Tiger nuts (also known as chufa nuts or earth almonds) belong to the sedge family of plants that can be found in various parts of the world, but they were first found in Ancient Egypt.
Tiger nuts, as they are usually called, are not actually nuts. They are marble-sized and wrinkled tuberous rhizomes of a sedge grass (cyperus esculentus platinum), also called yellow nutsedges. It has a sweet almond-like flavor.
In Nigeria, tiger nuts are mainly grown in the Northern region. They are called “aya“ in Hausa, “imumu“ in Yoruba, “ofio” in Igbo, and “ake” in the Southern region of Nigeria.
Tiger nuts have a lot of health benefits. In this article, we’ll discuss the health benefits of tiger nuts to women.
8 Health Benefits of Tiger Nuts to Women
Tiger nuts contain essential minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, copper, manganese, potassium, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B1.
Tiger nuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, pantothenic acid, and fibers. Below are some of the medicinal properties that tiger nuts offer, which can be beneficial to women.
1. Maintains healthy blood pressure
High blood pressure is common in women during pregnancy. It is usually common among women who are experiencing their first pregnancy or carrying multiple.
Arginine is an essential amino acid found in tiger nuts. It promotes heart health because the body uses it to synthesize nitric oxide, which maintains the size of blood vessels and enables the normal flow of blood. This leads to the maintenance of healthy blood pressure.
2. Fights against breast cancer
The tubers have a relatively high antioxidant capacity because they contain a high level of water-soluble flavonoid glycoside, and this is an excellent medicine for breast lumps and cancer.
Tiger nuts are also an excellent source of antioxidants, that protect your body against aging and diseases like breast cancer.
3. Helps in weight loss
Tiger nuts are rich in fibers which help in weight loss. Foods that are rich fiber may be vital for weight loss and weight management. When you eat fiber-rich foods, it will stimulate the release of gut-satiety hormones, which may help reduce your overall appetite.
In addition, tiger nuts are low in calories. Hence, they make for a great weight loss snack.
5. Healthy alternative for lactose intolerant mothers (+ gluten-free)
Milk is an essential food during pregnancy. However, not all expectant mothers can take milk as a result of lactose intolerance.
Tiger nut milk do not contain lactose and can therefore be taken by anyone. Tiger nut milk does not contain lactose, fructose, nor gluten and of course, because they are not nuts, it’s a perfect food solution for allergy sufferers.
6. Rich source of magnesium
Magnesium is a critical mineral in the body, responsible for initiating more than 300 biochemical reactions.
A magnesium deficiency can have severe effects on the body, including frequent muscle cramps and palpitations. This is because magnesium facilitates the proper functioning of the muscles and nerves.
To add to that, foods rich in magnesium, such as tiger nuts have been said to help with relieving menstrual cramps and preventing dysmenorrhea.
7. Aids digestion
Tiger nuts contain fiber which helps maintain a healthy digestive system, prevents constipation, and makes bowel movement easier.
Tiger nuts contain more dietary fiber than typical fiber foods such as oat and cabbage, making them a better option to optimize your health.
In addition, they are also said to contain resistant starch, a type of fiber that serves as food for the friendly bacteria in your gut, aiding your digestion run smoothly.
8. Increases production of breast milk
Breast milk provides essential nutrients for babies. It also contains a high amount of antibiotics and builds the baby’s immune system.
Tiger nut is high in essential nutrients and vitamins, which can boost the production of breast milk from a woman’s breast during pregnancy.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of notable health benefits of tiger nuts for women. It helps to prevent cancers, relieves menstrual cramps, regulates blood pressure, maintain healthy weight, and boost breast milk production.
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