Health benefits of some selected vegetables grown in the sub-saharan African region

Vegetables are generally low in fat and calories which makes them very ideal diet for human and they contain nutrients that are very essential to the health, growth and proper working of the human body. Vegetables occupy a great proportion in dietary guideline due to the amounts of phytochemicals, fibres, vitamins and antioxidants they contain. The consumption of plenty of vegetable gives several health benefits in which one of them is the low susceptibility to chronic diseases. Vegetables have a larger effect than fruit, though fruits also make a real difference, but eating of plenty vegetables provides high resistance against diseases like stroke, cancer, heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. This study aims to enumerate the health benefits of vegetable consumption. Three vegetables from the numerous vegetable plants grown in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been chosen for this study. The vegetables include: Vernonia amygdalina Del (bitter leaf), Lactuca taraxacifolia (wild lettuce) and Crassocephalum rubens. The Vernonia amygdalina is used traditionally to treat several ailments like malaria, gastro intestinal disorders, diabetes mellitus and hyperglycaemia in humans. The leaves of Lactuca taraxacifolia (wild lettuce) are fairly good sources of vitamin C, β-carotene, calcium and sodium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Lactuca taraxacifolia is used to prevent and treat diseases like measles, yaws, conjunctivitis, hyperthesion and cancer. Crassocephalum rubens is used for treatment against stomacal inflammations, liver dysfunctioning, ocular pains, ears pain and breast cancer. Based on these application properties, it is concluded that many of these unfamiliar vegetables are very healthy to the body.