The origin of kola nut can be traced to the tropical rainforest of Africa. The nuts are got from the kola tree. It contains caffeine, and it grows on the evergreen tree with a height of about 20 meters. This nut has got a bitter taste, however, when the entire fruit is chewed, it’s got a sweet fruity taste. It’s got a sweet aroma — one like rose petals.
It’s Got Industrial Uses — Let’s Discuss them
The mini kola nut is used in quite a number of beverages as a flavoring agent, and that’s the reason it has, over the years, gained some popularity in commercial industries. Chocolate lovers like me know that kola nut is useful in making chocolate. Kola nut is also useful in the pharmaceutical industry — you’ll get to find out how soon.
Moving on…
Kola nut is a stimulating agent which regulates heart rate by increasing circulation. This circulation provides adequate oxygen to all parts of the body, including the brain. This also makes it a cognitive booster. of That’s the reason it has a wide spectrum of pharmaceutical industries. It is often used as a cognitive booster — it heightens the level of oxygen in the brain and aids focus. Its wealth of glucose and starch enables it to generate a lot of energy.
Let’s get deeper into this interesting discourse…
It Promotes Weight Loss
Do you want to get rid of extra fat?
Do you want to be fit?
Do you desire the aforementioned without negative side effects?
Then you really should pay attention to this point.
Kola nut increases the rate of metabolism and helps the body excrete more and store less without having adverse effects on the digestive system. It lessens appetite and provides essential nutrients. There you go! To shed some weight, you might want to take in some kola nuts.
It Boosts Immunity
Kola nut provides give more resistance to the body, enough to keep healthy from harmful toxins. It’s got an anti-oxidant effect that eliminates free radicals, reducing susceptibility to illnesses, and providing powerful immunity.
It Treats Prostate Cancer
Kola nut contains compounds such as phytoandrogens and phytoestrogens, which make it effective in treating prostate cancer. These compounds are anti-inflammatory, hence their ability to frustrate the growth of cancer cells.
It Boosts Metabolism
Kola nut produces maximum metabolic rate. It providing support for people with slow metabolic function.
It Alleviates Gastric Problems
Kola nut enhances the breakdown of food by facilitating the production of gastric acids in the parietal cells. Consuming kola nut regularly alleviates digestion troubles, and prevents constipation.
It Cures Bone Illness
A regular consumption of kola nut fruit can help one battle osteoarthritis disease as a result of its knack for giving bone density. People who experience stiffness and swelling in cartilage and joints have a reason to rejoice, now that they know kola nut, or are getting to know it better. Yeah, because kola nut takes care of the condition, just as is expected. It is safe to generalize that kola nut improves overall bone health.
It Treats Respiratory Disease
Caffeine dilates bronchioles and bronchi which eventually reduces the occurrences of pneumonia, influenza, and asthma. Caffeine also provides relief from contracted bronchia.
It`s a Natural Cold Therapy
Kola nut has been widely used as a home remedy to treat chest colds because it fairly enlarges the alveolar sac and duct. What`s more? It strengthens the fibers of the lung tissues.
It Relieves Migraines
Eating kola nut will help treat severe migraines due to its richness of theobromine and caffeine. These are compounds that improve the blood flow rate throughout in the head, making kola nut fit to be called a cerebral vasodilator.
A Non-Floral Killer and Natural Diuretic
Kola nut small beans contain xanthones, which treats certain infectious conditions. It effectively reduces the development of actinobacteria and prevents diseases such as meningitis and tuberculosis. It also treats diseases such as hypertension, kidney disease cirrhosis, and heart failure.
What about Kola Nut Extracts?
Kola nut extract works as an effective bronchodilator. The caffeine content in the extract enhances the opening of the bronchial tubes which are the air passage in the lungs, enabling breathing when one is exhausted.
Kola nut extract and extract products can also be used to reduce feelings of intoxication as a result of alcohol consumption.
The extract effectively works for curing many medical conditions like whooping cough, migraine, and usual headache. It is also used as a great diuretic that is it supplies the necessary fluid substitute amount to the body instantly.
Kola nut extract and the extract products are a good anti-depressant and are not addictive.
Can such a wonderful fruit have side effects?
Well, it actually does; let`s take a look…
It Increases Blood Pressure
Hypertensive? Please don`t eat kola nut because it stimulates it increases blood pressure. Not quite safe.
It Causes Sleep Disorder
Raw or processed, kola nut causes sleeplessness and stressful insomnia Having troubles sleeping? Don`t even give this fruit a thought.
It Causes Shakiness
Because it is an active stimulant, kola nut can negatively affect the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, leading to anxiousness, shakiness, and tremors.
It Causes Nausea
Kola nut can, in some persons, cause diarrhea and dysentery because it speeds up the process of metabolism.
Oral Health
When kola nut is chewed often, there is a tendency that it may cause mouth cancer, as well as stained teeth. Be calm, as there is a way around this: just chew sparingly and use tonic or powder forms.
Pregnancy
Consuming caffeine while pregnant may be a bit of an issue because it causes low fetal weight. Because of kola nut`s high caffeine and theobromine content, it is not safe for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
Supplements containing kola nut, including weight-loss nutritional supplements and energy drinks, provide caffeine. For people who regularly use high amounts of caffeine, stopping the use of caffeine-containing products may result in a headache, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and drowsiness.
- acting as a diuretic, helping your body expel extra salt and water through increased urination
- increasing the release of stomach acid, which can lead to heartburn and stomach upset
- interfering with your body’s ability to absorb calcium
Are there Fun Things to Do with Kola Nut?
Yes, there are…
Kola Nut Spice Rub
What`s Needed?
- 1½ teaspoons kola nut powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 dried New Mexico chile, stemmed and seeded
- 1 dried guajillo chile, stemmed and seeded
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1½ teaspoons ground fennel seeds
How`s it Made?
Toast the chiles over medium heat for about two minutes in a small skillet; transfer to a spice blender with the salt. Grind until the chiles are well fused into the salt, then transfer to a small bowl with the sugar.
Add the remaining spices to the skillet, and toast for about 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to the bowl with the chiles and stir to incorporate.
Note: You might need to use it immediately or carefully store it in an airtight container in your pantry.
Final Words…
Xenobiotic products can have adverse effects, affecting the health in terrible ways. This is a reason care should be taken with the intake of kola nut. But of course, kola nut has got advantages too, as read earlier. In all, moderation is key.
