Top 10 Health & Beauty Benefits of Baobab (Kuka / Ose)

  ***** Please take your government's corona virus advice seriously and follow them carefully. And don't forget that We are all in this together, everyone needs to play their part *****


While the whole World Is Panicking, Shutting down, going into isolation and banning large gathering of people all in an effort to find solution to the global Corona Virus Pandemic, DrinksOnDemand.ng presents Top 10 Health Benefits of Baobab to the human body that could help our bodies resist being possibly infected by the deadly Corona Virus. 
Now this is in no way implying that the Baobab super fruit powder also known as Kuka in Hausa and Ose in Yoruba is an antiretroviral drug for Covid19 however it is worthy to note that Baobab has been scientifically proven to be a great immune booster.

"17.9% of People With COVID-19 Coronavirus Had No Symptoms - Forbes magazine"

NOW WHAT IS BAOBAB?

Baobab is the exceptional superfruit of Africa's 'Tree of Life'. It is the only fruit in the world that dries naturally on the branch. Baking in the sun for 6 months, baobab’s prickly green, furry coating transforms into a smooth brown, coconut-like shell. 

Baobab powder is a rich source of vitamin C, which contributes to normal: 

  • Energy release
  • Immune function
  • Healthy, glowing skin
It is also almost 50% fibre (two thirds soluble and one third insoluble, making it a powerful pre-biotic) and contains more antioxidants than any other whole fruit. 

As it is a natural source of these nutrients, it is more bio-available than manufactured vitamin supplements, meaning our bodies can absorb the nutrients more easily, ensuring a greater uptake.

Amazingly, baobab has a natural shelf-life of 3 years so there are no additives or preservatives added to our products, just 100% pure baobab fruit pulp powder. It also has a delicious sweet and citrussy flavour - a bit like zingy sherbet!

 

The top health & beauty benefits of baobab

1. Immune System

The human body cannot make or store its own vitamin C (unlike other animals), so we need to make sure we get a good supply from the foods we eat every day. 
A single serving of Baobab Powder (10g or 2-3 teaspoons) provides:
  • 33% of your daily vitamin C requirement (NRV)
One of the key benefits of vitamin C is that it helps to keep our immune system strong, supporting our body’s defence against viruses, infections, diseases and other illnesses. Try shaking baobab powder into your orange juice or water bottle for an extra dose of vitamin C on-the-go!


2. Slow Energy Release

We know what you’re thinking... ‘slow? I need energy fast!’. Vitamin C contributes to normal energy release – this slow, and steady release sustains us for a longer period of time and prevents us from feeling tired all of a sudden. Therefore, it helps the reduction of tiredness and fatigue as well as supporting a normal energy-yielding metabolism which is “needed for all functions and activities of the body, including physical activity and exercise” (EFSA, 2012).

While having your morning coffee, you should add a sprinkle of baobab powder on your breakfast to keep you energised and awake throughout the day. I like mine stirred into porridge or blended into my morning smoothies.


3. Blood Sugar

DrinksOnDemand.ng's Baobab Powder contains 34% soluble fibre, this helps to slow down the release of sugars into the blood stream, reducing energy spikes. Soluble fibre can also help to control blood glucose levels, improve blood cholesterol and reduce visceral fat (body fat that is stored around the organs in your abdominal).

The Functional Food Centre of Oxford Brookes University conducted a trial using Baobab Powder and found that human participants who consumed a milk containing baobab had a lower blood glucose response than those who had a control drink with no baobab.

A later study by Oxford Brookes University also showed that baobab significantly reduced the rate at which sugar was released into the blood after digestion. As such, baobab is considered ideal for those following a low GI diet. It could also be beneficial for people with Type 2 Diabetes. 

Add DrinksOnDemand.ng's 100% natural Baobab Powder into your juices to help slow down the release of fruit sugars into your blood stream.


4. Absorption of Iron

Over 30% of the world’s population are deficient in iron – making it the most common nutritional disorder (World Health Organisation, 2017). Many turn to various iron supplements to increase their intake (I recommend the use of Moringa Powder as a natural alternative). A less known fact is that vitamin C is needed to help the body absorb iron so pairing iron with vitamin C actually increases absorption.

Our bodies require two types of iron; heme iron (found in fish, poultry and red meat) and nonheme iron (present in plant foods, eggs, milk and meat). Compared to the former, nonheme iron is not easily absorbed by the body. One of the ways in which absorption of both types of iron can be increased is by combining the consumption of iron with vitamin C.

As baobab is a rich natural source of vitamin C, it is easily accessible to the body and is better absorbed than artificial supplements. Sprinkle some baobab onto your iron-rich foods for a lemony zing or shake it into your water when taking your iron supplements.



 

 5. Digestive health

Approximately 40% of people have at least one digestive symptom at any one time (NHS, 2016). Despite the growing awareness of the role of fibre in improving our digestive health, 80% of people living in urban societies don’t eat enough of it.

There are two types of fibre that our body needs: soluble and insoluble - and baobab contains both. Soluble fibre dissolves in the water found in your digestive system and can help to reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood.

Insoluble fibre doesn’t dissolve, it passes through your gut and enables other foods to move through your digestive system easily. It also helps to keep your bowels healthy and prevents digestive problems.

Try adding DrinksOnDemand.ng's Baobab into your daily meals to get your fibre fix.


6. Pre-biotic / Gut Health

Most people are familiar with pro-biotics – good bacteria found in foods such as yoghurt, kefir and kimchi which have beneficial effects to your health, particularly your digestive system. However, very few are familiar with pre-biotics which play an equally important role in gut health. 

Pre-biotics are indigestable dietary fibres, also known as soluble fibres, made up of non-living organic matter. The soluble fibers of baobab fruit pulp are prebiotics: non-digestible food components that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and activity of beneficial microflora (Journal of Food Research, 2016).

It’s these pre-biotic qualities that could explain how baobab might just be the secret to having the world’s healthiest gut. Studies of the Hadza Tribe in Tanzania, some of the planet's last remaining hunter gatherers, found they have 40% more diverse gut microbiomes than the average Westerner! “According to scientists, the Hadza have the most diverse gut bacteria of anyone anywhere in the world” (Independent, 2017). One of their key staples? That’s right you guessed it – the baobab fruit.

The benefits of including pre-biotics in your diet don’t stop there, a study by the University of Colorado Boulder suggested that pre-biotics can improve sleep after a stressful event, suggesting that adding baobab into your diet can also help support a good night’s sleep.

For best results, it is recommended you take prebiotics with probiotics – I always like to mix my baobab with yoghurt to keep my gut health in check, or do like the Hadza’s do and stir it into a traditional milky beverage.


7. Radiant skin

According to The Journal of Nutrition, Baobab has the highest antioxidant content of any fruit. Baobab powder has twice the antioxidants gram per gram of goji berries and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined. 

Baobab is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which supports collagen formation - helping to give you radiant, glowing skin as well as preventing wrinkles.


8. Pregnancy

It is generally advised that pregnant women should consume 85mg of vitamin C per day (a 10g serving of DrinksOnDemand.ng's Baobab Powder contains 26mg) as it helps the body produce collagen. Collagen is a structural protein that is needed for your baby’s normal growth during pregnancy. It plays a vital role in structuring a baby’s body and supporting their developing organs.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, helps your body fight infections and protects cells from damage – helping to keep you healthy. Another key role that vitamin C plays during pregnancy is its ability to increase the absorption of iron – a vitamin that most pregnant women are deficient in. Iron is needed to help our bodies produce red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body and to the baby.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you of baobab’s super-powers, it is also a good source of fibre. Nutritional Therapist, Eve Kalinik explains how this helps to “support bowel movements and a great addition for new mums to help fight fatigue that comes with having a newborn” (read more about baobab and pregnancy here).


9. Alkaline

Baobab is considered to be one if the highest alkaline foods available as it has a PRAL (Potential Renal Acid Load) rating of -52. Eating highly alkaline foods helps to balance our body’s pH levels.

The Journal of Environmental Health (2012) found that alkaline foods can also help defend our bodies from chronic diseases and ailments (such as hypertension, arthritis and deficiency in vitamin D). Have you tried adding DrinksOnDemand.ng Baobab to your green juices or tea? 


10. Pre/post work out

Physical exercise increases oxidative damage to cells and muscle tissues so it’s important to increase your intake of vitamin C to reduce its negative effects. This is supported by a study conducted by the University of North Carolina (2006) who found that participants taking doses of vitamin C before exercise and for 4 days after reported less muscle soreness compared to the group who took a placebo. 

Another study by the University of Birmingham found that volunteers who took vitamin C exhibited 75% more post exercise recovery than those who consumed vitamin E or a placebo. 


ORDER FOR YOUR BAOBAB (KUKA / OSE) BY CALLING +234(0)8180152029 OR 09063291889

Order Online, via Phone or Chat and receive free delivery on all orders over ₦5,000 in Nigeria and £100 internationally. we deliver worldwide.

Every purchase of DrinksOnDemand's Baobab contributes to the creation of sustainable income flow for women in rural Africa particularly Nigeria, Chad and Ghana.

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