Introduction The leafy part of the Camote plant is familiarly known as the Kamote tops or Talbos ng Kamote, in Tagalog. Camote leaves are usually used as vegetables in some traditional Filipino cuisines. The antioxidants present in a Camote plant are believed to be mostly found within its leaves. Camote tops’ vitamins and minerals help in boosting one’s immune system to prevent the body from disease-causing bacterias. Among all the other plants, research studies have shown that Camote tops may be used as a remedy to Dengue fever. It is said to help increase platelet counts that would help recover from Dengue.
Camote tops can also be used to treat other diseases or sicknesses like diabetes, heart disease, cancer particularly colon and stomach cancer, problems on bowel movement and high blood pressure. Eating vegetables can also fight obesity. Vegetables are excellent filler foods because they are low in fat, low in calories and high in fiber. It has a high nutritional value than the common potato. Background of the Study The reason why we came up with this project is because we thought of having a nutritious vegetable like “Kamote tops” into a healthy tea.
We chose Kamote tops because it is high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers. Statement of the Problem/Objectives This study aims to find out if Kamote tops can be made into tea. This study aims to answer the question ‘What are the benefits of Kamote Tops if made into tea? Significance of the Study Kamote tops is a type of plant that is known here in the Philippines, and it is commercially sold in supermarkets nationwide. This can be planted in our backyards and they are not hard to grow. It is also not expensive thus it has vitamins and minerals to keep us healthy.
Scope and Limitations. This study is only limited to make the production of the Kamote tops tea and to help the reader to understand its health benefits. CHAPTER II Review of Related Literature In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, the sweet potato ranked highest in nutritional value. According to these criteria, sweet potatoes earned 184 points, 100 points over the nexton the list, the common potato (NCSPC).
Sweet potato tops are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress that is associated with many diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Sweet potato greens have the highest content of total polyphenolics among other commercial vegetables studied. Sweet potatoes contain protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron.
Sweet potatoes are also important sources of vitamin A,thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid. Camote tops as we commonly call the yam’s leaves in the Philippines is an excellent source of this. Here is a testimony/stories of some that was healed after drinking the juice: 1. Computer technician WenceslaoSalesale Jr. , 27, was downed by dengue. His platelet count plunged from 180 to 80. He was rushed by ambulance from Novaliches to Manila. Inside the ambulance, a relative, acting upon the advice of a missionary priest, made him drink soup made from camote tops.
The following day, his platelet count was normal. 2. Dengue attacked the 7-year-old daughter of engineers Mar and LitaBudlongan of Kaloocan City. Her platelet count read 80. The same treatment was used. The following day she was back to normal. 3. The 15-year-old daughter of businessman NepomucenoSalaga of Sampaloc, Manila had a dangerous platelet count of 80 due to dengue. The same treatment was followed. The following day she was back in school. In the case of Salaga, he bought five sheaves (bugkos/ bigkis) of camote cuttings. Each sheaf consists of about 12 cuttings.
Each cutting measures about one foot. A sheaf costs about P5. Camote tops are boiled in water to extract the juice. The boiling lasts for about five minutes. A little salt is used to give flavor to it. The patient is made to drink slowly and gradually. The body’s immunity system is thus revived, making dengue helpless against the body’s natural defenses. Camote enables the body to heal itself. Now, you know why I earlier said that my friends’ revelations shocked me. They were shocking because people are needlessly dying all around us from dengue, while their very cure is also all around us.
In the past, many were fond of using the derogatory statement, “Go home and plant camote. Now, camote is big news. It can save lives. What could be bigger than that? So, to fortify your family against dengue, “Go home and plant camote! ” We Filipinos believe that there’s no harm in trying if only it is for the good to our family and because some could not afford to go to the hospital as hospitalization is very much expensive for those who are less fortunate, low income families. I agree for one that they would resort to this as a remedy for it might as well work for them. CHAPTER III Methodology Materials/Equipment . 100 grams of fresh Kamote tops 2. 2 table spoon of lemon juice 3. 1 glass of water
4. 2 table spoons of sugar 5. Sauce pan Treatment/General Procedure 1. Wash the Kamote tops with water. 2. Cut the leaves of the Kamote tops just like how it is being done in salads. 3. Place the Kamote tops in a sauce pan and add 1 glass of water. 4. Let it simmer for 1 minute. After a minute, put on the lemon. 5. Separate the liquid preparation. 6. Put the Kamote tops juice in a glass and add some sugar. Stir it well. 7. Store it in fridge for cooling. After cooling, you can then enjoy drinking the Kamote tops juice.
