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BBC Pidgin of Friday, 17 November 2023

Source: BBC

Di health benefits of bitter kola

Bitter kola Bitter kola

Bitter Kola, wey pipo sabi as Garcinia cola, na plant wey dey grow for West Africa, dem bin dey use di seeds for traditional medicine for centuries.

Bitter cola get plenti health benefits. Inside dis article, we go chook eye for dis treasure and di various benefits of bitter cola for di well-being.

Wetin be bitter kola?

E dey native to di forest of West Africa region, bitter kola get ogbonge role wey e dey play for traditional cultures.

Dem dey use bitter kola for im stimulating properties and di potential health benefits.

Bitter kola na plant wey belong to di Clusiaceae family, and di part wey dem dey use na di seed wey dey di fruit.

Pipo dey consume bitter kola for various ways, wey include make dem crush di nut, as a powder wey dem go add for drinks as a decoction.

Some go dry di seeds and chop am or ground am into powder wey dem fit use prepare traditional remedies.

While some dey eat am like dat.

Di health benefits of bitter kola

Bitter kola get different health benefits, wey include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and amino acids. Dis compounds dey give bitter cola antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, wey dey help boost di immune system and protect body cells from damages.

Bitter kola get caffeine and theobromine, wey be tonic for di heart.

Dis property dey make am speed up heartbeat, e dey expand di dynamics and adjust di contractions, wey dey help regulate di heart rate. Also, Bitter kola dey effective for diuretic, kola nuts also get benefits for heart conditions wey dey associated wit fluid accumulation.

Dis small nut dey rich in xanthine bases and vitamin C, e dey recommended for general tonic for anaemia and periods of convalescence.

Dem dey use bitter kola traditionally to reduce fever, and as ointment on di forehead to treat malarial fevers.

Some indications dey suggest say e dey useful for anorexia. Also, e get positive impact on digestion - e fit help suppress stomach contraction and gastric secretion.

If you dey chop am regularly, e go help protect your liver.

Dis small nut get anti-diarrhoeal and anti-inflammatory properties, wey dey help relieve headaches, toothache and migraines.

Finally, bitter kola also get aphrodisiac properties.

Everybody fit chop bitter kola?

Although bitter kola dey offer many health benefits, e dey important to note say too much consumption fit lead to side effects like insomnia, nervousness and heart palpitations due to di caffeine.

Chop bitter kola wit caution, however, as high doses fit hide tiredness and present risks.

E dey important to know say di stimulating effect on di central nervous system fit lead to addiction.

Pipo wey get gastric ulcers like duodenal ulcers, heart disease, insomnia, anxiety disorders or high blood pressure no fit chop cola.

E dey important make women no chop am during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or small pikin too.