ESL Blogs

Health is really wealth. When you want to stay fit and fab, having a healthy lifestyle should be a must. One of the ways to living well is by drinking tea (as part of your daily regimen).

Introducing… Mulberry!

Mulberry, you say? It is a tree (Morus nigra) that produces tiny black fruit. Its leaves can be used as herbal tea. Mulberry is considered a superfood by many experts, and it’s been proven effective to controlling the blood sugar levels in the body. It contains anti-oxidant that curbs free radicals in the blood stream as well as lowers the LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or the ‘bad cholesterol’ in the body. The compound called ‘DNJ’ or deoxinojirimycin which can be found in its leaves is the one responsible for lowering the blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. It also improves the blood circulation in the nerves, so if you’re stressed out why not sip a cup of mulberry tea to brighten out your mood and prevent you from suffering a heart attack.

Both the fruit and the leaves of the mulberry are beneficial to the body as well as to the inner being. Scientific studies have shown the remarkable results for the patients with type-2 diabetes who incorporated mulberry teas in their diet. It’s also beneficial to people with hypertension. Furthermore, like other varieties of berry, it could make someone slim.

I can attest to its health benefits because I have been drinking mulberry tea for months already. Out of curiosity, I tested its taste and it was good. The tea is fragrant as well. Now, it’s part of my morning regimen usually after taking breakfast. To prepare such tea, I would just pick some fresh leaves in my garden and rinse them thoroughly with clean water then boil them as regular tea and voilà! … I have free tea! The good thing is that I don’t need to buy or order it elsewhere. My tiny garden provides it and I know it’s organic because I don’t use pesticides or (inorganic) chemical fertilizers in it. The tiny red or maroon produce is always a bonus since it only bears fruit occasionally. It so freakin’ delish with oatmeal, too!

My Mulberry tree along with other herbal plants

I confess my health has improved because apart from maintaining blood circulation, I noticed I became more mentally alert and energized. From what I read, mulberry also boosts brain function thus lowers the risk of developing dementia. Take note that you have to consult first your physician before taking any form of herbal teas or supplements especially if you’re diabetic and hypertensive. It might affect or contraindicate with your prescription medicines.

When it comes to propagation of mulberry, it’s as easy as falling of a log! You can make stem cuttings of it at least about 20 cm. or longer. You must remove all the leaves and stick it on a well draining soil. And after a few weeks, you would notice new side shoots emerging. It’s an indication that your propagation is a success. I’ve done a lot of cuttings already, it’s quite addicting really! I do not use rooting hormone, instead I dip it in cinnamon powder. It serves as a rooting agent.

Mulberry is a tree that can grow up to fifteen feet. You can either plant it on the ground for bigger leaves and fruit, or in a container to control its growth and produce, provided you feed it well with nice compost and organic fertilizers. When you plant it on the ground, chances are, you wouldn’t notice the fruit are eaten by birds before you even harvest them. The fruit is so delicate and can stain your clothes. The tree grows so fast and it’s hardy but doesn’t like too much sunlight. You should just cut back the tree or trim it to your desired height.

Finally, it is a wise investment for our health to feed our body with right nutrition and that includes preparing a well balanced diet with lots and lots of green veggies and fruit. Of course, exercise is not an excuse!  We all know that getting sick is pricey nowadays and even burn a hole in our pockets, so maintaining a habit such as drinking mulberry tea could make you live longer and healthier! It could save you from developing diabetes, stroke and even cancer as well as the expenses that go with it.

What are you waiting for… fancy cuppa?

Happy growing!