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Side effects of Kola Nuts and its health benefits - Caffeine Nut - OJI in Igbo language

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Side effects and Health Benefits
Kola nut/Caffeine Nut -  OJI in Igbo language 

The kola nut is a caffeine-rich nut that is native to tropical Africa. Many people chew it to get the caffeine effect.

One Kola nut contain more caffeine found in 2 cup of America coffee.  In Africa regions, the nut is considered a symbol of hospitality and kindness.

  • Common Names:      Kola Nut
  • Botanical Name:      Cola acuminata
  • Family Name:          STERCULIACEAE
  • Local name:           OJI" in IGBO language and Goro in hausa

Kola nuts are an important part of the traditional spiritual practice of culture and religion in West Africa, particularly Niger and Nigeria 

Kola nuts are used as a religious object and sacred offering during prayers, significant life events, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals, only kola nuts divided into four lobes are suitable

They are still used as such today in certain situations such as in negotiation over bride prices or as a form of a respect or host gift to the elders.


Health benefits

In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia, John Pemberton, took extracts of kola and coca and mixed them with sugar, other ingredients, and carbonated water to invent the first cola soft drink. His accountant tasted it and called it "Coca-Cola". After 1904, Coca-Cola no longer uses either kola or coca in its original recipe.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Consumption increases circulation of oxygen

We all love our cups of caffeine when we want some instant energy! Since kola nuts have high caffeine content, it increases the circulation of oxygen due to its stimulating effect. This also helps regulate the heart rate. For the same reason, it finds use in many medicines and is used as a cognitive booster, energizing the brain and increasing the concentration. Oxygen is circulated to all body parts, including the brain which helps it to focus better. The increased blood flow also helps injuries to heal faster. Plus, you feel delighted – the caffeine effect.

Digestive benefits of kola nut

In Africa, kola nuts are often chewed after eating food and when suffering from digestive issues. Kola nuts help gastrointestinal system by breaking down the food in such a way that it takes energy and prevents pathogenic microorganism in the stomach. If you have constant constipation, kola nuts can help you get relief, it is good for the health.

Just chew on a few kola nuts after having food, and watch gastro problems like bloating, cramping, constipation etc. go away.

Boosting the immune system due to anti-bacterial properties

You may have come across kola nut extracts in many pharmaceutical stores. The reason is that the kola nuts are believed to contain compounds that can fight many bacterial infections. When consumed on a regular basis, kola nuts can strengthen your immune system and make you less susceptible to infections and diseases.

Aids in losing weight

Kola nut is a blessing for people who want to lose weight but have a slow metabolism. Caffeine content of kola nuts can increase the body metabolic in the body up to 118%. Moreover, it makes you excrete more and store less inside the body, making you lose weight quickly. Kola nuts also curb your hunger and so you end up eating less. Additionally, they intensify the need to drink more water, which is another factor that helps you lose weight. However caution should be applied 

Helps to treat respiratory disorders

Caffeine is considered a warm beverage, and can thus effectively treat respiratory diseases such as asthma, coughs, influenza, and bronchitis. Have some kola nuts to help dissolve the mucus and once it is out of the body, you will feel relieved. The idea is to loosen up the mucus from the lungs by thinning it so that you can breathe without any discomfort. Kola nuts are also useful for treating contracted bronchia.

Kola nuts, when taken in prescribed dosage, can help boost overall bone health, and specifically beneficial to ease knees pain. Kola nuts contain compounds that can improve the bone density and also reduce stiffness and pain in the joints. They also help in reducing the swelling in the joints making it easier to move about.

Regular and appropriate consumption of kola nuts can cut down the risk of Osteoarthritis diseases for your lifespan.

Helps in prostate cancer

Since kola nuts exhibit antioxidant property, it has been recently discovered that they can be helpful to treat prostate cancers, while the research is going on to study their effect on other cancers. Science has it that phytoestrogens and phytoandrogens found in kola nuts can help in stimulating the death of cancerous cells in the prostate glands in men.

Caffeine has similar properties as the drug Theophylline and exhibits the same effect on a person with cold and chest infections. Limited and calculated doses of kola nuts can help open airways in the lungs. Kola nuts can also enlarge the alveolar sac and duct, providing relief from symptoms of a cold. However, excess caffeine in the body may cause sickness, so do take your doctor’s advice.

Kola nut for migraine

Kola nuts contain caffeine and when chewed during migraines, they can help reduce inflammation in the head causing the pain and also boost the effect of common pain relievers such as aspirin.

Natural diuretic

Caffeine is also a natural diuretic, so consumption of kola nuts can help you expel excess water from the body. Kola nuts work as a natural remedy to treat conditions of cirrhosis, hypertension, kidney disease. In a study it was found that methanolic extract of kola nut showed diuretic properties.


INDUSTRIAL USE OF KOLA NUT

Due to its raw caffeine content, kola nut extract is used as a flavoring agent in many popular aerated drinks such as Coca-cola and Pepsi. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of kola nut in various medicines and also classify it as a natural flavoring agent for food.

 

WARNING AND SIDE EFFECTS OF KOLA NUT

Kola nuts come packed with high amounts of caffeine, and unlike the beverages, where the amount of caffeine or largely regulated, the same cannot be said about kola nuts. However, it cannot cause nut allergy since it is basically a seed of a fruit. But owing to the caffeine in kola nuts, it is not suited for people who –

 

Suffer from hypertension – people who have hypertension and related issues should inhibit the consumption of caffeine since it increases the heart rate and causes a steep rise in the blood pressure.

Struggle with sleep issues – If you suffer from insomnia or frequently face trouble sleeping, it is best to avoid kola nuts as they can aggravate the problem.

Weak immune system – Caffeine can cause diarrhea and nausea in people who have a weak immune system.

Sensitivity to caffeine – You may experience involuntary shaking of hands and bouts of anxiety if you are sensitive to caffeine and related products. Maintain distance from kola nuts.

Nausea – Due to its overconsumption one could have stomach upset. Due to the increased production of acids in the stomach, one could experience pain in the stomach too.

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