I.

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The project has been undertaken primarily out of curiosity. The thought came
that maybe, when combined, malunggay and spinach can provide a potent cure to
some health ailments and also sustain a healthy body. It sparked the idea of the
possibility of combining the two powerful sources of vitamins and minerals so that a
person can obtain more nutrients into his body on a single consumption. This also
triggered the aim to create a more favorable way to consume the vegetables since
not many people like to eat leaves.

B. Statement of the Problem

There have been efforts in the medical world to provide supplements that offer
various cures for each ailment, as well as for keeping the body healthy. However,
not many vegetables were used in combinations, which the researcher believes can
further improve the chances of having all the nutrients being absorbed into the body.
Also, it seems that plant leaves are always introduced into the body only through
eating them as they are. Thus, this study aims to answer the question of whether the
malunggay-spinach powdered mix is an easier alternative to cooking fresh leaves for
nutrients absorption.

C. Hypothesis

The malunggay-spinach powdered mix is an easier form of ingesting nutrients.

D. Significance of the Study

The primary beneficiaries of this study are those people who prefer an easier
way to consume vegetables for their nutritional requirements and cure to their
various ailments. They can prepare the powder right from home and still have the
same medicinal effects of supplements that are in tablet and capsule forms. This will
cut the costs of medicine in half.

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E. Scope and Limitations of the Study

This project imitates the production of powdered supplements but instead of a

commercial-grade processor, the researcher used bare hands and a home-grade
grinder/blender to pulverize the dried leaves of both malunggay and spinach. Also,
the yield of this powdered mix cannot be substituted for medical-grade supplements
as this study is still in its experimental stage; the amount necessary for one’s health
requirements may be more or less the produced quantity of this study.

F. Review of Related Literature

An online reference has shown a group of researchers having performed an

experiment involving the same ingredients—the malunggay and spinach leaves—
and came up with their own version of powdered supplement which can be used in
various applications such as making tea and as food additive. Both this study and
theirs are performed at home using similar techniques, and are not recommended
for commercial use as of the time being.

In this project, we refer to “supplement” as the processed ingestible food that

contains nutrients essential for well-being and health. This “supplement” is the
resulting product of combining grounded dried leaves of malunggay and spinach.

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 II. METHODOLOGY

A. Materials
For this study, the researcher used these items to prepare the powdered
“supplement”:

 a bundle of malunggay leaves, still attached to the stems

 a bundle of spinach leaves
 one large paper bag
 string for hanging the leaves upside down
 mortar and pestle
 blender

B. Procedure
1. Harvest malunggay and spinach leaves in the morning to ensure freshness. The
perfect time is just when the dew has dried up.
2. Bundle the harvested malunggay leaves and spinach.
3. Tie the bundle with a strong string and hang them upside down from a post.
4. Place the paper bag just below the bundled leaves so it will catch the dried, fallen
leaves. Do not pick the leaves; let them fall by themselves.
5. Pound the dried leaves with a mortar in a pestle.
6. Transfer the pounded leaves into a blender and pulverize the leaves until it is
powdery.
7. Store the powdered leaves in a sealed container under room temperature.

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 III. RESULTS AND FINDINGS

Since the drying time wasn’t the same throughout all the leaves, the researcher has
obtained two color variants: brown and dark green. It should be noted that the leaves
started to flake because of crispiness around the end of seven days. Because the
malunggay leaves outnumbered the spinach, the targeted yield of 200 mg was not met.
It should be a tie: 100 mg of powdered malunggay and 100 mg of powdered spinach.
Nevertheless, the leaves of both plant varieties completely dried up in a well-ventilated
room.

IV. CONCLUSION

The time of harvesting the leaves, as well as the time it took for the leaves to dry and
fall, seems to affect the resulting product significantly. Harvesting the leaves just after
the morning dew dried up can produce a uniform color when pounded. Also, the
temperature of the room has significant effect on the drying process of the leaves. This
ensures the freshness of the leaves until they fell off by themselves. Natural air-drying is
the key. The crispiness of naturally air-dried leaves allows for easier pounding; hence,
the result is the same consistency as a powder.

Upon studying the results, the researcher has confirmed the hypothesis that
pulverizing the malunggay and spinach leaves is way easier and better than consuming
leaves as they are in their original form and size.

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 V. SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

After studying the results and weighing up several factors, the researcher
recommends the use of only the freshest leaves grown in the backyards. This is to
ensure the efficacy of the powder and that it does not lose its potent nutrients.

Malunggay is easily sourced, however, the spinach is not readily available and if so,
it does come with a high price. Spinach that has to be bought from the supermarket may
not be fresh, hence it is strongly encouraged to just start planting spinach seeds at
available plots at home.

As for the storage, it is necessary to keep the powder away from direct sunlight to
avoid it getting mouldy. Also, keeping it for a long time isn’t advisable since the shelf life
is only around 3-4 days, after which the powder will be infested by moulds. The
researcher also recommends that the powder be used as a tea or as food additive in
soups and broths.

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 VI. REFERENCES

Encyclopedia Americana International Edition, (2006)Volume 20 “Nutrition” p. 567-

574

http:/ /lifestyle.iloveindex.com/lounges/benefits-of-spinach-1370.html

http:/ /www.drlera.com/MINERALS/SULFUR.HTM

http:/ /healthsupplementsnutrionalguide.com/recommendend-daily-
allowances.html#INFANTS

http:/ /hubpages.com//hub/Health_Benifits_of_Spinach

http:/ /healthsupplementsnutrionalguide.com/health-supplements.html

http:/ /malunggayherbtea,multiply,com.journal/item/2

http:/ /www.malunggay.com/therapeutics.htm

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