THE HERBAL MAASAI MAGIC

From the last post the magic of the Maasai’s gait is profoundly related to their herbs intake. Most common names you hear among them are traditionally known olkinyei, jacket plum also known as oldimigomi, olsokonoi and olkiloriti. Ideally these are wildly grown among them and act as food additives for their meat and milk intake. Amazingly, these herbs lower cholesterol and have antioxidants which make the masaai beat cholesterol ingested in their body and thus lowering all heart diseases among them.

Visiting them indicated that all these herbs are drawn from special trees in their habitats that are also used to treat various diseases besides beating down cholestrol. These include:

Malaria:

Although treatment is available in health centers, the use of the jack plum plant for instance is common and in fact is made into liquid which when ingested lowers fever and malaria.

Dental hygiene:

Almost all the herbs they take are medicinally inclined. Funny enough, their teeth are always intact apart from their ritual to remove one tooth as a tradition. This adds to the cholesterol value of a herb like the olkinyei.

Ceremonial and other STDs healer

In ceremonies their herbs are believed to be important and associated with blessings and rites of passage. But one thing that caught my attention is the belief that the herbs cure diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis among others!

After interacting with their herbs use I thought that we should all move to masaai land and borrow their herbs use!

Bottom line is the use of plant foods to supplement our animal food intake is vital to beat cholesterol and fat intake in our bodies!

Email me on ndutaniceness@gmail.com

GREEN OR RED APPLE?

An apple a day to keep the doctor away is a very well-known adage. Apples definitely are among the favorites of fruits when you go to the market.But what exactly is it about this much-lauded fruit that is good for your health? As it turns out, quite a lot – apples can positively impact the condition of your bones, your respiratory system and other crucial organs inside your body.

Here are a number of ways that apples benefit the body:

. Teeth: Since apple is a hard fruit and if eaten uncut, it stimulates saliva production in the mouth, which in turn reduce the chances of tooth decay be caries and lowers the level of bacteria. Also biting and chewing on apple makes teeth self cleansing.

  Cholesterol: Apple is again rich source of soluble fiber. This soluble fiber binds with the fat cells in the intestine and thus helps in reducing the cholesterol levels in the body. Since we all know how bad cholesterol can harm the cardio vascular system of the body. Thus eating apple is very good for cardio vascular health too.
Fighting Cancers: An  Apple is a very rich source of trierpenoids . This compound has natural anti cancer growth activity. This compound help fight the free cells in the liver, breast and colon which can turn cancerous. Thus eating apple does reduce the chances of cancers in colon, breasts and liver.

 Type 2 Diabetes : Though it helps in both sexes but the result in women are more. Those women who eat atleast one medium size apple a day have more than 25% less chances to develop type two diabetes.

Weight:  To control weight a high fiber diet is advised by most doctors and since the apple are one of the richest source of fibers, thus they are very good for keeping your weight down.

 Liver: What ever toxins a body consumes, it is excreted through the liver. So most doctors advise a rich fruit diet for the liver. And apple is the best fruit for the liver detoxification.
 Cataract: Since apples are rich source of anti oxidants and anti oxidants are suppose to fight cancers and studies have shown that people those who eat apples regularly have more than 10% less chances of developing cataract. Thus apple is very essential for the health of the eyes too.

 So the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away is not wrong since apple is so rich in nearly everything good for the body and has countless health beneficial ingredients.

But which is best? Red or green?

Green Apple:

 • less sugar, less glucose

 • less antioxidant

 • Eco-friendly looking 

Red Apple:

 • have varying amounts of poly-phenols

 • strong antioxidant

 • anti-cancer compound

So, if your having a per-diabetes or diabetes then green apples are the perfect choice to eat. With its less sugar and less anti-oxidant then this type of fruit will keep your tummy full and having no doubts in eating this.

While the red apple are the perfect one for those who are on diet. Since these apples can keep you on the go with lots of sugar content that can be used as a alternative as your regular unhealthy snacks.

 But the green as opposed to the red has the following extra benefits:

It is known to cure diarrhea, constipation especially in children and the fiber that it provides can help you to have a regular bowel movements. it also enhances memory and cures rheumatism an preventing gall stones.

SO YES! YOU GUESSED RIGHT, THE GREEN APPLE IS THE BEST TO CONSUME! THOUGH IT IS NOT ALSO WRONG TO EAT THE RED, BUT SPARINGLY!

 Make that choice!

For more guidelines keep emailing:ndutaniceness@gmail.com

Nduta

Nutrition counsellor

Is the Meat you indulge in safe?

The other day I was purchasing meats from my local butchery and I was quick to notice the difference in chunks of meat hang on the wall. I decided to take my time and watch this particular butcher whether this is a normality he has or it was just for the day.

Interestingly, one day early in the morning I met him sprinkling meat with a solution which I later found that the meat had changed colour and looked very fresh and appealing to customers. So now, was this solution sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite? YES!

The question is why should you care the type of red meat you purchase? As a nutritionist I condemn the use of red meat profusely but then again there is that occasional indulgence that you wish to have especially with your friends or just wish to taste something different. That is definately allowed.

Now to know the difference of the meats that have been treated with sodium nitrate component, just look at the meats offered on display in the supermarkets. stores like Nakumatt have heavy loads of meat that are normally looking very appetizing for the customers. While if compared to meats from some butcheries it looks too different! The butchers nowadays have resulted in sprinkling their meat with this sodium nitrate/ sodium nitrite solution so as to improve appearance and keep being in business.

Without knowing you may fall in love with your butcher simply because he or she always has fresh looking meat. But here are the dangers:

Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are food additives commonly used in cured meat. Its main function is to inhibit clostridium botulinum bacteria from producing the toxin that causes botulism. Botulism is a life-threatening illness that results in paralysis and eventually death. Nitrate combined with salt is extremely effective at inhibiting the growth of clostridium botulinum. Sodium nitrate also contributes to the flavor and pink color of cured meats.

The main concern is that it can form carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines when added to meat products. Nitrosamines have been linked to bladder, colon, esophageal, and gastric cancers.

In kenya you might be at a risk of:

Inhibited Oxygen Transportation

Your body relies on sufficient production of hemoglobin to ensure that all internal systems get the oxygen they need to function properly. Normally this is because, a diet high in sodium nitrites may lead to a health condition called methemoglobinemia, which is the inability of your red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body. This condition causes respiratory problems and can be fatal. Reducing your intake of foods with sodium nitrites can help prevent this condition.

May Cause Cancer

The reaction that your body has to the ingestion of sodium nitrite can vary depending on how much of it you consume from foods. The salts in sodium nitrites can cause a reaction that produces a chemical called nitrosamines, which increase your risk of developing cancer. Cancer research analysts say that sodium nitrites can lead to gastrointestinal and brain cancer. Restricting your intake can help prevent these reactions from occurring.

Increase in Childhood Type 1 Diabetes Risk

Type 1 diabetes can occur in infants and young children when their pancreas does not have the ability to produce insulin. This can be a life-threatening condition if insulin levels are not monitored closely. High intake of sodium nitrites while pregnant may increase your baby's risk of developing type 1 diabetes. This risk is higher for male babies and occurs because of your body's reaction to sodium nitrite. The risk of juvenile type 1 diabetes can also occur if your water supply is high in sodium nitrites and you drink it while pregnant or offer it to your young children.

Other Effects

Eating a diet high in foods that contain sodium nitrites can cause irritation to your digestive system, including your mouth, esophagus and stomach. If irritation occurs, you may experience pain, particularly abdominal pain. High consumption of sodium nitrites is also associated with damage to your blood and your blood vessels. At toxic levels, sodium nitrites can also lead to rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing.

Look at this picture attached above and spot the difference in the meat

While the meat on the left is healthy, that on the right is cured with sodium nitrate! 

chicken and fish are also not left out and are usually cured to look as fresh while they may be as old as one month since they were slaughtered! Always buy chicken from the people who slaughter them upfront. As well, the chicken nowadays is cured with hormones to accelerate growth. Well that is a subject for another day.

Meanwhile, as you probably indulge in that nyama choma or buy meat from your butcher, be careful to spot the difference in butchers and then make a choice.. you have the information now..

Any comments and concerns you can post here.

Nduta

Nutrition counsellor.