Garcinia Kola, sometimes known as Bitter Kola, is a bitter traditional fruit found in West Africa. The seeds are used to treat liver issues, bronchitis, throat infections, colic, head or chest colds, and hack. It is also used as a biting stick.
This bitter fruit, which is said to be rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, and E, B1, B2, and B3, fiber, calcium, potassium, and iron, also contains additional antioxidants, and its use is not restricted to traditional activities. Garcinia kola is a kind of tropical flowering plant.
Bitter Kola in Nigeria is called “Orogbo” in Yoruba, “Miji-goro” in Hausa and “Akiilu” in Igbo.
Uses
Bitter kola is being used by traditional African healers due to the fact that it had purgative, antiparasitic, and antibacterial properties.
Bitter kola is regarded by a lot of traditional healers to provide certain spiritual benefits, and these healers have believed this for a long time. They perform ceremonies with it, spiritually cleanse themselves with it, and utilize it to ward against bad energy.
12 Potential Health Benefits of Bitter Kola
1. Fight malaria
It is generally believed that the compound qualities of bitter kola make it possible for it to act as an antimalarial stimulus. It is rich in the cell reinforcement and mitigating phytochemical known as kolaviron, which is known to have powerful effects against malaria.
2. Aim with weight loss
At times, it might seem hard to lose weight, especially if you can’t control how many calories you eat. But did you know that bitter kola can help you lose more weight? Yes, eating bitter kola regularly can help you reach your weight-loss goal in a big way.
Studies have shown that bitter kola could speed up your body’s metabolism by as much as 100%. This means that it could help you lose weight and even curb your hunger.
Bitter kola can help you lose your appetite and drink more water when you chew it. Because of this, you won’t get hungry as often. This will keep you from eating too much or filling your stomach with unhealthy foods, which could make you gain weight.
If you want to lose weight quickly, one of the best things you can do is add bitter kola to your diet. It will help you control your appetite and stop you from wanting to eat.
3. Anti-poison properties
Bitter kola is a strong antibiotic that can clean the body in many ways. Bitter kola will keep you from getting an infection or poison if you accidentally eat something that has bacteria or poison on it.
4. Promotion of lung function
The lung is an important part of the body that needs to be taken care of so it doesn’t break down suddenly.
Bitter kola, on the other hand, has powerful properties that could help improve the way the lungs and respiratory system work.
In 2008, the Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine published the results of a study that shows that after less than one month of continuous use, bitter kola improved the lung function of the people who were studied.
5. Reduces eye glaucoma
A report from The New York Times Health Guide says that glaucoma can be caused by a rise in eye pressure. Researchers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria looked at how well eye drops with 0.5 percent Garcinia kola extract worked. The results of their study, which were published in the January 2010 issue of the Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology, showed that using the Garcinia-containing ophthalmic solution twice a day greatly lowered eye pressure.
6. Treatment for cold
Bitter kola is often used in the treatment of several cold-related illnesses. It is recommended in particular for those who suffer from coughs and sneezes.
7. Diabetes treatment
It is generally believed that the seeds of bitter kola have the ability to lower blood glucose levels, which would make it a potentially effective therapy for diabetes Miletus.
8. Improves immunity system
A significant level of antioxidants may be found in bitter kola. Bitter kola has a significant quantity of antioxidants, which, when combined with the body’s existing defense mechanisms, result in an enhanced immune response. When the immune system of the body is strengthened, the body gets the ability to successfully defend itself against any kind of external pathogen.
9. Improves male fertility
Some people claim that the herb Garcinia kola, which is also known as bitter kola, might treat impotence. Bitter kola, when consumed on a regular basis, has shown to improve a man’s performance in bed with a woman.
10. Disease Resistance
Bitter kola influences a wide variety of administrative systems in the body, including the system of the body that is responsible for disease prevention. In addition to assisting the body in adapting to stressful situations, it also protects against the spread of infectious illnesses.
11. Increases mental alertness
Because it contains caffeine, bitter kola is considered to be an effective stimulant or psycho-stimulant for the central nervous system. This is due to the fact that it helps to boost one’s alertness as well as their mood and elevated mood.
People believe that eating these nuts, particularly bitter kola, may improve one’s mental performance.
12. Helps staying awake
Bitter kola is often used to keep people from falling asleep. This is possible because it contains a lot of caffeine, and when taken regularly and in large amounts, it can lead to insomnia and other problems like stomach irritation, nervousness, restlessness, and more.
Side Effects of Bitter Kola
Bitter kola nuts can be eaten without any worries. Bitter kola hasn’t made me feel sick or anything like that, and I haven’t heard of anyone else who has. You should talk to your family doctor before using any kind of natural supplement or treatment, though.
Even so, there have been reports of some side effects that can happen when bitter kola is used. Bitter kola does have caffeine and can affect the central nervous system, but most of the bad effects are only felt by people who are sensitive to caffeine in general.
Some of the most common side effects of bitter kola are:
Conclusion
Bitter kola may be good for your health in many ways. Now that you know this, you’ll want to know how to make it. In traditional medicine, you can eat all parts of the bitter kola plant, but most people just eat the nuts on their own and raw.
Bitter kola has a lot of health benefits, which may make you want to run out and buy some right away. However, you should always be careful when taking any kind of dietary supplement. Always talk to your doctor and remember to keep doing what they tell you to do to treat any disease you may have. Bitter kola does have properties that can help treat and prevent many diseases. However, no dietary supplement can replace professional medical advice.
