THE TIGER OF NUTS
A Lot of people consume tiger nuts (aki awusa) without knowing it’s rich composition. This amazing nut can be used as an oil, flour and milk; that is apart from being eaten as a nut (snack). Let me introduce you to the health benefits of TIGER NUTS.
Rich Arginine Source:
Arginine, which liberates the hormone that produces insulin this comes in handy especially for diabetics. It is recommended for those who suffer from indigestion, flatulence and diarrhoea because it provides digestive enzymes like the catalase, lipase and amylase.Arginine has been shown to aid in conditions that are caused or made worse by restricted blood vessels, such as chest pain, clogged arteries, heart failure or disease,erectile dysfunction, muscle cramps, artery diseases not affecting the heart or the brain (peripheral vascular disease) and headaches induced by swollen blood vessels.
Tiger Nuts May Help Protect You from Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease:
Tiger nuts are rich in Vitamin E. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institute of Health, “Vitamin E” actually is a catch-all reference to a group of fat soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant qualities.
Antioxidants help the body protect itself from free radicals, molecules that have an unshared electron. The unshared electron can react with oxygen to form reactive oxygen species, which are damaging to the body and can cause cancer. Vitamin E protects against oxidation by inhibiting the creation of these reactive oxygen species . Vitamin Ecombined with high levels of oleic acid, two components of tiger nuts, has also been shown to reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease.The high content of oleic acid has positive effect on cholesterol, thereby preventing heart attacks, thrombosis and activates blood content of soluble glucose. Tiger nut reduces the risk of colon cancer.
The tubers have a relatively high total antioxidant capacity, because they contain considerable amounts of water-soluble flavonoid glycosides. Consumption of antioxidants could protect the immune system of malnourished populations. The intake of antioxidant-containing foods may delay the progression of HIV infection to AIDS
Tiger Nut Milk (also known as Horchata de Chufas) as an Emerging Substitute for Cow’s Milk:
Individuals struggling with lactose intolerance might want to look into drinking tiger nut milk instead. Tiger nuts do not contain lactose, meaning people with lactose intolerance can also eat or drink the milk from this ground nut. It is also high in calcium, which the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institute of Health defines as a bone building and growth supporting mineral. In a 2006 study from the University of Llorin, Nigeria, published in the International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, researchers compared tiger nut milk with cow and soybean milk. Tiger nuts showed themselves to be a serious nutritional contender with other non-milk substitutes, ranking among the highest in fat content, protein levels, calcium, phosphorus, oleic acid and calories. In addition to being a great source of calcium, tiger nut milk also has some health benefit that milk lacks, namely
Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
Allergen free:
Tigernut allergiesare probably one of the rarest food allergies ever. Since they are a tuber, tigernuts are completely soy, dairy, grain, nut, seed (etc, etc.) free. Further, Organic Gemini has a dedicated gluten-free, peanut-free and tree nut-free facility to prevent cross-contamination.
Resistant Starch:
Tigernuts are thehighest whole foodsource of a unique type of fiber calledresistant starch. Besides the pleasant flavor and texture, the resistant starch content is why I eat tigernuts on a regular basis. Resistant starch is a highly beneficial pre-biotic, which means it feeds the good bacteria in your digestive tract.
Resistant starch has been a hot topic lately in the health world as more and more research shows the unique benefits of this plant fiber. For example, research indicates that resistant starch could be a powerful component in preventing and/or addressing diabetes and obesity! One thing to keep in mind, however, is that introducing resistant starch for the first time may produce some symptoms of a shift in gut flora. You may wish to introduce tigernuts gradually and see if you experience symptoms such as gas or bloating. If you do, slowly but consistentlyincrease the amount of tigernuts starting at just one or two a day.
Tiger nuts have long been recognized for their health benefits as they have a high content of soluble glucose and oleic acid, along with high energy content (starch, fats, sugars and proteins), they are rich in minerals such as phosphorous and potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron necessary for bones, tissue repair, muscles, the blood stream and for body growth and development and rich in vitamins E and C. Sugar-free tiger nut milk is suitable for diabetic people and also helps in weight control, due to its content of carbohydrates with a base of sucrose and starch (without glucose). It also stimulates the absorption of calcium in bones and the production of new bony material, due to short and medium chain fatty acids, oleic acid and essential fatty acids.
Apart from being consumed as a nut, it could be processed to serve various other purposes such as:
Tiger nut flour:
Tiger nut flour has a unique sweet taste, which is ideal for different uses. It is a good alternative to many other flours like wheat flour, as it is gluten free and good for people who cannot take gluten in their diets. It is also used in the confectionery industry. It is considered good flour or additive for the bakery industry, as its natural sugar content is fairly high, avoiding the necessity of adding too much extra sugar. Also, it can be used as a flavoring agent for ice cream and biscuits.
Tiger nut oil:
The edible and stable oil obtained from the tuber is said to be superior oil that compares favourably with olive oil. The oil is golden brown in colour and has a rich, nutty taste. The oil remains in a uniform liquid form at refrigeration temperature. This makes the oil suitable for salad making. It has a high oleic acid and low polyunsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), enough to cover daily minimum needs for an adult (around 10 g) and low acidity, and so is excellent for the skin. It also has higher oxidative stability than other oils, due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and gamma-tocoferol.
Tiger nut milk:
Tiger nut milk/beverage/drink commonly called ‘kunnu aya’in northern Nigeria is a healthy drink with many nutrients. It is a nourishing and energetic product recommended by experts to be taken during any season of the year, especially in dry season when the sun is hot. In Spain, it is called chufa de horchata. It is a rich source of nutrients such as vitamins C and E, and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, and carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, proteins and some enzymes which help in digestion. This rich milk contains more iron, magnesium and carbohydrates than the cow’s milk. It has also the advantage of not containing lactose, casein, sugar or proteins of the milk, or cholesterol and is therefore an ideal drink for people who do not tolerate gluten or cow’s milk.The nutritional value of tiger nut beverage is, however, insufficient given that its protein content is low (6.05%).
Health Benefits of Tiger NutsTiger Nut as a Substitute for Cow Milk.Tiger Nut FlourTiger Nut MilkTiger Nut Oils
