HEALTH BENEFITS OF OGBONO SEED (Africa Mango )

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OGBONO SEED (Africa Mango )

Common name: African Mango, , Bread Tree, Bush Mango, Dika Nut, Dikanut, Dikka, Duiker Nut, Etima, Irvingia, Irvingia barteri, Irvingia gabonensis, Kaka, Mangifera gabonensis, Manguier Sauvage, Odika, Wild Mango.
Botanical name:Irvingia gabonensis
Nigerialocal name: ugiri or ogbono(Igbo) biri, goron(Hausa)oro, apon(Yoruba)

. The fruits are used to make jelly, jams, juice and wine. Sometimes the flesh of the fruit is used to obtain a black dye, which is used for coloring clothes. Ogbono is mostly valued for its nuts that can be eaten raw or roasted. Butter, margarine can be made by pounding these seeds. Seeds are pressed to make edible oil, which is used for cooking and also for manufacturing pharmaceuticals, soaps or cosmetics. The seeds contain mucilaginous polysaccharides, which acts as a thickening agent. Adding crushed seeds to soups and stews can thicken them as well as impart it's taste and texture. Recent Research also showed that the seeds have beneficial effects on diabetes and obesity as well as in lowering cholesterol, and increasing antioxidant and gastrointestinal activity

OGBONO SEED IN NIGERIA
In Nigeria, the seed is popular for making soup. Ogbono soup also known as Draw soup because of its slippery nature helps the lumps of solid food slide down the throat to the stomach..Preference on consumption of Ogbodo soup varies, some Nigerian's like it plain, with no added vegetables, others prefer it with some vegetable in it. A third group love their Ogbono soup with Okra, while some people would add Egusi to it.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF OGBONO
Several research and studies have shown that ogbono Seed or kernels contains about 18 amino acids and is full with nutrients, vitamins, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, Ascorbic acid, sodium, amino acids, dietary Fiber,vitamin C, phosphorus and iron.Ogbono seed contains fatty acids such as stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid.

Ogbono is high in protein content, fiber and essential fats.It is rich in fatty acids such as oleic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, stearic, myristic, and lauric acids, which are essential for performing the various bodily functions, maintaining the health of the nervous system and for muscular development. It also contains flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol. Additionally ogbono seeds contain vitamins like vitamin C, thaimine, riboflavin and niacin along with minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium. The oil obtained from ogbono seeds is rich in beta-carotene, which is effective in protecting your body against conditions like heartburn, infertility, high blood pressure, cancer, and some types of mental disorders.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OGBONO SEEDS

Ogbono or the African Mango is a fruit that has been found to have magnificent health benefits because of its high nutritional content. The African locals or natives use various parts of the ogbono tree to treat a variety of ailments such as fatigue, headaches, indigestion, cramps, and malnutrition. Nutritional components found in this fruit are known to enhance energy, prevent fatigue and so it is widely used for a large number of health purposes today.

OGBONO SEED PROMOTE WEIGHT LOSS
African mango is highly popular among the Hollywood stars as many of the celebrities use it to kick start their weight loss plans. Ogbono seeds are particularly popular for its weight loss properties. It is sold as a weight loss remedy in the form of capsules and powder. One way in which these seeds promote weight loss is by inhibiting the action of an enzyme known as amylase, which is responsible for the absorption of sugar in the body. So by inhibiting amylase, ogbono causes less sugar to be absorbed, thus preventing weight gain. Ogbono also inhibits an enzyme known as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, which is associated with converting blood sugar into fat. Another method by which ogbono aids in weight loss is by increasing the levels of the hormone adiponectin. It also increases the levels of leptin, a hormone that helps in reducing appetite. Ogbono provides a boost in energy and metabolism. It helps in preventing fatigue and increasing the oxidation of fat, thereby helping in weight loss.

✅OGBONO IS A GOOD SOURCE OF FIBER
Ogbono seeds are rich in dietary fiber that helps to lower blood cholesterol by binding to bile acids in the intestine and helping to eliminate them from the body. The fiber is also important for digestion and helps to prevent digestive disorders like constipation by adding bulk to the stool and regularizing bowel movements. Further research revealed that the fibre content of the seed improves bowel function and aids detoxification pathways.
Fiber also promotes weight loss by making you feel fuller for longer hours, thus preventing overeating.

HELPS IN BODY BUILDING
Ogbono seed is also rich in protein which is good for body building. As earlier mentioned, the seed contains vitamins and minerals which are good for the body. It contains thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. The approximate fatty acid composition is myristic acid 33-70 per cent, laureic acid 20-59 per cent, oleic acid 1-11 per cent, palmitic acid 2 per cent and stearic acid 1 per cent. The contained amino acids are reasonably balanced for human nutrition. Since lysine, tryptophan, valine, threonine, isoleucine and phenylalanine have high concentrations in the seed, first limiting amino acids are methionine and cysteine.

OGBONO IS A GOOD ANALGESIC
The bark of the African mango tree has been long used by the Mende tribe of Africa as a remedy for relieving pain. The water extract of ogbono has been found to be effective in reducing heat induced pain, a property that is mediated through opioid receptors. The ethanolic extract although less effective in relieving heat-induced pain was found to be effective in soothing pressure-induced pain.

OGBONO MAY BE GOOD FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
High levels of cholesterol in the blood stream are one of the reasons that could lead to cardiovascular problems. Studies revealed that the intake of ogbono extract was associated with a reduction in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL or bad cholesterol. The results also showed an increase in the levels of HDL or good cholesterol. The cholesterol lowering properties of the African mango makes it a heart healthy fruit.

OGBONO IS USEFUL IN DENTAL CARE
The stems of the ogbono tree can be used as chewing sticks for cleaning teeth.

OGBONO TREATS DYSENTERY AND DIARRHOEA
The bark of the ogbono tree can be decocted and used for treating dysentery and diarrhoea. The bark can also be combined together with palm oil for treating diarrhoea.

OGBONO REGULATES CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Study validates that obese patients given ogbono seed had a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol with an increase in HDL cholesterol. This suggests that ogbono is suitable for regulating cholesterol levels.

OGBONO PREVENTS CONSTIPATION
Being a rich source of dietary fibre, ogbono fruit can be eaten to improve bowel functioning and to prevent constipation.

OGBONO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL
African mango helps in lowering the risk of diabetes by controlling the levels of insulin levels and also by maintaining healthy levels of blood sugar. It has also been found to be helpful in reducing blood glucose levels in people already suffering from diabetes.

OGBONO IMPROVE ENERGY
One of the reasons why ogbono is a great weight loss aid is because it has the ability to increase energy and boost your metabolism. This fruit is rich in B group vitamins that help in converting the carbohydrates from your foods into glucose. If you have a physically demanding lifestyle and want to jumpstart your day with high energy levels, then eating African mango is the way to go.

OGBONO ENHANCED YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Ogbono is a good source of vitamin C, which is known to boost the health of the immune system, thus helping in protecting your body against colds, flu and other infections.

OGBONO IS A MOOD ENHANCER
Ogbono is sometimes referred to as the Happy Fruit, because it contains a compound known as tryptophan, which stimulates the production of Serotonin, a neurotransmitter which is responsible for promoting good mood, libido, memory, and improved sleep. Eating this fruit may thus help in alleviating anxiety, stress and depression.

OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS OF OGBONO
Ogbono is believed to possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, and anti-oxidant properties. It has been long used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including diarrhea, dysentery, yellow fever, wounds, and tympanic membrane infections.

The Global Institute for Bioexploration states that extract of ogbono may be beneficial in alleviating conditions like diarrhea, hernia diabetes, and yellow fever. The leaf extracts have been found to help in reducing fever. Because of its numerous proven benefits, several people who want to lose weight have started consuming African Mango, which helps them to burn body fat and finally attain their weight loss goals. According to researchers, African mango could possibly be one of the major breakthroughs in attaining health, fitness, and weight loss in a safer and more natural way.