Health Benefits of Bitter Kola

 The plant known as bitter kola, often referred to as bitter cola or Garcinia Kola, is native to Central and Western Africa and has long been prized for its therapeutic benefits. Although all parts of the bitter kola plant are used in traditional African medicine, the seeds are the most widely consumed

 

Health Advantages

Although bitter kola has been used for a long time in Africa, researchers are only now starting to look into the potential health advantages of this flowering plant.

These preliminary research suggest that bitter kola may be beneficial for a variety of health issues, such:

Infections

Over the years, bitter kola has been used to treat diseases ranging from the common cold to hepatitis. According to a 2018 study, bitter kola can protect against viral, bacterial, and cough-related diseases. When an infection first appears, consuming bitter kola may aid in the battle against the virus and hasten your recovery

Inflammation

In Africa, chewing on the acrid kola seeds has become a traditional practice to combat inflammatory diseases like arthritis. According to a 2008 study, eating bitter kola dramatically reduced inflammation in people with osteoarthritis in their knees compared to taking a placebo. Bitter kola contains a lot of potassium, which may help

Diabetes

Early research suggests that kolaviron, a substance present in bitter kola, may help type 2 diabetics avoid hypoglycemia. These first results are encouraging, despite the fact that the initial study was conducted on rats and has not yet been replicated in humans.

Nutrition in a Serving

Bitter kola is generally regarded by the FDA as safe to consume, however it is given the same classification as essential oils. That implies that there isn't much information regarding serving sizes or nutritional information accessible. However, a 2013 study discovered that the following nutrients were abundant in bitter kola:

Carbohydrates

Fat

Protein

The same research revealed that bitter kola included significant amounts of:

C vitamin

Calcium

Potassium

Iron

Caffeine

Methods for Making Bitter Kola

Like many nuts, bitter kola can be consumed raw on its own. But keep in mind that the word "bitter" is used for a reason. A taste for bitter kola can be developed.

At African marketplaces and online retailers, you could occasionally discover beverages made with or flavored with astringent kola. These drinks might be an excellent choice if you don't like the flavor but still want to include bitter kola in your diet.