10. PURSLANE

Purslane is known scientifically as Portulaca oleracea, and is also called pigweed, little hogweed, fatweed and pusley.

It is best known as a weed. However, it is also an edible and highly nutritious green, leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is loaded with all sorts of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids.

It is a succulent plant which contains about 93% water. It has a slightly sour or salty taste, similar to spinach and watercress. It can be used in many of the same ways as spinach and lettuce, such as in salads or sandwiches.

Purslane has a long history of use in traditional/alternative medicine.

It contains:

Vitamin A (from beta-carotene)
Vitamin C
Magnesium
Manganese
Potassium
Iron
Calcium
Small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, folate
copper and phosphorus

You get all of these nutrients with only 16 calories! This makes it one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, calorie for calorie.

While purslane is low in total fat, a large portion of the fat it does contain is in the form of omega-3 fatty acids. It contains two types of omega-3 fatty acids, ALA and EPA. ALA is found in many plants, but EPA is found mostly in animal products (like fatty fish) and algae. Compared to other greens, it is exceptionally high in ALA. It contains 5-7 times more ALA than spinach.