Saturday 14 January 2017

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE NIGERIAN SOUPS AND THIER HEALTH BENEFITS?


Don't you think it will be very nice if you know the health benefits of some of these popular soups Nigerians find very easy to go with? It will be very interesting so that when next you request for any of these soups, you will be very sure it's a nice decision. Let's get down to business....



1. Oha soup: Hmmmmm.... My most delicious soup. Oha soup is gotten from Oha leaf (one of the tallest trees down here in the East, I guess). The scientific name of the leaf is Pterocarpus sayonsii. The soup is prepared with cocoyam and from my knowledge, cocoyam contains Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. This means this soup is very good for pregnant women because they need Magnesium for fetus formation. The cocoyam content also contains flavonoids that help protect the body from lung and throat cancer. It also controls high blood pressure and protects the heart. Hope you now know why I so much like this soup...

2. Egwusi soup: It is just the most popular soup in the eastern part of Nigeria and not as delicious as my Oha soup. The melon seed (Citrullus lanatus) from which the Egwusi soup is prepared is very rich in protein and fats. It also contains a sufficient amount of Vitamin A and C, which means it plays an important role in vision, reproduction, growth, bone and teeth formation.

3. Edikang Ikong: Thinking..... Some say it is very delicious but I still stick to my Oha soup. But the health benefits? Very cool. It is really an ancient soup that originated from the south-south part of Nigeria. It's primarily made up of fresh vegetables, including onions, pumpkin and tomatoes. Edikang Ikong is rich in omega-3-fatty acids which means that it is important for visual and neurological development in infants. as well as reducing the risk of rheumatism, depression and arthritis in older people. It also reduces the risk of stroke. Wow... really beneficial.

4. Bitter leaf Soup: Don't worry about the "bitter" in the name. The sweetness of the soup is the essential benefits. The major health benefit you derive is it's antioxidant content. Which helps fight against cancer growth. It also reduces sugar level and helps the kidney and pancreas to function well. The last but not the least.....

5. Ewedu Soup: Could this be the most popular soup in Nigeria? Known as Ewedu in western Nigeria, and turgunuwa or lallo in the North. It is primarily made up of jute leaves as well as saluyot leaves with ingredients such as sweet potato, dried small fish or shrimp. Yummy right? The soup is thick and slimy that you might need scissors to cut the long strands. Funny right? . Health benefits includes; good source of dietary fibers. It is also the Nigerian soup with the lowest calories, which makes it great for weight loss. The leaves are used herbally to treat gonorrhea, fever and piles. Very interesting....


So I hope you now know the health benefits you derive from your favorite Nigerian soup.



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