Purslane, which scientists call Portulaca oleracea, goes by a few other everyday names too, like pigweed, little hogweed, and fatweed. Interestingly, it’s also a popular leafy vegetable in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Europe around the Mediterranean Sea. It’s not too difficult to grow, and it’s packed with important minerals and vitamins that can help protect your body. It makes sense then that people have used this juicy plant in traditional medicine for a long time. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine calls it “the vegetable for long life”.
This fleshy plant is full of many helpful nutrients. It contains good amounts of vitamins A, E, and C, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron. You can also find smaller amounts of folate, phosphorus, and copper in it, along with B vitamins like B1, B2, and B3. Because purslane is mostly water (about 93%), it doesn’t have many calories, but it’s very rich in nutrients. Plus, it’s a versatile food that you can easily add to many different kinds of meals.
A Good Source of Healthy Omega-3 Fats:
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