Warning before eating “roadside vegetables”, plants from distant lands that Thai people are familiar with.

Warning before eating “roadside vegetables”, plants from distant lands that Thai people are familiar with. Eating them correctly is medicine. Eating them incorrectly is dangerous.

Many people are familiar with “Acacia” in Thai dishes, whether it is eaten with chili paste, oyster salad, or sprinkled on top of papaya salad. But did you know that Acacia is not a native plant of Thailand!?

Moringa: A valuable hedge plant, but not native to Thailand.

It has been introduced into Thailand since the Sukhothai period. Since the tamarind tree is a plant that can be easily propagated, it can be found everywhere. It has appeared in Thai literature since the early Rattanakosin period, such as Ramakien, Unarut, and Dalang, indicating the familiarity and popularity of this plant in the Thai way of life for a long time. The origin of the tamarind tree is far from Thailand, namely in Central America and the islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Botanical evidence indicates that the Leucaena leucocephala (scientific name Leucaena leucocephala ) is native to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Central America before being introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish and spread to Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

Giant Leucaena and Leucaena

Leucaena leucocephala and Leucaena gianta are the same species. They differ only in the cultivated species. There are more than 100 species worldwide. Leucaena species are currently naturally distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ world. They grow mixed together to the point where it is difficult to separate them. Leucaena species are divided into two major groups.

1. Leucaena, also known as Acapulco, is a shrub, about 3-5 meters tall, with a small trunk, low branching, and flowers as early as 4-6 months old, blooming all year round. The pods are rather small and short, with fewer pods and seeds, and grow more slowly than the giant Leucaena. It is therefore a weed that is not as severe to the forest ecosystem as the giant Leucaena. *It was introduced through the Philippines since the Ayutthaya period, about 400 years ago. It is popularly grown to eat its shoots.

2. The giant Leucaena has 2 main species: Salvador and Peruvian. These are Leucaena that were naturally cross-bred and later developed into over 100 species. They have tall trunks that are resistant to the environment and insects. *They are 15-20 meters tall trees with single trunks and low branches. They grow fast. The leaflets and pods are larger and longer than the common Leucaena.

They bear many pods and bloom infrequently. The shoots are edible, but they have a bitter and astringent taste and a more pungent smell than the common Leucaena. Both species of giant Leucaena were imported to Thailand about 50 years ago, mostly from Hawaii, the United States, and Australia. They are used as animal feed, soil improvement, and forest restoration.

Parts of the Acacia

1. Seeds  The seeds of the tamarind tree are considered a good medicine. They are rich in phosphorus, which helps strengthen bones effectively. They also help treat insomnia and expel gas from the intestines, which is a digestive system remedy. Mature seeds help lower blood sugar levels.
2. The flowers  of the tamarind tree have a sweet taste, help nourish the liver, and help treat glaucoma.
3. The pods  help relieve diarrhea. Young pods can also help relieve thirst and improve appetite. They can also be used to nourish the heart.
4. Young shoots:  Young shoots of the leucaena plant contain high levels of phosphorus, just like the seeds, which helps build and nourish bones. The young shoots also contain vitamin A, which helps nourish the eyes. They can also help increase appetite.
5. Leaves: Moringa leaves  are rich in beta-carotene, which helps fight free radicals, prevent cancer, and nourish the eyes. In addition, the leaves and seeds help treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and diarrhea.

Properties of Moringa: Eat it correctly as medicine.

Moringa is a local vegetable that is rich in nutrients and medicinal properties. 100 grams of Moringa young shoots provide 62 calories, along with high fiber, vitamin A and calcium.

The outstanding benefits of Moringa include:

• Helps reduce blood sugar levels and control blood pressure.
• Nourishes eyes and heart because it is rich in vitamin A.
• High in phosphorus, strengthens bones.
• Treats loss of appetite, insomnia and diarrhea.

Harm of Acacia: Eating the wrong thing can be dangerous.

Despite its many benefits, acacia also has some precautions when consuming it.

• High in purines : Gout patients should avoid it because it can cause uric acid to build up in the body.
• Accumulation of selenium from soil : If the soil is high in selenium, it can be toxic if consumed in large quantities regularly.
• Contains Leucenine : Found in abundance in Moringa leaves, it may be harmful to monogastric animals (e.g. horses or pigs), but no serious effects have been reported in humans.