Author: Ahmed Ogundimu

Ahmed is a Food Scientist/Technologist first of all. A Web Developer, Seasoned Blogger, Astute Marketer, Food Enthusiast and Manchester United Lover. I read anything and everything available so I know so many useful and useless things.

Categories
Food & Body

Why Women Are Attracted To Men Who Eat Garlic?

garlic

A new research result reported by the BBC has revealed that women are attracted to men who eat garlic. Yes, it is that same garlic that makes your mouth smell when you eat it. So, how does garlic, that some people don’t like to eat because of the way it smells attract women?

garlic

How Garlic Attract Women To Men

According to the research, women have evolved to prefer garlic eaters, because garlic has antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal properties, and this comes through in a man’s perspiration, suggesting that the man is healthy.

Natasha Edwards, the Managing director of the Garlic Farm told BBC Radio 5 live: “People often ask us, if you eat loads of garlic will people want to sit next to you? Will I have terrible breath? There is some evidence to say that the more garlic you eat, the better your body can deal with it.”

Recall that we also mentioned Garlic as one of the foods that help fight off cold and flu and foods that people in 40+ age group should eat more. So, even if you don’t want to eat it for those reasons. You have been given yet another reason to eat garlic.

So guys, what are you waiting for? Stop by at that fresh vegetable shop near you and buy some garlic. This might just help you get that girl or bring that girl to you.

Categories
Food & Nutrition

See Why Snails Are A Healthy Meat Protein Option

peppered snails

Yes, it is true that the United States of America placed a ban on the popular Black African snails but one thing that true for sure is that these snails are loaded with numerous nutritional benefits that have been helpful in the lives of many particularly in Africa for many decades. So, on this, we do not need the Americans to tell us what is good or what is not.

Our way of preparing these snails eliminates or reduces most of the highlighted reasons as mentioned by the United States. Let us see why you should include some servings of snails into your diet.

peppered snails

Reasons You’d Want To Eat Snail More Often Now

Potassium And Sodium Levels:

Snails contain both essential minerals with about 382 milligrams of potassium and only 70 milligrams of sodium per 100-gram serving making it a perfect combination. Usually many cases of high blood pressure involve high sodium intake over potassium level but this meat presents a good balance.

On a daily basis, healthy adults should get an average of  4700 milligrams of potassium and not more than 2300 milligrams of sodium.

Iron Content:

Iron deficiency related conditions and illnesses have gradually led to an increased rate of deaths in children. Depending on your location, snail meat could be a cheap, tasty and nutritious food source that can help reduce anaemia caused by a lack of iron in the diet.

According to a nutrition researcher; Ukpong Udofia at the University of Uyo, who analyzed the nutritional value of the meat of the giant West African land snail Archachatina marginata as it is botanically Called said lack of iron in the diets of many women and children exacerbated by diseases such as malaria which contributes to a fifth of maternal deaths, according to the WHO.

Weight Loss:

When your beautiful wife places before you a plate of cooked leafy vegetables garnished with some snails, I bet you will be quick to say a big thank you to her even before having a bite. This could be served as a dinner even without solid.

This serving is one that can be helpful in weight loss therapy. In fact, a 100gram serving of snails meat only contains about 90kcal of energy indicating that a meal containing snails; although filling will add only a few calories which will be eventually helpful in weight control.

Asides the above mentioned nutritional benefits, Snails meat contains protein, fat (mainly polyunsaturated fatty acid), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamins A, B6, B12, K, and folate. It also contains the amino acids arginine and lysine at higher levels than in the whole egg. It also contains healthy essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids. The high-protein, low-fat content of snail meat makes it a healthy alternative food.

I hope you will not be scared of consuming snails based on the report of the Americans. Big African snails are healthy and you would love it. Go have a bite.

Categories
Food & Body

Foods That Will Help Heal Your Injuries/Wounds Fast

wound cuts

It is always very devastating after sustaining an injury/wound due to accidents. Many get upset because they have turned tentatively or permanently immobile while others are bothered about how the injuries have disfigured their beautiful skins. Asides the feeling of pain due to the injuries, the length and difficulty of the healing process can also add to your sufferings.

Yes, the very first point of contact during injury treatment are the medical doctors, nurses and physiotherapist. While these professionals are key in helping injured persons, the need to speak to a nutritionist to help you plan an adequate menu that will help you heal fast can not be overemphasized. See the foods that can help you achieve this healing from inside out.

4 Foods/Food Groups That Heal Injuries Fast

wound cuts

1. Tumeric:

This food item has been known to be used for many decades in the treatment of wounds. The volume of antioxidants found in turmeric lowers inflammation and speeds up the healing process during injuries. In the traditional treatment of open wounds, people of older generations form a paste out of turmeric to be used in covering the open wounds and it has proven to be effective.

However, it is much better to include turmeric into your daily meals so that your wound could heal from inside out and it could raise your immunity against infections.

2. Liver And Leafy Vegetable:

The importance of iron in the treatment of wounds is very critical and that is why foods like liver and leafy vegetables that can supply an ample amount of iron are key. A deficiency of iron, which is commonly called anemia may retard the process of wound healing.

You should not forget the loss of blood during injuries which somewhat reduces the iron level in your body. So, it is better to eat foods high in iron to quicken the healing process.

3. Milk, Yoghurt And Meat:

Protein is regarded as a macronutrient that helps in building worn out tissues. Protein from animal sources has been found to speed up the healing process because they are regarded as a complete protein as they contain all the essential amino acids needed for this process. These proteins can be combined with a healthy amount of carbs for a healthier meal.

4. Honey:

It is a super antimicrobial agent that can be used in wound care. One major problem that had reduced the use of honey in this part of the world is because original honey is rare to find. Burns are one of the most difficult problems to treat because this type of wound provides the perfect breeding and feeding ground for many organisms.

As such, burn wounds can easily become infected, and the infection often spreads rapidly into the bloodstream, which can kill the victim. This was reported by Dr. Williams, a medical researcher. He further stated that using honey to cover the face of the wounds will quicken the healing process.

Note: Asides from poor nutrition, wound healing can be a complicate process and it is usually influenced by several factors such as infection, age, sex hormones, stress, diabetes, medications, obesity, alcohol intake, and smoking.

Categories
Food Processing

What Is Processed Meat?

corned beef sandwich
Photo: seriouseats.com

“What is processed meat” has been a question on the lips of many after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it has confirmed the link between processed meat and cancer development. Many people who were confused, perhaps scared started asking questions to know if they have been eating too much processed meat unknowingly.

So, What Is Processed Meat?

To answer this questions simply, there is not strict definition for processed meat. It is often used to refer to meats that have been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding chemicals such as sodium nitrite.

corned beef sandwich
Photo: seriouseats.com

Processed meat include such meat as corned beef, salami, bologna, pastrami, hot dogs, ham and bacon. This, by any way does not exhaust the list because, in some countries there may be several hundred different processed meat products. They all have their own product names and taste characteristics.

For example, we have Suya in Nigeria – one which we have warned people of its dangers in a post.

In the report published by WHO, it was indicated that red meat can also increase the risk of cancer, but to a lesser extent. It was also emphasized by one of their top ranking officers that scientists who issued the report were split on their decision to make an explicit link between red meat with cancer.

ALSO SEE: The Differences Between Red Meat & White Meat (Examples Included)

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Who Dished It Best

Efo Riro Soup Photos: Which Is The Most Inviting?

efo riro phummydeps

Efo riro is vegetable soup made fromCelosia argentea var. argentea or Lagos spinach (Efo Soko) and Amaranthus hybridus (Efo Tete). Some even make it from the fluted pumpkin leaf, botanically known as Telfaira occidentalis. 

Efo-riro, which is the most-inviting?

In this post, there are three pictures of efo riro soups. What you need to do is tell us which one you see as the most-inviting. That one which makes you want to eat efo-riro now.

1. Efo riro picture by @topnotchconfectioneries on Instagram

efo riro topnotchconfectionery

2. Efo riro (vegetable soup) picture by @phummydeps on IGefo riro phummydeps

3. Efo riro picture by @angelcatering on Instagram

efo riro angelcatering

So, which one?

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Who Dished It Best

How Do You Like Your Yam and Fried Egg? (Photos)

yam and fried egg 9jafoodie

Yam and egg is a combination of foods many of us in this part of the world really love. Growing up, some of us only eat foods like Yam and Egg, Jollof Rice and the likes on special occasions. Yes, that’s the way it was then. But, let’s face the reason for this post? How do you like your yam and egg served?

How Do You Like Yam & Egg Dished?

Do you like your yam more than the egg or the egg more than the yam or the two in equal quantities? Do you like your eggs spread over the yam, side by side in same plate or served in different plates? Which of the following dished yam an eggs would you prefer?

1. Yam and Egg by @sizzlingflavors on Instagram

yam and egg sizzlingflavors

2. Yam and Fried Egg by @9jafoodie on Instagram

yam and fried egg 9jafoodie

3. Picture of Yam and Fired Egg by @gloriousfingers

yam and fried eggs gloriousfingers

So, which do you like? 

Share it too if you like these pictures of Yam and Egg…

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Who Dished It Best

Ofada Rice Dishes (Photos)

ofada rice photo by chikadbia

This is a new section on FoodsNG. We have noticed that many of our readers like to see well dished foods – even if they are in pictures. Someone sent us an email that they would like to see more of these well dished photos even though they feel like eating their phones whenever they open such photos.

Who Dished It Best? Drop Your Comments!

Today, we are starting with Ofada Rice Dishes. Just drop a comment to tell us the dish you think was best presented out of the the three displayed below:

1. Ofada Rice with Stew and Plantain by @Chikadbia on Instagram

ofada rice photo by chikadbia

2. Ofada Rice with Stew, Ponmo and fried Plantain by @Goldieluxcatering on Instagram

ofada rice by goldieluxcatering

3. Ofada Rice with Stew and Boiled Egg by @lolos134 on Instagram

ofada rice lolos134

What’s your own choice? Who makes you want to eat Ofada Rice right now? Who dished it best?

Categories
Food & Nutrition Knowledgebase

Here Is Why You Purge/Stool After Eating Leafy Vegetables

efo riro

Many people have always wondered why they “purge” whenever they eat leafy green vegetables, especially the Celosia argentea var. argentea or Lagos spinach (Efo Soko) and Amaranthus hybridus (Efo Tete). For me, the former makes me really purge the day after consuming it and since when I was in high school, I knew the reason for this because I read about it after finding.

I was chatting with a couple of girls last week when one of them informed me that she no longer eat leafy vegetables because they make her go to the toilet and produce watery stool. These leafy vegetables are very rich in nutrients and are not foods one would give up on. This is one of the reasons we advised that people should avoid chopping their vegetables in the market.

efo riro

Why Do I Purge or Stool After Eating Vegetables (Efo)

When we eat leafy vegetables, which by the way are very rich in minerals, they pass through the digestive tract and end up at the small intestine. Nutrients are absorbed by the inner walls of the small intestine into the blood stream, so it is faster and easier when the food touches the wall of the intestine. In the small intestine, the fiber, which is abundant in the vegetables absorb water and swell up. This makes the food to touch the walls of the small intestines and makes digestion faster.

This fiber also ensures regular bowel movements by preventing toxic buildup in the digestive tract. This can make you visit the toilet more often than you normally do. This also prevents the development of digestion problems, including constipation.

If you have read our article on constipation and how to manage constipation at home in the past, you would recall that one of the foods we mentioned for managing constipation is leafy vegetables. They are really very important in our diet.

Even if they make you “purge”, leafy green vegetables are foods that you should eat often because they help digestion of foods and make the absorption of the nutrients in the food you have eaten easier. This “purging” is an “unavoidable evil” you have to embrace. This case is different from the way you purge when you eat beans and that is why we share ways by which you can cook beans to prevent farting or purging after eating it.

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General

Where Did Jollof Rice Come From? The Origin!

Jollof Rice
Photo: buzzghana.com

There have been a lot of arguments about where in Africa Jollof Rice came from as a lot of people from a number of African countries have claimed that Jollof rice originated from their countries. The origin of this delicious dish is still hotly debated on several forums and social media and now I have been getting this question in my email from FoodsNG readers.

Where Is The Origin Of Jollof Rice? Answer!

The debate (or if you like, argument) on this topic has always been hot between Nigerians and Ghanaians. I also, have always believed that cooking of Jollof rice started in Nigeria and later spread to other parts of West Africa like Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Gambia but I was shocked from what I saw on some reputable websites when I did a little search on this topic.

Jollof Rice
Photo: buzzghana.com

According to Wikipedia, the name Jollof rice is a derivation from the name of the Wolof people of Senegal, where it is considered to have originated. Based on its name its origins are also traced to the Senegambian region that was ruled by the Jolof Empire.

Isn’t it now funny how people from Senegal are not even involved in this debate and arguments over where Jollof rice originated from? Well, maybe because it didn’t really originated from there – nobody is really sure. There are however speculations and guesses from historians as to the origin.

One of those is that of food and agriculture historian James C. McCann, who considers this claim plausible given the popularity of rice in the upper Niger valley, but considers it unlikely that the dish could have spread from Senegal to its current range since such a diffusion is not seen in “linguistic, historical or political patterns”. Instead he proposes that the dish spread with the Mali empire, especially the Djula tradespeople who dispersed widely to the regional commercial and urban centers, taking with them economic arts of “blacksmithing, small-scale marketing, and rice agronomy” as well as the religion of Islam.

As for me, who cares where Jollof rice came from? When cooked well, this is a very inviting and delicious dish to eat any day, any time. Let’s forget where this came from and join those that have started celebrating the World Jollof Rice Day on 22 August.

On that day, Airtel Nigeria, using @AirtelNigeria with a photograph to match, tweeted: “don’t let anybody treat you like white rice; you are Jollof Rice; the life of the Party! Happy #WorldJollofRiceDay.”

Categories
Food & Nutrition

Seeds Of Fruits You Can Eat & Add To Your Diet

Watermelon Seeds

Many seeds are loaded with numerous nutritional benefits but this fact is unknown to a lot of people particularly those in this part of the world. Not too long ago, I took a trip to some parts of Europe and I was completely awed by their eating habits and the type of meals they consume. Seeds of different foods were occasionally included into their diets to raise both micro-nutrient and protein intake.

Watermelon Seeds

In some types of fruits, the seeds which are usually discarded are more nutritious than the whole flesh. In this short article, I have compiled three major fruits which are commonly consumed here in Nigeria and the benefit of consuming their seeds.

WATERMELON:

Thirst quenching fruit; almost everyone in Nigeria loves this anti- oxidant loaded fruit. While consumption is quite common, virtually everyone discards the seeds. Aside eating the pulp the fruit, the seed can also be eaten in raw, dried or roasted form.

The seeds are high in protein, B vitamins and fats. The fat content is high both in saturated and unsaturated fats. In some countries, the seeds are collected, dried or roasted and consumed as snacks which supplies low calorie and can be consumed by those managing their weight.

PAWPAW: Have you ever tried making a chilled smoothie out of a ripe pawpaw? I bet you will quit taking soft drinks after a sip. The fruit is loaded with many vitamins and minerals. It is good for people battling with constipation due to high dietary fibre. While all these can be said of the fleshy part of the fruit, it will surprise you to know that the seeds which are edible also contain advantageous health benefits.

I am careful about using the entire pawpaw seeds when making a smoothie as there is no record on the quantity that could become toxic to the body but facts have established that; including some amount of the seed helps improve your immune system. To the whole pulp of pawpaw, you could add 2 or 3 table spoon of the seed to make a smoothie. I have never tried eaten it raw……..I guess it is bitter and pepperish. Hey! No harm in trying.

GRAPE SEEDS: For lovers of grapes, you will agree with me that it is a super fruit with countless benefits. According to a research carried out at the University of Maryland Medical Center, it was reported that the seeds contain powerful antioxidants, in addition to other nutrients such as vitamin-E, flavonoids and linoleic acids.

Flavonoids are believed to lower the risk of heart disease by decreasing your body’s concentration of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Also, in the same light, the September 2009 issue of “The Journal of Nutrition” reports that the phytochemicals and antioxidants in grape seeds have the ability to fight cancer and improve your overall health.

Well, having itemized some of the edible seeds you should consider eating, my advise is this, If you must consume the seeds of these fruits in there raw form, ensure you grind them properly before swallowing. If you cannot do that, you should add the seeds when trying to make some cups of smoothie. I prefer the latter particularly after it had been refrigerated.

I hope you will find this article helpful.

Categories
Food & Body

Foods That Cause Recurring Catarrh And Remedies

catarrh

Catarrh is an excessive build-up of thick phlegm or mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. The phlegm is not only found in the nasal cavity but also in the throat, ears or chest. They usually result in runny or stuffy nose and an irritating, persistent cough caused by excess mucus at the back of the throat. They do cause some discomfort.

Catarrh usually comes with illnesses and conditions such as cold and such infections as flu. I know people (including some friends), that keep having catarrh every day, but without any other illness or cold. We kept wondering before now, why their catarrh won’t just go but now we know. Some foods could be responsible for that catarrh that keeps coming back.

catarrh

What Normally Causes Catarrh? Can Food Cause It?

It should be noted that catarrh is not a condition itself, but a symptom of other conditions, telling you that something is wrong in the body. It is a reaction to irritations or infections by the immune system. The immune system helps to put up a defense against these irritations and infections.

Have you ever noticed how people get catarrh after being exposed to dust? Well, the dust causes irritations and there is the release of molecules called inflammatory mediators which cause the mucous membranes to swell and produce mucous.

There are other conditions that can bring about the production of mucous and blockage of the nasal cavity or production of phlegm in the throat. Surprisingly, food brings about this condition too and eating the food often keeps people wondering why they keep having catarrh.

Here are some foods that can cause your recurring catarrh…

Foods That Keep Bringing Your Catarrh Back

If you are so sure that your catarrh is not as a result of illnesses (conditions) or form of infection and that you have not exposed yourself to irritation sources such as dust, then your recurring catarrh could be a result of some foods causing irritations and causing the body to produce mucous which blocks your nose and irritates your throat.

Cold Water or Iced Foods

If you are someone that takes cold water every day or like going out taking very chilled drinks with friends, it could be the source of your catarrh. Cold drinks and some iced foods such as iced creams, cold beverage drinks, and beers, etc., can cause these irritations we have been talking about in some people.

This will definitely cause the development of catarrh in such people who get irritated by it. You may want to try and be observant of yourself to confirm this claim.

Milk and Milk Products (Dairy)

Dairy products are renowned for their mucous-forming ability i.e. they cause the formation of mucous in some people.

Like has been said above, all you need to do is to be observant anytime you consume this food. Common dairy products include milk, yoghurt, cheese, and butter, but butter has not been implicated in this condition. Therefore, you can still consume butter in considerable amounts.

When you need to eat food, just check the composition and verify that it does not contain too much milk. Iced cream, for example, is also made from milk. Make sure of the composition of your food before you consume them. It helps!

Wheat and Wheat Products

We consume a lot of pastries in many parts of the world and many of them are made from wheat flour. Wheat is present in bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes and all kinds of breakfast cereals that we consume (often with milk which is another culprit).

Try avoiding these foods for some period to see if your catarrh relieves you or totally disappears. This will help you pinpoint which foods or groups of foods that cause your recurring catarrh. Instead of just using catarrh drugs every time, this could help find a lasting solution.

How Do You Clear This Catarrh When You Have It?

Okay, since this catarrh is not caused by an infection but simply some irritants, you don’t really need any type of medications to clear your catarrh. First of all, get rid of that food that you have found to be culpable from your diet and use this simple home remedy.

At some point, you would have done this to get rid of your catarrh; get a bowl and pour some hot water into it. Bend your head over to the bowl and cover your head with a towel over the bowl and inhale the steam that comes out. This will clear your catarrh and make them easily flushed out of the nose or throat.

Categories
Food & Nutrition

What People That Eat Banana Skins Know, That We Don’t

banana peel cooked

Some people in some parts of the world eat banana peels or skins — whichever way you call it. What many of us do after opening banana and eating the flesh is to thrash the peel. Yes, this is what many people do. This is just because banana flesh is soft and sweet while the peel is thick, fibrous, slightly bitter and sometimes dirty.

However, Apparently, they know some things about banana and its peel that people like us over here and in many other parts of the world don’t. They know the benefits that come with eating them and we don’t. This post will show you some of the health benefits of a banana skin.

banana peel cooked

We have mentioned banana in some articles in the past. It is one of the foods you can snack on at night if you are truly looking to avoid gaining weight. There was also an article that showed how to make a very healthy and delicious cream from banana and if you are looking to make your banana last for extra 5-7 days, you should read this. Now back to today’s topic.

Should Banana Peel Be Eaten? What Danger Does It Pose?

It has been established that banana peels are neither dangerous nor hazardous to the health if consumed. In fact, if eaten with the sweet flesh of the fruit, they come packed with many health benefits and straying a little away from the food angle, eating the peel is also better for the environment as a whole. 

So, what are the nutritional/health benefits?

Here are the benefits the skin has;

Laura Flores, a San Diego-based nutritionist informed LiveScience that the skin of banana “contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and potassium. It also contains some fiber and protein”.

“It contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and potassium. It also contains some fiber and protein.”

Banana peels have also been found to possess “various bioactive compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and some others. So, why throw it away next time. Here are some ways you can enjoy eating banana peels.

Ways you can enjoy eating banana peels;

As mentioned earlier, banana skins can be dirty and there can also be leftovers from pesticides used on them during storage. Therefore, you should wash your bananas if you intend to eat the peel too. Here are some of the ways to eat your banana peel.

When fully ripen and soft, your banana peels can be eaten alone as you eat the bananas i.e. bite them and eat them together.

You can also blend the banana peels into smoothies. You can fry, bake, or boil them for at 10 minutes or more to make them less fibrous, easy to eat and digest.

So, when next you buy that hand of bananas, you might want to consider eating some. By the way, “a hand” is what a bunch of banana should be called. A single one is a finger.

ALSO SEE: How To Make Banana Last For 5-7 Days Extra

Categories
Food Processing

What To Do When You Add Too Much Salt To Food!

adding salt to stew

From simple errors to nonchalant culinary skills, many people have added more salt to their foods making the meals out rightly inconsumable. When this happens, a lot of people are unaware of simple methods or tricks that can be followed during the cooking period to reduce the saltiness of the foods before the meals are served.

In one of our previous articles, we have talked about the adverse effects of adding too much salt to foods. We also provided answers to the question of “how much salt is actually too much“. Another post also showed us the best time during cooking to add salt to food to avoid over-salting of the food.

adding salt to stew

In many of the cases, water is usually added to the foods in a bit to reduce the salt concentration but this seems not to produce the desired result. To adequate remedy over saltiness, the following tricks could be adopted depending on your meal.

Add Some Slices Of Sweet Potatoes

This has been helpful and a few people who had tried it can attest to it. Have your potatoes sliced into big parts, rinse them and add into a salty soup. As the potato cooks, it will help absorb the salty water or solution of the soup thereby helping in balancing the saltiness. The potatoes can be removed after they had absorbed enough salt solution.

Add Some Liquid Milk

In fact, instead of adding some quantity of water particularly to soups and porridges, milk solution has been reported to perform and produce a better result in reducing the saltiness in the soups than water.

Rinse With Plenty Water

For boiled rice and yam, your best bet is to rinse the food over and over again to reduce the salt content before serving. In the case of meat, if you would eventually be adding them to a soup, you could avoid adding salt or cube seasonings to the soup. The salt in the meat might just be enough.

Add Some Quantity Of Sugar

This has to be carefully done to avoid excessive adding of sugar. Add sugar in small quantities and taste the food or soup to ascertain if there is a reduction in the level of saltiness. Once there is a remarkable reduction, it is advisable for you to stop adding sugar because excessive sugar in some types of food can ruin the original flavour of the food. The sugar to be added can be honey or white sugar.

Although the above-bulleted points are some of the tricks you can do to reduce saltiness in your meal, the most important thing is for you to remain careful as regards the quantity of salt you intend adding to your meals. That way there would be no need for these tricks.

ALSO SEE: The best time during cooking to add salt to food when cooking

Categories
Food & Nutrition

Is Ofada Rice More Nutritious Than Parboiled, Polished Rice?

ofada rice

Which is more Nutritious? Is it Ofada rice or the common imported, parboiled, polished rice? The saying that “Rice feeds the world” after all might not be an overstatement as virtually all homes in the world would have some quantity of rice. It is a major staple across all races on different continents. Loved by children, embrace by the old, rice remains a food that cannot be deleted in the diet of many particularly Africans and Asians.

ofada rice

In this light, it is important for people to consume rice types that will help improve their nutrition rather than those with no or low nutritional benefits. With this in mind, one local rice called Ofada rice is one of those varieties that can deliver maximum benefits to consumers of rice.

Ofada Rice VS The Common Imported Parboiled & Polished Rice

It is a short, robust and brown rice planted mostly in Ogun State and some other states in western Nigeria. The Ofada rice delicacy is very popular in the South-west region of Nigeria, but those who eat it, are certainly unaware of the numerous health benefits of the rice. When it comes to rice quality, looks can be really deceiving as those attractive looking white rice do not stand a chance in comparing their nutritional status with Ofada rice.

One particular selling point of Ofada rice is the quantity of both soluble and insoluble fiber found in it. It has more than twice the quantity of fiber found in regular polished or white rice and the difference is due to the way both types are processed. The common white rice is brown rice that had gone through some changes in the milling process.

With Ofada rice, only the husk is removed. White rice is polished and pre-cooked or parboiled. The bran is also removed. The bran is kept intact in Ofada rice, and it is the bran that gives you a healthy dose of dietary fiber. The fibre helps in proper digestion and in the cleansing of the colon.

Ofada rice Nutritional Compositions & Effect On Weight Loss

Ofada rice has also been critical and necessary in the diet of those who are hoping to lose some pounds of flesh. The soluble fiber slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach and promotes a sense of satiety, or fullness after a meal. This helps to prevent overeating and eventually helps you lose weight, especially when combined with some leafy vegetables.

White rice is usually fortified with some vitamins due to the low amount of nutrients but in the case of Ofada rice, it is loaded with nutrients like magnesium, manganese and zinc, potassium and some traces of vitamin E.

Rice, Blood Sugar Level and Diabetes

There have been reports linking the consumption of white rice to a high level of blood sugar and many dieticians advise their patients not to indulge in white rice. But with Ofada rice, food researchers and experts have advocated replacing white rice with brown rice if you have diabetes.

A study team at the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that eating five servings per week of white rice increased the risk of diabetes. They also found that replacing white rice with brown rice lowered the risk.

The benefits of Ofada rice over popular processed ones cannot be completely itemized. I do hope you will try to include Ofada rice into your diet.

ALSO SEE: Should Rice Be Washed Before Cooking? Must Read!

Categories
Food & Nutrition

Red, White, Yellow Onion: Which Has Most Health Benefits?

onion with different colours and health benefits

Many people like to just eat onions and blend onion with various foods without knowing their attributes, nutritional composition and which one gives the most health benefits. Many think these onions only differ in colour and taste – but no, they are different in terms of the health benefits and other beneficial compounds they provide.

onion with different colours and health benefits

These onion types are all powerful superfoods that come with anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. All these are beneficial to our body but which one has the most in terms of these benefits.

All these types of onion have been found to be low on the glycemic index (how much sugar they add to our blood), with a rating of 10. They provide about 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and the same amount of calcium per serving.

Differences in Health & Nutritional Benefits of Red, White & Yellow Onions

The red onion has about 2 grams of fiber per 100-gram serving. This is slightly a better source of fiber when compared to the white onion which contains about 1.2 grams of fiber in the same serving. Both are not particularly high sources of fiber.

Difference In Antioxidant Properties

From the colour of the red onion, it is easier to predict that they contain higher amount of flavonols. These compounds called flavonols have antioxidant properties. Red onions contain 415 to 1917 mg of flavonols compared to yellow ones, which only contain 270 to 1187 mg.

Red onions have higher flavonols, than yellow onions, which in turn have higher flavonols that white onions. The flavonols are more concentrated in the outer and redder layer of the onion. Therefore, when you peel your onion, don’t do so deep into the outer red layer of the onion.

Another important compound present in red onions is quercetin – a polyphenol compound. It helps in getting rid of free radicals. This compound is present in white onions too, but a lot more in the red type.

Difference In How They Help Fight Cancer

Since the red onions have higher level of antioxidants in them than the white and yellow types, they (the red onions) provide higher protection against cancer.

As mentioned earlier in this article, red onions contain higher level of quercetin. This quercetin, with allicin in red onions has been shown to reduce inflammation and be beneficial for both the prevention and treatment of cancer.

A particular study has shown that the risk of stomach cancer was reduced by 50% when half an onion was eaten daily. Other studies have also shown that eating onions reduces the risk of stomach, colorectal, oral, laryngeal, esophageal and ovarian cancer.

Final verdict on choosing onions…

As has been said earlier, don’t over-peel onions. This way, you get the best nutritional and health benefits from them. Most of these compounds that give these health benefits are more concentrated in the outer layers of onion.

According to a particular study, peeling the first two layers of the onion removes 75% of the antioxidant anthocyanins. So, you might want to simmer down on cutting those outer layers of your onions.

ALSO SEE: Working Tips For Cutting Onions Without Crying!

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Food Recipes

Learn How To Make Isi-Ewu (Goat Head Meat Soup) At Home

isi ewu goat head

I have never for once come to agree with myself on which part of Nigeria has the best soups especially considering the array of soups that are peculiar among the Easterners and the South southerners.  You will agree with me that it is a tough competition between these groups of people. While I ponder about this in my small apartment, a female friend who came visiting had a cooler of Isi-Ewu with her.

isi ewu goat head

As I ate a plate of the meaty soup, I could not but ask for more and I felt it would be nice to get the recipe from her and share with you on this platform. Isi- Ewu is made from goat head and I bet a bite will surely convince you to eat more.

How To Cook (Prepare) Isi-ewu (Goat Head Soup)

Here are the ingredients that you need with instructions to prepare your own Isi-ewu at home. Follow the recipe/guide step by step and you are sure to make a delicious pot of Isi-ewu.

The Ingredients For Isi-Ewu

  • One goat head
  • 2 big Onions bulbs,
  • 2-3 roasted calabash nutmeg,
  • 4 pieces of habenero peppers (Ata rodo),
  • 2 meat flavour seasoning cubes and salt to taste.
  • 20cl or 200ml of Palm oil
  • Enough water to cook the meat
  • Tyme, curry and potash (Kaun)
  • Ground crayfish and sliced Utazi leaves

Note: The utazi leaf is included to add some bitter flavour to the Isi-Ewu while potash (kaun) is added to make the palm oil curdle up.

Pre-Cooking Step In Making Isi-Ewu

  • Get your goat head chopped into smaller pieces. This could be done by the meat sellers. Wash the entire meat pieces properly using foam and iron sponge to remove dirt particularly in the ears and tongue part. Keep aside.
  • Wash and slice the fresh utazi leaves into tiny pieces just like you would do for your vegetables and set aside.
  • Soak a tea spoon of potash or kaun in small amount of water, let it dissolve well and sieve the water; then set aside the water.
  • Peel, wash and slice one onion bulb into ring forms and set aside.
  • Blend the other onion bulb and pepper into pasty form. Add only little amount of water if you must blend. It is better if you can pound them. Set aside.

Main Cooking Steps (Instructions)

  • Place the goat meat pieces into a large pot and place on a cooker
  • Pour a little amount of water just enough to cook the meat. This is because there is no need for stock water. Add the two cube seasonings, a tea spoon each of thyme and curry. Cook for about 20 minutes.
  • Add salt and let it simmer for another 10 minutes. When the meat pieces are tender enough, set aside.
  • In another pot, add palm oil, pour the sieved water of the potash slowly into the pot containing palm oil and stir using a wooden spatula until the oil turns completely yellow.
  • Add two table spoons of crayfish and stir.
  • Add the grounded (Ehu seeds) calabash nut meg, grounded or blended onions and pepper (to taste) and less than a handful of sliced utazi leaves. Stir properly.
  • Pour the cooked goat head meat pieces into this mixture and stir well.
  • Place on cooker and let it simmer for few minutes under low heat until it is piping hot. Do not forget to cover the pot during the cooking process.

Your Isi Ewu is ready to be served!

In many Nigerian restaurants, Isi Ewu is served in a calabash or some wooden material with a sprinkle of small quantity of onion rings and some slices of fresh Utazi leaves on it. This makes it very native and colourful. I bet you will love it. In less than 1hour, you should be done with the entire process of making this native meal.

I sincerely hope you will find this recipe helpful.