One of the most unusual things about orach is its ability to thrive in saltwater. It’s for this reason exactly why it is also known as “saltbush”. Orach can be found abundantly in places on the planet where the climate is temperate to subtropical, such as those in Eurasia, North America, South America and Australia.
The fact is there are a handful of orach varieties, but there is a particular type (atriplex hortensis) which is favored by a lot of health-conscious individuals. It’s something that is often compared to spinach not only because of its nutritional profile, but also based on its utter versatility as a wholesome leafy vegetable.
Orach is an excellent source of fiber and vitamins C and K. It boasts of minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium and phosphorous. You can also obtain a little protein from orach. Oh, and it also packs lots of antioxidants that neutralize excess free radicals, thus keeping your cells out of harm’s way.
Without further ado, let’s check out some of the reasons why consuming orach is a great idea:
It Promotes Digestive Health
Just like many other leafy vegetables on the planet, orach is a phenomenal source of fiber. It’s due to this why the addition of orach in your diet on a regular basis can help regulate bowel movement. Since toxins and waste materials in the GI tract are flushed out more efficiently, your risk of colon cancer can be lowered.
Fiber in orach also helps facilitate the digestive process, making sure that you get to obtain all the nutrients locked in the food you eat. Additionally, fiber encourages the multiplication of good bacteria in your gut, and this is something that can contribute so many health-related wonders, not just the digestive kind.
It Encourages Weight Reduction
Another benefit that fiber in orach brings is the elimination of excess pounds. Each time you eat a serving or orach, your tummy winds up feeling full right away and for several hours afterwards. As a result, eating more food than necessary during mealtimes can be avoided. It also saves you from experiencing cravings or hunger pangs.
There is also protein in orach, and it’s a nutrient that can help you lose weight for a couple of reasons. First, protein requires calories just to be processed, so you get to burn a lot of them each time. Second, protein helps build muscles, which then results in a much faster metabolic rate.
It Supports Your Kidneys
Orach has mild diuretic properties. This means that its consumption can help increase the production of urine. This is actually a good thing most especially for your kidneys. Through diuresis, bacteria residing in the excretory system are flushed out, thus helping to ward off a urinary tract infection (UTI) or speed up its healing process.
The intake of orach is also good for keeping your entire body purified. Because the sea vegetable encourages urine production, the kidneys get to filter out impurities in the bloodstream more effectively. A toxin-free body can help considerably lower your risk of so many health problems.
It Provides Lots of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most abundant nutrients found in orach. Everyone knows that this vitamin is so important for making the immune system a lot stronger. With an immunity that is highly effective at zapping bacteria and viruses that invade the body, you don’t have to end up suffering from an infectious disease often.
Other than promoting a stronger immune system, vitamin C encourages healthier skin, too. It’s also something that you may consider as an anti-aging nutrient. That’s because not only does it neutralize skin cell-damaging free radicals, but also promotes the synthesis of more collagen.
Just a Word of Caution
Do you often form kidney stones? Do you suffer from gout? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it’s a good idea for you to limit your consumption of orach or avoid it completely. That’s because it has oxalic acid that can exacerbate kidney stone formation or gout.
