Within Africa, Nigeria is recognized as a nation abundant in diverse natural resources. The country boasts a wide array of flora, including trees, plants, herbs, and shrubs that have traditionally been utilized for their medicinal properties to address an assortment of health ailments. One prominent tree among these botanical resources is the 'African locust bean tree', known for its seeds, leaves, and bark which have been harnessed by communities in West Africa for therapeutic purposes.
Moreover, the seeds of the African locust bean tree are instrumental in the production of the African Locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), known as 'iru' in Yoruba culture and 'Dawa Dawa' in Igbo tradition. This local seasoning is a culinary staple in African cuisine, with a rich history of being utilized by our foremothers in culinary practices predating modern seasoning innovations.
Below are four health benefits of eating locust bean that you need to know.
1. It promotes good eyesight
Locust bean can help promote better eyesight. This conclusion was derived from local research. So if you know someone with eyesight issues, a good dose of locust beans every now and then can help improve the sight.
2. It helps to control blood pressure
Increasingly, individuals of any background can develop high blood pressure, a concerning trend that is growing in prevalence within Nigeria. The World Health Organization reports that the African region faces the highest rate of hypertension, impacting approximately 46% of adults aged 25 and older. However, there are viable methods to address this issue. A study in Senegal involved administering locust beans to rats to investigate its potential impact on blood pressure. Encouragingly, the findings revealed that a sufficient dosage of locust beans effectively lowered arterial blood pressure. This research provides compelling evidence to consider incorporating more locust beans into one's diet.
3. It can help weight loss
Locust bean gum contains soluble fibre which has latent advantage for increasing weight loss and managing blood sugar levels.
4. It can help in the treatment of diarrhea
Locust beans contains tannins. Tannins is a compound found in tea, red wine, chocolate, coffee and certain fruits. Some tannins are antioxidants while others are polyphenols. They fight cavities and protect humans from heart diseases and cavities. Next time you’re down with a bout of diarrhea, consider cooking with locust beans as a method of treatment.
Locust beans serve a crucial function in our diet, making it advantageous to increase our consumption of them.
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