Breadfruit is a flowering tree in the mulberry family. When ripe, its fruit has a soft, yellow, cream-colored flesh that resembles bread and possesses a sweet, tender, and filling character. It is often cooked into various kinds of dishes. Aside from its fruit, breadfruit leaves are also useful in several ways. The leaves contain important compounds that are beneficial to our body such as tannins, amino acids, riboflavin, hydro cyanate, acetylcholine, and polyphenols. One way of obtaining some of its benefits is by having breadfruit leaf tea.
Here are some of the medicinal uses of breadfruit leaf tea:
Helps Dissolve Kidney Stones
Breadfruit leaves contain kalium, which has a big role in destroying kidney stones by diluting the stones so it can be eliminated through urine.
Helps Prevent Cancer Cell Formation
Cancer cells can appear in all types of human organs and metastasize to other parts of organs. Breadfruit leaf tea contains antioxidants that fight off free radicals that cause chronic diseases such as cancer. Consumption of it may help lower our risk of cancer.
Helps Lower Down Uric Acid Levels
Having high levels of uric acid is one such problem that many of us could face. Uric acid is a chemical found in our blood which is created when a substance called purine is broken down in our body. High levels of uric acid have been associated with a painful condition called gout and kidney stones. Dried breadfruit leaves have anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower our risk of inflammation of the joint. Having breadfruit leaf tea can effectively decrease the body’s level of uric acid.
Supports Cardiovascular Health
The leaves may help in boosting the health of our hearts. It can help lower blood pressure and has some inflammatory properties that are both vital in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. For this benefit, drinking one cup of breadfruit tea daily is recommended.
How To Make Breadfruit Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 or 2 breadfruit leaves, young to medium and can be fresh or dry
- 5 cups of water
Method of Preparation:
Chop, cut or shred the breadfruit leaf into smaller strips and place aside. Boil the water in a pot and then add the breadfruit leaf strips. Cover the pot to preserve the beneficial properties of the tea and then lower the heat to allow the tea to simmer. The tea is done when the water has turned into a thick green color (if leaves are picked fresh) and the leaves look soft. Also, the water will be reduced to less than half the initial amount. The end result would be 1-2 cups of tea. This may take 30 minutes.
Enjoy the tea throughout the day or enjoy a glass of it before sleeping, which is the best time to have this tea.
