Let's Prepare Refreshing Morning Tonic Drink.

Pleasant greetings friends, how do you do?

There's this popular saying which I love so much and that's "You're what you eat", meaning when you're intentional about eating healthy foods, fruits and taking nutritious drinks, you'll live a healthier life . Simply put:

Eat healthy, live healthy.

Good thing is that it doesn't really cost much to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It saves you a lot of hospital visitations. Some of you can attest to this.

Having said that, let me get down to the business of the day. 😅

So I made this special juice using "Nchuanwụ (Scentleaves) and Akwụkwọ Añara (African eggplant leaves)", and I'm excited to share the recipe with you all.

I call it "morning tonic" because taking it will surely set you in the right mood for the day. It's refreshing, nutritious and healthy too. Most importantly, it's pocket friendly.

Before going over the preparation, let me tell you a bit about the leaves.

Nchuanwụ - Scentleaves

Scentleaves (Ocimum gratissimum), called "Nchuanwụ" in my dialect, can be referred to as herb or medicinal plant that can help regulate blood sugar levels and boost immune system. They can also serve as remedy for stomach disorders, respiratory issues, colds and flu.

Scentleaves are rich in Vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E), Minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium) and plant chemicals.

Due to their aroma and flavor, Scentleaves can be used to prepare a variety of dishes - veggie sauce, soups, peppersoups, beans, palm oil (concoction) rice etc.

Did you know that burning dry scentleaves can repel mosquitoes and other biting insects.

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Akwụkwọ Añara (African Eggplant leaves)

Call Akwụkwọ Añara (Solanum aethiopicum) "blood pumping vegetable or natural blood tonic" and you won't be wrong. The leaves are known to help in blood levels buildup especially when eaten raw or prepared as juice. They serve as kidney detoxifier, thereby helping to promote kidney function.

More so, they help regulate the heartbeat, control blood sugar levels, promote fertility, amongs others.

Akwụkwọ Añara is a good source of Vitamin B, C, potassium, calcium, including antioxidant properties.

The leaves are eaten raw, used to prepare soups or Abacha (Africa salad).

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Imagine all the nutritional benefits one will gain by using these two medicinal leaves to prepare juice. Your body will be super charged for the day. Lol. That's the more reason I called it morning tonic.

Let's prepare the morning tonic juice

Ingredients

• 4 stems of Scentleaves.

• 5 stems of African Eggplant leaves.

• 30cl of drinking water.

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Procedure

• First, remove the leaves from the stems.

• Next, wash the leaves thoroughly with clean water. Add a pinch of salt to the water.

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• Put all the leaves in a blender, add water and blend until smooth.
  

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• Finally filter the mixture, serve and enjoy.

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You can skip this last step and drink it without draining, especially if you want to enjoy the wholesome goodness of the drink with the fiber. That's how I love taking mine. 😋

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I know you may be wondering how it tastes. It has a slightly bitter taste - just natural. It's good for the old and young alike, vegan and non-vegan and especially those recovering from ill health or those looking to build up their blood levels.

I hope liked the recipe and you'll make yours some day.

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Author's Photos

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