Garden eggs or egg plant are traditional fruits which are cultivated and eaten in various forms. They are equally known to be an economic flowering plant with different varieties and colors . Garden eggs are found throughout west Africa and are mostly cultivated domestically.
Garden egg is a highly valued delicacy in countries like Nigerian, Ghanaian societies such that its importance cannot be overemphasized to consumers and farmers alike. Normally, this crop is often cultivated in gardens of any size but in areas where space is limited they can be cultivated in nursery pots or buckets at home thus solving the problem of space.
They can equally serve as flowers for decoration and at the same time as food. Its seeds are often got from mature garden eggs and kept for them to start getting rotting for easy seed extraction.
The seed are then spread in nursery pots already filled with humus soil, and allowed to germinate. After a period of one month, they seedlings are thus transplanted in the farm or in the pots as the case maybe.
On one plant, about six to ten mature eggs can be harvested at one stance. They can be eaten raw, prepared as vegetable and eaten with different kinds of food such as garri, plantain, yams, etc.
It represents fertility and blessing that why it’s common to find it served during wedding ceremonies in some communities.
To prepare garden egg, it is harvested washed and sliced into small sizes in a bowl and steam in the pot for about five minutes, after which oil, steamed meat and fish are added, as well as onion and cray fish, salt, Maggi and allowed to heat further for some minutes and remove and serve.
The garden eggplant apart from being a source of vegetable also has numerous health benefits which are essential for the overall development of the human body. Its acceptability cuts across religious, tribal, cultural and ethnic groups in Nigeria for example, hence the wide usage of the garden eggplant.
Its health benefits are enormous as indicated by research and include;
Reduces cholesterol
Garden egg is low in calorie, sodium, protein and is very high in dietary fibre and potassium. The high fibre content in eggplant helps to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, thereby protecting the heart.
For weight reduction, garden egg is the perfect recipe for achieving weight loss within a short period of time because it is very low in calorie content.
This is why experts encourage people who want to lose weight to eat more garden egg, just as people that are told to protect their heart against cholesterol effects should make it their delight.
Regulates blood pressure;
Garden egg helps to regulate the blood pressure, maintain and regulate the function of the heart.
It controls glucose absorption and reduces the risk of hypertension which is why when a diabetic person consumes it, it suppresses the sugar level and brings the blood pressure down.
Anti-ulcer agent;
Garden eggs have anti-ulcer remedy, which could be used as treatment for ulcer {they do not protect one from having ulcer but that the anti-ulcer content in the fruit suppresses the ailment}.
Lowers eye pressure;
Eating plenty of garden egg can help lower eye pressure in persons with glaucoma.
Rich in vitamins;
Garden egg fruit is beneficial and nourishing to the body because it is rich in vitamin which provides the body with both soluble vitamin and water soluble vitamins; they are rich in thiamine required for normal growth and proper functioning of the heart and nervous system and niacin needed for cellular respiration.
Fights cancer;
Garden egg is one of the anti-cancer fruits which has been used for over decades, to fight against cancer and other diseases.
Other health benefits of garden egg are;
• flexibility of blood vessels
• Cardio protective
• Natural source of B vitamins like thiamin, niacin, B6 and pantothenic acid
• Improves digestive system
• Good for skin and hair
• High in folate, manganese, Vitamin k, magnesium, vitamin c & copper
• A source of nasunin ( a powerful and rare antioxidant for the brain
• Bone strengthening minerals
• Improves blood circulation
• Beneficial for constipation due to high fibre
• Good for colon health
• Good amount of phenolic acid, anthocyanins and flavonoids these antioxidants help protect the body from health risks, like aging, inflammations, and neurological diseases, thus we should eat lots of garden egg and remain healthy.
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