In case you’ve been living under rock, let me be the first to tell you: Tiger nuts are extremely beneficial to one’s health.
Popularly obtained from Northern Nigeria, they have become a trendy healthy food and snack amongst people all over Nigeria.
Fun fact: Tiger nuts are not actually nuts, but rather, are edible tubers.
They’re roughly the size of a chickpea and wrinkly with a chewy texture and sweet nutty flavor.
Here are some health benefits of tiger nuts you should know:
Aids Digestion
Back in the day, tiger nuts were used to treat stomach upsets, irritable bowels, and other digestive issues. They are still used by indigineous/holistic doctors as a remedy for many illnesses like flatulence and diarrhea.
Controls Diabetes
The high insoluble dietary fiber present in tiger nut flour regulates blood sugar levels, thus helping diabetic individuals remain healthy.
Rich in Vitamins E & C
Recent studies suggest that tiger nuts are loaded with vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins C, E, potassium and phosphorus.
They are a rich source of protein
Protein is a vital nutrient used in the building of muscle, skin, and bone. Tiger nuts are in fact one the best, non-meat, sources of protein available.
Tiger nut milk can be used as cow milk substitute
Tiger nut milk contains no lactose but plenty of calcium, so it makes for a great alternative to cow’s milk, for people who are lactose intolerant or who are vegans/vegetarians.
MORE FUN FACTS
Nuts.com states that:
Tiger nuts come from a plant known by its scientific name, Cyperus esculentus (Bamishaiye & Bamishaiye, 2011). Also known as nut grass or yellow nutsedge, this plant originated in Southern Europe but became naturalized in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Archaeological evidence suggests that this nut has been cultivated for thousands of years, providing a critical component of the embalming process for Egyptian pharaohs (Bamishaiye & Bamishaiye, 2011).
Today, tiger nuts are widely produced in Africa and have incredible nutritional benefits. They can be eaten fresh, semi-dried, or fully dried. Additionally, tiger nut milk and tiger nut oil are often sold as forms of the nuts. Although tiger nuts were briefly popular in the 1950s and 1960s, they have only recently been rediscovered for their health properties. Now, they are poised to become the next big superfood.
Photo Credit: Lifetimedaily.com
