Health Benefits of Bitter Kola | Uses:
Coca-cola gets its name from a common African tree, did you know?
The bitter kola plant extract was used in some of Coca-early Cola’s recipes. Despite the fact that the company hasn’t used actual kola to flavor their sodas in years, the name serves as a reminder of the unusual plant that inspired the famous drink.
Bitter kola, also known as bitter cola or Garcinia Kola, is a plant that grows in Central and Western Africa and is prized for its medicinal properties. Despite the fact that all parts of the Bitter Kola plant are used in traditional African medicine, the seeds are the most popular.
Bitter kola seeds have a sharp, bitter flavor that fades into a slight sweetness as you chew them, and they’re usually consumed raw.
Added Health Benefits of Bitter Kola
Despite the fact that bitter kola has long been consumed in Africa, scientists are only now beginning to investigate its health benefits.
Bitter kola may help with a variety of health problems, according to preliminary research.
Infections
Bitter kola has been used to treat a variety of infections, from the common cold to hepatitis, for thousands of years. Coughs, bacterial infections, and viral infections can all benefit from bitter kola, according to a 2018 study. When an infection first appears, bitter kola can help you fight it and recover quicker.
Diabetes
According to preliminary research, a chemical found in bitter kola called kolaviron may protect people with type 2 diabetes from hypoglycemia. Although the first study was conducted on rats and has yet to be replicated in humans, the preliminary findings are encouraging.
Per-Serving Nutrients
Bitter kola is generally considered safe to eat, but it is classified similarly to essential oils by the FDA. That means there isn’t a lot of information about serving sizes or nutritional information. In a 2013 study, however, bitter kola was found to be high in the following nutrients:
- Carbohydrates
- Fat
- Protein
The same study discovered that bitter kola contained high levels of:
- Calcium
- vitamin C
- Potassium
- Caffeine
- iron
Bitter Kola: How to Make It
Uncooked bitter kola, like many other nuts, can be eaten on its own.But keep in mind that “bitter” is a word that has a specific meaning.
At African markets and online stores, you can occasionally find drinks made or flavored with bitter kola.These drinks may be a good option if you don’t like the taste of bitter kola but want to add it to your diet.
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