requirement is about
5000 units) and 60-130 mg of vitamin C (daily requirement is 70mg)
2. The leaves are rich in bre and have laxative properties which cures
constipation. Due to this property Bathua is also useful in piles.
3. Bathua seeds are rich in amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building
blocks of the body and performs several important function in body.
4. Bathua leaves are good source of potassium, iron, calcium, and zinc.
5. Bathua is good for heart. It is considered heart tonic.
6. Bathua leaves are good for liver, spleen and gall bladder. You may drink 10
ml juice of leaves for keeping digestive system healthy.
7. The juice of Bathua leaves puries blood.
8. Bathua improves haemoglobin level.
9. Bathua leaves juice is a traditional medicine for intestinal parasites. For
this purpose 10-15 ml juice of leaves is added with pinch of rock salt and

is taken three times a day after meals.

10. Bathua improves appetite. You may use leaves as Salad with tomato,
lemon juice and pinch of salt.

Side-effects, interactions and Precautions

Bathua leaves contain signicant amount of oxalic acids. Oxalates are in
highest in leaves followed by flowers and stem. Oxalic acid has tendency to
bind with calcium and this reduces availability of calcium.
1. The seeds of plant are abortifacient. They can cause abortion. So do not
eat in pregnancy.
2. The plant has anti-fertility effect.

Visit Malaysia 2015

Melting Pot Of Culture &
Tradition. Be Part Of Our
Endless Celebrations

Medicinal uses of Dronapushpi (Goma/Thumbai) (/health/post/2015/01/01

/medicinal-uses-of-dronapushpigomathumbai.aspx)
Medicinal Uses of Nagkesar/Mesua (/health/post/2015/01/01/medicinaluses-of-nagkesarmesua.aspx)

Related posts
...
Medicinal Use Of Bathua Or Goosefoot Or Chenopodium Album
(/health/post/2011/12/31/medicinal-use-of-bathua-or-goosefootor-chenopodium-album.aspx)

...
Health benets of wheat grass
(/health/post/2012/01/12/health-benets-of-wheat-grass.aspx)

...
Almond Milk Recipe and Health Benets
(/health/recipe/post/almond-milk-recipe-and-health-benets.aspx)