About Bambara Groundnut and its Health Benefits

Nutritional Values and Health Benefits Of Bambara Groundnut

This food crop, Bambara nuts, is predominately cultivated in West Africa. It is a type of groundnut and one of the familiar food sources in Nigeria as it is used to produce various food delicacies.

 

It might be surprising that most people in Nigeria may not be conversant with this name as the local name is commonly used, but it forms most parts of some families' daily meal. Locally, it is called Okpa (Igbo), Epa- Roro (Yoruba), Kwaruru or Gurjiya (Hausa).

Just like groundnuts, Bambara groundnut or nuts is regarded as a false nut, rather it is a legume and contains lots of protein as well. It is mainly used in cooking, especially in making Okpa, which can be taken along with Pap (Akamu or ogi), drinks, soaked garri flakes, and others. 

The cooking method of nut (Okpa) is by steaming, which after ground into flour, is used in the preparation, and this keeps all the ingredients intact, thus making it highly nutritious. It can also be roasted, adequately salted, and then eaten as a snack or used in making probiotic beverages.

Most times, the Bambara groundnut is consumed because it gives energy and tastes great when prepared well, but it has other great health benefits, which make it a must-eat for everyone. 

Its nutrients consist of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber content, vitamins, minerals such as manganese, potassium, fluoride, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, sodium, iron, copper, etc., and just like milk. It, too, is regarded as a complete food.

 

The numerous health and nutritional benefits of Bambara nut include;

• It has all the essential nutrients that food needs, and because of this, it helps prevent malnutrition and other health problems such as kwashiorkor, rickets, etc., which are triggered or caused by poor and inadequate dieting.
• It helps reduce the effects of various health conditions, such as anemia, as it contains iron and other essential nutrients that boost the body's blood level.
• It also helps reduce the chances of getting cancer and other health issues because of the presence of antioxidants that protect the body from harmful food chemicals.
• The minerals contained in the Bambara nuts, such as calcium, protect the body from arthritis, osteoporosis, and other related bone diseases.

 

As much as Bambara nuts or groundnuts is well known as their food source, it is also good to know that their health benefits are almost second to none, as it is used for various medicinal and therapeutic purposes and contains all the nutrients that our body needs to function well.