Health benefits of bitter kola | 10 reasons why you should eat it

Bitter kola is an ancient drug and natural treatment for diseases such as diabetes, weight loss, food poisoning, and other viral infections. Many people enjoy eating the nut despite the bitter taste. Studies have shown that taking this herb regularly has a positive effect on the body. This article discusses the health benefits of bitter kola and shows how to use it to improve your overall health.

The bitter kola plant/Garcinia kola is a tree that can grow up to about 20 meters before harvesting its fruits for export. It has a bitter flavour with a very slight sweetness.

The nut is an important ingredient in the preparation of some soft drinks. It is also known as a powerful ingredient for boosting the body’s immune system which helps prevent viral infections.

This nut is used as a cure for cough, cold and sore throat, helps to increase sex drive, cures cough and cold, reduces weight, reduces inflammation, increases blood flow to the organs, cure food poisoning, boosts the immune system, detoxifies the liver, and has an antioxidant effect on the body.

It can also be used to treat sickle cell anaemia because of its ability in dilating blood vessels thereby increasing blood flow to vital organs in the body.

Bitter kola/Garcinia kola can help lower cholesterol levels in your blood; It aids weight loss by suppressing your hunger and cravings; improves bone health, reduces inflammation, pain, and swelling; increases your energy level; helps fight respiratory problems like coughs and colds resulting from bacterial infection; prevents cancer, and improves brain function; it boosts your immune system.

Is it good to eat bitter kola every day?

If you are a lover of bitter kola, then you probably already know that it has several health benefits. It is good for the liver and could be used as an antidote to poisonous bites. However, it is not advisable to eat bitter kola every day.

Bitter kola or Garcinia kola includes a chemical component called thiarubrine A, which can harm the liver if consumed in high amounts for an extended period. Because of its high vitamin K content, consuming too much bitter kola can drastically increase blood clotting. S

When should I eat bitter kola?

It is very important to know the right time to eat bitter kola to get the best of it. Bitter Kola should be eaten on an empty stomach early in the morning and in the evening.

1. Early in the morning

The best time to eat bitter kola is early in the morning before breakfast, this is because eating bitter kola early in the morning helps improve digestion, and it also helps detoxify your body system. It helps you cleanse your system from within, and it also serves as a natural way to remove toxins from your body.

2. In the evening

This is another perfect time to eat this fruit because at this time your digestive system is not busy digesting foods that might prevent you from getting all the benefits of bitter kola. Also, you will be able to maximize its benefits for weight loss and other health benefits when taken in the evening.

10 health benefits of bitter kola

Bitter kola has several healing properties. Kola nuts, seed, fruit, and bark since the olden days traditionally helps treat everything from cough to fever, including malaria.

1) Weight loss.

People often use bitter kola for weight loss because it reduces feelings of hunger. The caffeine and theobromine it contains are appetite suppressants. Bitter kola may also help you lose weight by increasing metabolism, which helps you burn calories faster.

2) Improve liver function

Many studies have shown that bitter kola can enhance liver function. This is due to the presence of antioxidants like flavonoids and alkaloids which help flush out toxins from the liver. These compounds are also effective against free radicals in the liver, meaning they can protect the organ from oxidative damage.

3) May reduce inflammation and relieve pain

Bitter kola contains compounds called alkaloids (including quinine), which act as pain relievers. Some studies have shown that bitter kola can reduce inflammation and alleviate joint pain caused by arthritis, making it a feasible treatment for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

4) Bitter Kola For Colds And Coughs

Eating bitter kola can help with colds and coughs because it has antibacterial properties. Although it doesn’t directly treat the symptoms of colds and coughs, it can help prevent them by killing bacteria.
Bitter kola contains phytochemicals that help cure bacterial infections in the mouth and throat.

These phytochemicals are a type of chemical you will find in plants that appears to have medicinal properties. Phytochemicals are in foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Bitter kola contains caffeine, which acts as a bronchodilator, allowing the lungs to soften and open up. Caffeine’s ability to help persons with asthma and other breathing issues is one of its most helpful properties. It also relieves chest congestion and acts as an expectorant, allowing extra mucus to be expelled from the airways.

5) Treatment Of Hangover and food poisoning

Bitter Kola or Garcinia Kola is very rich in antioxidants which help to prevent liver damage caused by alcohol consumption. So if you want to lessen the effects of a hangover or food poison, eat a few pieces of bitter kola after drinking alcohol.

6) It helps prevent cancer and heart disease.

Bitter kola is a traditional medicinal tea that’s been used for centuries in Africa and the Caribbean. Its active ingredients are theobromine and caffeine, which are found in chocolate and coffee, respectively.

Bitter kola help prevent cancer and heart disease by preventing inflammation in body tissues or by improving blood flow to your heart muscle

7) Help prevent mental and emotional issues

It was found that the chemical compounds present in Kola Nut have extensive effects on our bodies. These compounds help in tackling problems related to mental issues like anxiety, depression, and stress.

In addition, it has been discovered that when used regularly, Kola Nut can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even infertility problems!

8) Kola nut improves the flow of bodily fluids

Research studies have shown that the kola nut is capable of increasing blood flow through its ability to increase circulation of blood by 15%. It also increases blood pressure because it increases cardiac output making it possible to pump more oxygenated blood thereby increasing the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to vital organs throughout the body.

9) Help reduce stress

First of all, Bitter Kola Nut is rich in L-theanine, which is a nutrient that is known to have some health benefits. Studies have shown that L-theanine can help you sleep better and reduce stress levels. It also helps improve your concentration levels, as well as protects your brain cells from damage, and boosts your moods.

10) Other benefits

Kola is commonly used as a beverage and tonic in numerous African countries, as well as an appetizer. It’s also utilized to treat viral infections. It is utilized as an alternate, stomachic, carminative, diuretic, and antibacterial, and the leaves can be utilized in curing headaches and colic symptoms.

Diabetes, liver problems, food poisoning, different bacterial infections, neurological disorders, TB, dysentery, and malaria have all been treated using kola nuts.
Bitter kola plant tea can help relieve nausea caused by motion sickness; it’s also effective for morning sickness due to pregnancy or after the birth of your child. Bitter kola affects your nervous system like caffeine; this can make you feel more awake and alert.

What are the side effects of bitter kola?

Despite its benefits, bitter kola nut consumption has some side effects. The seeds contain high levels of caffeine and theobromine, according to a study published in the Asian Journal of Biochemistry in 2011.

If consumed in excessive quantities, these chemicals might cause significant side effects. People with certain health issues may experience problems as a result of them. These are some of the negative effects:

• Caffeine withdrawal symptoms

Overconsumption of bitter kola can lead to caffeine dependence and withdrawal symptoms when you stop eating it. It’s important to limit your intake to avoid these adverse effects.

• Nausea and vomiting

People who eat too much bitter kola nut may experience nausea or vomiting as a result of high doses of caffeine and theobromine. Eating small amounts is best if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

• Insomnia and nervousness

Bitter kola is a stimulant that contains high levels of caffeine and theobromine. It can keep you awake at night or make you feel nervous if you eat too much over an extended period. This may worsen insomnia or anxiety disorders.

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