7 Benefits of Katuk Leaves for Children, Not Only Good for Pregnant Women

Kapanlagi.com - Katuk Leaves have become one of the popular vegetables in Indonesia. Katuk leaves are very popular for breastfeeding mothers, as they can increase the production of high-quality breast milk. But it's not just for breastfeeding mothers, it turns out that katuk leaves are also very good for children, KLovers.

This katuk plant is one of the plants that are abundant in Southeast Asia. Katuk leaves contain almost 7% protein, and rough fiber up to 19%. These leaves are rich in vitamin K, vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin B, and vitamin C. The minerals contained in katuk consist of 2.8% calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. And the dark green color of the leaves is due to the high chlorophyll content.

However, even though it has extraordinary content, consuming katuk leaves excessively can cause side effects such as papaverine poisoning. So you can consume katuk leaves with the right dosage, in order to get the maximum benefits.

So what are the benefits of katuk leaves for children? According to various sources, let's check out the various benefits KLovers.

1. Enhancing Baby's Intelligence

Illustration (credit: Freepik)

The first benefit of katuk leaves is that they can enhance the intelligence of babies. Children or infants indeed need a healthy intake of food in their growth and development, and one of the healthy foods is vegetables. And one vegetable that is good for enhancing intelligence is katuk leaves.

Not only for pregnant women, but katuk leaves are also very effective in enhancing baby's intelligence. This is because katuk leaves are rich in minerals needed for baby's development. The iron in katuk leaves can also help improve brain development in babies, so that they can grow up to be intelligent children.

2. Helping Bone and Teeth Growth

The benefits of katuk leaves for children are that they can help bone and teeth growth. Yup! Not only the brain, during the growth period, children should also be given healthy food to strengthen their bones and teeth. Because the strength of bones and teeth needs to be given during their growth period, so that when they are adults, they will have strong bones and teeth.

In addition to milk, you can also give katuk leaves to nourish the bones and teeth of children. This is because the calcium, phosphorus, and iron content in katuk leaves can help in the growth of bones and teeth in children and toddlers. In fact, each of these minerals can reach 2.8% of the body's needs.

3. Improving Vision

Illustration (credit: Freepik)

Not only providing nutrition for bones and teeth, it turns out that the benefits of katuk leaves can also provide nutrition for children's vision, KLovers. Not only carrots, you can also give children katuk leaves to have healthy eyes. This is because katuk leaves contain vitamin A which is very good for nourishing children's vision.

4. Boosting Immune System

The immune system is one of the important things for children. Because if their immune system weakens, various diseases will easily enter. So, you must provide healthy food to increase the immune system of your little one.

There are many foods that can be consumed to boost the immune system of children, one of which is katuk leaves. Yup! Katuk leaves contain a lot of vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants that are good for strengthening the immune system. Not only that, some research also shows that katuk leaf extract has antibacterial and antifungal properties that are good for body health.

5. Treating Cough

Illustration (credit: Freepik)

In addition, the benefits of katuk leaves can also be used as a cough remedy, KLovers. If a child is suffering from a cough, you can use the benefits of katuk leaves to alleviate the cough. This is because katuk leaves have benefits such as iron, protein, and carbohydrates that can relieve cough. You can make katuk leaf soup for your child to alleviate their cough. Besides making the throat warm, this katuk leaf soup can also make the child's body feel warm.

6. Relieving Fever and Flu

Not only being a cough medicine, it turns out that katuk leaves can also be an effective remedy for fever and flu in children and babies, KLovers. This is because katuk leaves contain ephedrine compounds. And this compound functions to treat fever and influenza.

Just like when treating coughs, you can also make katuk leaf soup to relieve their fever. This soup can not only effectively relieve fever and flu, but also make the body warm.

7. Nourishing Hair

And the last benefit of katuk leaves is that they can nourish the hair of babies. When babies still have little hair growing on their heads. And to nourish the hair, so that it becomes thick and healthy, you can use the benefits of katuk leaves.

This is because katuk leaves contain phytochemical compounds that are beneficial for hair health. There are various active compounds, such as eicosanoid prostaglandin, lipoxin, leukotriene, thromboxane, and prostacyclin, which will stimulate the synthesis of several steroid hormones.

And these hormones include testosterone, glucocorticoids, estradiol, and progesterone, which function to form hormones to be softer, healthier, and stronger. You can make children consume katuk leaves directly, or make them as a mask on their hair and scalp.

Those are 7 benefits of katuk leaves that are good for the health of children and babies. Not only being a good vegetable for that, but katuk leaves can also provide nutrition and health for children.

(kpl/dhm)