Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) nutritional composition is very healthy for man because it contains nutritional properties which can affect the whole body system positively.
Gotu kola which is also misspelt as gotcha kola and sometimes referred to as pennywort has high vitamin nutritional value.
These vitamins contained in this plant have positive effects on brain coordination, retentive memory, and several other health benefits.
The Asian Chinese believed this herb can also make man to live long and they consume it as green leafy vegetable.
However, the method of processing gotu kola determines the nutrient data that would be retained in gotu kola extracts and finished products it’s being made into.
This means that capsules, tea, cream, oil and powder made from organic gotu kola plant would have diverse nutritional value and effects on the body.
Some of the important nutritional properties of gotu kola are the triterpenoids and carotenoids.
Gotu kola is also used in suppressing fatigue, anxiety, depression and that’s why it’s used in many energy drinks and foods in America.
Gotu kola is also one of the vegetables that contains phytonutrients like tannins, polyphenol, flavonoids and volatile oils.
The nutrients can help our eye health, protect the body against cancerous cells and body immune cells and preven cardiovascular disease and others.
Bioactive Phytochemicals and antioxidants contained in gotu kola gotu kola also help in cleaning the body from toxins, reducing inflammation and preventing the body from chronic disease.
Other important nutrients are vitamins, proteins and minerals which are listed below and there could still be more ingredients in low value.
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Beta carotene
- Alcaloids like hydrocotylin
- Aginine
- Ion
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Selenium
- Steroid saponins such as bacosides A and B
- Triterpenes such as triterpenoid saponins, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, triterpene saponins, Polyphenols and flavonoids such as flavonol glycosides, camphor and Quercentin are also found in gotu kola vegetable.
Each of these nutrients has their own health benefits on the body, making gotu kola to have several health effects in healing, revitalizing the body and preventing it from diseases.
There are also possible side effects of taking gotu kola or the products made from it, however, you can consult your dietician or physician for further advice and in taking the right dose in any medication.
However, it has been proven that caffeine is not present in gotu kola as sometimes proclaimed.
