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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 & Body

Five (5) Key Signs You Are Eating Right

eating right
Photo: blog.harvardvanguard.org

A lot of disorders arise from not eating right and a good number of them don’t even manifest until they have caused a lot of damages. Eating right, not only help you stay healthy, it helps you psychologically and financially. Financially? Yes, as you are about to find out in this short article.

How Do You Know You Are Eating Right?

Listen! Yes, listen to the subtle messages sent to you by your body. Whether our body is healthy or not, we get messages from our body but often times, we don’t listen. Likewise, if we are eating right or not eating right, we get messages from our body too. Subtle messages.

eating right
Photo: blog.harvardvanguard.org

Here are five key signs to know you are eating right;

1. You go to the toilet everyday

Not literally as stated in the title because people go to the toilet to smoke sometimes. Going to the toilet here means you actually go to the toilet to do what the toilet is designed for.

This is avery good sign you are eating right and including the right amount of fibers in your diet, they turn your bowel often and make you go do the dump. Constipation is a sign you are not eating right. Therefore, when you go to the toilet every day, it is a sign that you are eating right.

ALSO SEE: Why You Purge After Eating Leafy Vegetables

2. You Don’t Have Mood Swings

Yes, when you have even mood, then you can be sure you are eating right. Although, mood swings can be caused by other factors, when you have even mood, you are eating right.

Having said this, when you have mood swings or anxiety and have eliminated other possibilities, or starting to check what the possibilities are, you may want to check your diet. Too much of foods such as sugar, alcohol, caffeinated coffee, etc., can cause mood swings and anxiety. This is one of the reasons we included it in the list of foods you should avoid during exam period.

3. On Top Of Your Game All Day

Eating right gives you energy and makes you stay mentally active all-day. This is a fact and I have found this to be true by observing myself and other people in my workplace too. It is one of the reasons you should not miss your breakfast ever again.

You have enough energy throughout the day if your diet is fulfilling your needs and work requirements. Too much coffee consumption too can be implicated in this as you can have a crash or breakdown of energy towards the middle of or later on the day.

4. You Sleep Well At Night

A lot of things, including diet can keep you awake or make you have sleeps in which you wake up frequently. When you have these kind of nights, you wake up tired in the morning.

When you don’t sleep well at night, a lot of things can cause this but a good way to start checking is your diet. What kind of food do you eat in the day and towards bedtime? What is the space between the time you eat and time you go to bed? These are good questions to ask?

Want to know about foods that help get you a good night sleep? Click here to see.

5. Always Well Hydrated (No Episodes of Dehydration)

Dehydration usually results from drinking too little water in a day, thereby causing thirst, dry lips, and dry skin. Other factors that could result in dehydration include drinking too much caffeine and alcohol. Totally avoiding them is what I usually advise.

I mentioned at the beginning of this article that eating right saves you money and yes, it is true. You are not eating right if you eat at restaurants and eateries. These foods have been implicated in a lot of conditions and food poisoning cases. Cooking at home will not only give you quality and safe food but also saves you more money.

There are some other factors or signs that you can actually look out for in order to know if you are eating right, these are just some of the ones you cane easily notice.

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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

Cassava Leaf Nutritional Value; A Food Eaten In Some African Countries

cassava leaf soup
Cassava Leaf Soup: multiculturalcookingnetwork.wordpress.com

In this part of the world, Cassava is mainly grown for the tubers but this definitely is not the only reason some African countries grow the cassava plant. Nigeria is the world’s highest producer of Cassava root tuber but it appears to me that no one in my country cares about the usage of the abundant cassava leaves either for nutritional or medicinal purposes.The leaves are mostly left to rot on the farm or packed to be given to animals as feed; the latter sounds better.

Sierra leone, Liberia and Guinea are some of the major African nations that include cassava leaves into their diets. In fact, in Sierra leone and Guinea, cassava leaf soup is a staple and usually enjoyed by both the old and young. According to some researches carried out on the leaf, it was found out that cassava leaves contains high amount of protein, minerals and vitamins. It was reported that consumption of 400g cassava leaves is equivalent to protein intake of 45 to 50 grams. For some of the rural communities in countries where it is majorly consumed, cassava leaves had been the major source of protein.

cassava leaf soup
Cassava Leaf Soup: multiculturalcookingnetwork.wordpress.com

As if that was enough,  It contains some amount of vitamin A, vitamin B1 vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, protein, fat, carbohydrate and iron. Also, there is wide believe that the consumption of the leaves can be a cure for rheumatism, headache, fever, diarrhea and  intestinal disorder. The irony about this plant is; while the root tuber has been widely criticized by nutritionist as an unhealthy food item due to its high starch content and lack of nutrients, the leaves are loaded with many nutritional values but rarely consumed.

It is important to extend this note of warning to all and sundry that- never should you try to eat cassava leaf in its raw form while believing the leaves are been consumed in other countries. The poisonous cyanide in its leaves is a multiple of that in its tuber. However, cooking process eliminates the poisonous effects and that is why citizens of these countries had continuously enjoyed soup made from it without any long or short term adverse effect

In my opinion, if the leaves are of no economic value to us here in Nigeria, we should consider exporting the leaves to countries where it is enjoyed.

I will be sharing with you the Guinea way of  making cassava leaf soup. Keep checking this space for the recipe.

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

What It Means If You See Undigested Food In Your Excreta

check poop for your health status
Photo: quickmeme.com

Have you ever wondered what it means when you go to the toilet to defecate and see whole, undigested food in your excreta? Well, if you have ever experienced this and seek an answer to it, you are going to have it in this short article today.

We cannot really understand this without first knowing what happens through our digestive system from eating food to excretion. Don’t worry, I am not going to bore you with lots of stories about it. What I just want you to know that if your digestive system — the enzymes and bacteria present are all doing their jobs, foods get broken down before getting to the porcelain bowl.

check poop for your health status
Photo: quickmeme.com

Mind you, there is a job on your part to do — which is to masticate (chew) your food very well before you let it go into your stomach. If you don’t do this, it might just be too much for the other parts of your digestive system to handle and you see it at the end in your poop.

So, if you are asking, “what does it mean when there is undigested food in your excreta”, “is it a bad thing when you see whole, undigested foods in your poop?”

When you see whole food in your stool, we cannot really say it is a bad thing. There are lots of foods that are just simply not digestible. Therefore, it is okay to see this once in a while but there might be an underlying problem when you start seeing this often.

for example, if your poop floats, appears oily, or gives you some pain or cramps, it could be as a result of problems like an autoimmune disease such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease. Celiac disease is basically an allergic reaction to gluten. It could also be a problem with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

When you come across undigested food in your stool more often but don’t see any symptom of a bigger underlying issue, you might want to adjust your diets and eating habits a little.

For example, there are groups of foods (water and fiber) that are known to aid the digestion of foods. Add more fiber and plenty of water to your diet. Probiotics will also help add beneficial bacteria to your intestine and provide more bacteria to help with proper digestion of foods.

In conclusion, if you do see undigested foods more often in your poop even without cramps or the other symptoms listed above, you should still consult a doctor before acting next.

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Food & Body

Foods That Help Relieve Your Headache

migraine and headache

When a headache strikes, it most times render all your body system useless. It makes you very touchy while reducing the extent to which you concentrate at work or at home. Many are quick to funnel some tablets of paracetamol into their bodies in order to reduce the discomfort but they are sometimes shocked to see no improvement. In fact, this has been the norm whenever there is an occurrence of headaches for many people.

migraine and headache

How Some Foods Can Help Get Rid Of Headache

Have you ever asked yourself; if your headaches could be a result of certain foods or micro-nutrients that are lacking in your diets? Yes, this can be very true and this is what has caused a headache in many people. Let us see some of the foods that will help you eliminated headaches if regularly included in your diet.

WATERMELON:

There is no gainsaying that the major cause of headaches is the lack of enough water and certain minerals in the body. With this understanding, to mitigate against the constant pounding of your head, it is essential to have an adequate serving of watermelon which has 90% water content and yet is loaded with a mineral such as magnesium that helps reduce the pains of headaches.

BAKED POTATO AND BANANA:

Alcohol-related headache is a common phenomenon, particularly among alcohol drinking men. Alcohol is diuretic and so causes loss of water from your body within a short period which leads to headaches due to loss of electrolytes such as potassium.

In order to restore your body back to normal, it is advisable to consume foods such as potato and banana that have the capacity to supply an adequate amount of potassium to your body.

ALMOND:

Almonds can be valuable food that can be enjoyed especially during stress time. Almonds have been researched to contain a good source of protein and amino acid with an abundant supply of magnesium, potassium, and even a little iron which are key minerals that can help relieve headaches.

SPINACH SALAD:

Are you hoping to quickly alleviate your pounding headache? then spinach salad with a combination of fruit like a carrot will help your condition. Like I itemized earlier, headache is majorly caused by dehydration with a lack of certain electrolytes. These vegetables are loaded with high moisture content and fiber which will alleviate the headache.

Having itemized some of the top foods that can help during headaches, it is important to state that you should at all times consume an adequate amount of water as dehydration is the major cause of headaches. Avoiding excessive alcohol would also help prevent alcohol-induced headaches.

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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

Vitamin C From Food Source & What You May Not Know About It

vitamin C

For many healthy food lovers, the need to expatiate on the importance of vitamins and minerals may sound more like repetition as they are completely aware of the essence of including these micronutrients into their diets. However, it will surprise you to know that there are millions of people out there who pay very paltry attention to their vitamins and minerals intake. As I have set out to discuss Vitamin C, it is my pleasure to share with you the reason this water-soluble vitamin is very critical to our entire wellbeing.

vitamin C

Some of the major food sources of vitamin C are oranges, pepper, strawberries, and pawpaw to mention a few of the natural sources of the vitamin. It is also very important to put into consideration the daily requirement of vitamin C which ranges for 40mg/ day for little children to 90mg/day for an adult.

An average-sized orange supplies about 70mg of vitamin C per day. This is the main reason it is advisable not to consume more than two pieces of oranges per day. Let’s check the major areas where vitamin C can help improve your health.

Here Are Why Vitamin C From Food Sources Is Important For Improved Health

1. Helps Fight Against Cancer

Cancer is fast becoming the most feared disease all around the world but very few people are taking bold steps to prevent the development of the disease in their bodies.

Many researches have shown how food sources of vitamin C can combat cancer cells and prevent them from growing. The use of vitamin C has been effective in the treatment of lungs and ovarian cancer.

Click 2 below to view number 2…

2. Helps To Improve Your Skin Quality:

For many decades, vitamin C has been used in many beauty lotions for improved skin conditions. In fact in some cases, the peel is processed to be used in beauty formulas.

To get your skin glow bright, getting some daily doses of vitamin can be helpful. Women who consume some amount of vitamin C on daily basis do not battle with wrinkles and extreme skin dryness.

3. Makes You Feel Energized:

Vitamin C helps in the proper absorption of iron and in the process prevents the development of anaemia which usually makes one weak or have a feeling of fatigue.

So, consuming a reasonable dose of vitamin C from food sources will improve the absorption of iron in your body and make you feel more energized.

4. Help Heal Wounds:

Vitamin C is usually needed in the formation of new connective tissues in the process of wound healing. If you are serious about getting back from your injuries, higher doses of vitamin C is need for proper healing. This is usually higher than the recommended daily intake.

These are only few of the numerous health benefits of including foods rich in vitamin C into your daily diet. The water soluble vitamin is necessary for major body growth and functions. Ensure you consume a food item that will supply natural source of vitamin C to your body and you will be better for it.

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

Garri, Poor Man’s Food? Things To Know About Garri

Garri and Groundnut

Overlooked by many and regarded as a poor man’s food particularly by those born with a silver or gold spoon, it remains unknown to them how enjoyable this native and simple meal combination can be. Trust me, a spoon load of the mix (In cold water) and a bite of fish on a hot afternoon will impress you.

Garri and Groundnut

That I am a lover of drinking Garri is an understatement. As a young boy, I could go days without any other meal. It became more like a curse. I do not only soak and drink Garri, I eat the dry form also.  As years go by and I  began to become aware of the concept  of good nutrition  particularly  when I  emerged as  the  food prefect  during my high school  days,  I realised that consuming Garri the way I do could cause my health serious issues. So, I decided to reduce my consumption from daily dose to weekly dose. This is not to infer that Garri is not a healthy food. Even too much of vegetable diet is bad. Having said that, technology age mothers nowadays do not bother introducing this meal to their children as most of them say, “My children  would  not  suffer  as  I  have  suffered”.  My  question  is;  Is  drinking  Garri synonymous to suffering? I beg to disagree. In my case, it was and it is a choice.

ALSO SEE:  Why It May Be Best To Only Eat Sour Garri

No one food can stand on its own to provide adequate nutrition for your body except breastmilk which you were only fed with from birth till a maximum period of two years. In many cases, It is far less than that. So is Garri. If Garri is occasionally combined with other macronutrients such as protein and fats, then you have no reason to exclude it from your diet.

You are certain to get healthy dose of fat from roasted groundnuts and protein from fried fish with Garri supplying the required carbohydrate. This food combination is not without some traces of vitamins and minerals too. In fact, in years to come, even as it is gradually evolving now, our Garri will be loaded with vitamin A and the fear of night blindness which might result due to its overconsumption will no longer exist.

You can enjoy your Garri with some spoons of powdered milk/evaporated milk and one or two  cubes  of  sugar  but  personally  I  tend  to  enjoy  my  “Garium  Sulphate  (GaSo4)” combination without these two items. They reduce the sour taste of the Garri which is what I love.

If you truly love Garri, do not forget to share this article with your friends and families.

RECOMMENDED: Garri, Fufu, Usi With Vitamin A: What You Need To Know!

Categories
Food & Body Food & Nutrition

4 Shocking Food & Weight Loss Claims You Shouldn’t Believe

Health professionals are those who give advice to patients and clients as regards their health status and how they can improve it. These patients believe the advice given to them hook, line and sinker without a rethink. In my few years of writing nutrition articles, I have seen many write ups by certified health professionals especially Nutritionist and Dieticians who have erroneously misled their readers on some issues.

In view of this, I have come up with four of the most common statements made by them. See below to check them out.

heart nutrition facts

To Get Energy, You Need Carbs:

Completely wrong! To get energy, you will need to consume all the three macro nutrients; Carbohydrates, Protein and Fat. In fact a gram of fat provides more than twice the kcal of energy as available in carbohydrates which provides 4 kcal/gram, protein; 4 kcal/gram but fat; 9 kcal/gram.

ALSO SEE: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT IN 4 WEEKS NATURALLY

To Lose Weight; A No Fat Or Only Fruit Diet Is The Way:

This is gradually becoming the common trend even among diet professionals. The truth is that, losing weight via this method is not healthy and your chances of gaining the pounds of fat back are high. Removing fat does not help; in fact, it slows down your ability to lose fat.

It is advisable to include healthy fat like those high in omega 3 and Omega 6 at calculated amount which have been found to be helpful. Also, fruits are healthy and good for nutrition, however, in your quest to lose weight, it will be counterproductive to subscribe to an only fruit diet as the body system also needs other nutrients to metabolise fat.

Skipping Meals Is A Healthy Way To Lose Calories:

Each time I hear or read this, I cannot but start laughing. When you skip meals there is a tendency you will bounce back to eat more. Eventually, you will not be able to reduce your calorie intake. Asides that, skipping meals make you feel weak and tire as no energy and nutrients to get your system running.

You might want to speak to a practicing nutritionist who will help you make healthy calculated diet plan with appropriate portion control throughout your meal times. It is completely a NO NO! to skip breakfast.

To Stay Hydrated, You Must Drink 8 Glasses or 2 litres of water:

One piece of information I have always passed to my clients when they come for consultation is that in nutrition science or therapy, no shoe fits all and so, it will be out of place to make a generalised statement on issues like this until research says so. Till date, there hasn’t been any scientific finding that says one must drink 2 litres or 8 glasses of water.

It is important to communicate to readers that; while this information might not be untrue, it is not a fast rule. To hydrate your body, you have to respond to the water need of your body. Some might need up to 3 litres per day while other would be fine with about 1.5 Litres.

ALSO SEE: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT IN 4 WEEKS NATURALLY

Categories
Food Safety

Is It Safe or Dangerous To Microwave Foods In Plastic? See Answers!

food in microwave oven
Photo Credit: peredelka.tv

In the last one year, I have seen microwave ovens in almost every kitchen I entered. Many students even have microwaves in their apartments in schools. These tell us that microwave ovens are more common than ever in many every part of the world.

There have been many questions regarding the safety of microwaved foods itself. Many people are still skeptical when it comes to microwaved foods — they feel since the process involves radiation instead of fire to heat food, it is probably not safe. We have discussed that in this article. You can still access it here.

food in microwave oven
Photo Credit: peredelka.tv

Doing a quick Google search for the “safety of microwaved foods” will bring up several articles telling you that microwaved food is not safe. Part of the things that make some microwaved foods unsafe is the container in which we microwave the foods. Some containers are not safe for microwaving foods because they leave some dangerous and toxic materials in the food after completing the heating in your microwave oven.

Microwaving Food in Plastic: Dangerous or not?

Many people microwave foods in plastics more than any other material. We often by foods from eateries in plastic packs to microwave and eat at home. Is this safe or dangerous? Find out!

When you microwave foods in plastic containers or plastic wraps, dioxins, which are cancer-causing chemicals are released into foods. These materials are not present in plastics but are formed when, plastics, metals, wood, and other materials are burned.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), added to make clear, hard plastic and phthalates, added to make plastic soft and flexible are some of the compounds that are released into our foods when we microwave inside plastic containers and wraps.

So, are there any plastics that are safe for microwaving? What are the best materials to microwave your food in?

What materials should you microwave your food in?

If you want to microwave your foods in plastic materials, you should check for this “microwave safe” sign or plastic containers labeled for use in microwave ovens. Below is the image that indicates that plastic is safe for microwaving.

microwavable symbol

If you still have concerns about plastic wraps or containers and want to avoid their use in the microwave, transfer your foods to glass or ceramic containers labeled for use in microwave ovens. They are the safest of all.