Pennywort Juice (Air Pegaga)

Pennywort Juice peddlers had gone extinct as the years goes by, Use to remember seeing them so often by the roadside, mainly around the busy roads of Penang Island. All Malaysians regardless of race knows the health benefits of drinking Pennywort Juice or its call Jus Pegaga in Malay, which we fondly call it as well :). Preparing it is not a tedious process. Just adding water to blend the plant and squeeze or filter out the juice. Serving it with sugar syrup and ice would be the most ideal method as the taste of the Chlorophyll is pungent to some people. But none the less, it's a traditional drink during the hot weather and is suitable for all ages as well.

I bought about 2 handful of Pennywort Plant from Aeon Big at the cost of RM5 for both. After blending it all together with about 700ml of plain cooked water. You will need to filter the fibre through a siev. Then you will have a finish product of Pegaga Juice. Add in Syrup and Ice before serving it, if you feel its too concentrated, you can add in some plain water as well. Enjoy trying!

 

Some basic writeup of Air Pegaga / Pennywort Juice.

The health benefits of the pennywort plant were acknowledged many centuries ago for the treatment of various conditions. It is used as part of ayurvedic medicine, especially in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine practices. Pennywort is a perennial herb that originates in moist areas. It is native to India, Sri Lanka, Northern Australia as well as a few other areas in Asia. Pennywort has been associated with a few Asian Legends. It is alleged Tai Chi Chuan master, Li Ching-Yun, lived to the age of 256 years due to an assortment of herbs he consumed daily, one being pennywort. Another folklore tale is of King Aruna and his use of pennywort. He believed it enabled him the energy and stamina necessary for his harem of 50 women.

Pennywort is also known as centella asiatica, gotu kola, asiatic and indian pennywort, brahmi, marsh pennywort, common pennywort, waternavel, sombrevillo de aqua, bachelor's buttons and penny grass. The various names contribute to the region and language it is being used in around the world.

This herb works by averting a disorderly manner of the absorption of nutrition and corrects this process through an improved progression of digestion of nutrients. Pennywort has properties of being antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti- inflammatory. It contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6 as well as the minerals, calcium, magnesium, sodium, manganese, and zinc.

The benefits of pennywort tea are numerous and many people use this tea as a health tonic. Maintaining youth and the treatment of arthritis are its most popular use. It is recongized as a longivity herb because of its ability to help rebuild connective tissue, which in turn, can slow the aging process. Plus, it has been commended as a great antidote for improving memory and, therefore, considered food for the brain. Studies have indicated by consuming 2-4 raw pennywort leaves a day may help sharpen alertness and memory and rejuvenate the brain. There is important research being conducted to observe the effects this herb can have on those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

The central nervous system can receive amazing benefits with the consumption of pennywort. This herb works well in relaxing the mind and can assist in certain nervous disorders, senility, strokes, ADD, and epilepsy. It can be utilized as a nerve tonic when coping with mental stress and fatigue and encourage sleep due to a nervous condition.

Pennywort can help protect our immune system from toxins. High blood pressure, congestive heart failure, venereal diseases and urinary tract infections are a few of a range of illnesses that can be treated with this remarkable herb. Because of its antibiotic properties, it has the capability to speed up the healing process of wounds. Futhermore, pennywort can improve blood flow while also reinforcing veins and capillaries, making them stronger. Studies have shown it to be beneficial in healing and preventing phlebitis, leg cramps, and blood clots as well as decrease the appearance of varicose veins. It is effective in bringing down fever and treating dysentery in children, which is a servere form of diarrhea.

Pennywort has also proved to cleanse and purify the blood stream and can remedy certain skin conditions such as eczema, chronic ulcers, sores, and scleroderma, which is a condition that hardens the skin. A powder can be made from the leaves of this plant and applied to the eruptions on the skin.

Happy trying readers!

OBESITY on the High! in Malaysia, Please take note people.

PETALING JAYA: Obesity needs to be highlighted as a disease to underline the gravity of the condition. Two health associations want the Government to move public awareness in this direction. Malaysian Society for the Study of Obesity president Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor said the situation had become more urgent because there were more overweight children now. “They do not recognise that it (obesity) is a disease. So, no one cares and think it is okay to be fat. Once you treat it as a disease, it will make people aware,” he said. He said obesity was the underlying factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes. Obesity and being overweight are among the risk factors for type II and gestational diabetes – which occurs during pregnancy. Malaysia is ranked sixth in the Asia-Pacific region for obesity and tops the list in South-East Asia for both obesity and diabetes. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya recently said that there were about three million obese Malaysians and the number was increasing while there were about five million individuals who suffer from varying degrees of diabetes. A sedentary lifestyle is among the main factors for the high incidence. Dr Mohd Ismail said some parents thought having “chubby children” was a reflection that they were well-fed and cared for but they did not realise that the child was likely to be overweight during puberty and this would continue throughout their lifetime. “Once you are obese, it will be a lifelong problem,” he said. He felt that the reduction in subsidies in items such as sugar and oil would compel Malaysians to consume less of such food items. “You can always introduce food stamps for the poor so they are able to get the item if it gets too expensive once the subsidies are removed,” he said, adding that it was a “double whammy” as they would have to spend more on medical treatment if they fell sick. Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) president Dr Tee E Siong said while obesity was not listed as a cause of mortality, it should be considered a disease in Malaysia when “communicating to the public”. “This is because obesity is a major risk factor to many non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancers,” he said. “My main reason for calling obesity a disease is so that the public can become more aware of the dangers of the condition. “However, in calling obesity a disease, I certainly do not want it to have negative implications. For example, the obese children and adults should not be discriminated against,” he said. He added that the main point was not whether obesity was labelled a disease but it was for all stakeholders to give adequate attention towards preventing obesity with the highest political commitment. “It should be beyond merely establishing strategic plans and action plans. There should be a systematic approach towards combating the problem,” he said.

Article & Picture is borrowed from "The Star Publishing - Published: Sunday November 17, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM

Updated: Sunday November 17, 2013 MYT 9:07:24 AM"