How to get the best from egusi seeds: 10 benefits to your body
How to get the best from egusi seeds: 10 benefits to your body: Egusi (melon) is a topical food consumes in most part of the world especially Asia, Africa and Europe.
In West Africa particularly, egusi or melon (citrullus lanatus) seeds are a common ingredient of daily soup for all and sundry.
Also, you hardly pass a day without a household having a pot of egusi soup, especially in a Nigerian home.
Many individuals are not aware that this seed is beneficial to their health and daily consumption is recommended for a healthy living.
Interestingly, research indicates that the seeds contain about 50% oil, and countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon cultivate these seeds in different bioclimate regions.
The seed contains great oil and the egusi oil when extracted can be a source of income to any economy.
This oil contains four (4) fatty acids: stearic, oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids.
Note that the linoleic acid is more abundant in quantity which means that it is part of the essential oil we use at home such as cooking oil, and frying oil, etc.
Importantly, about 71.9% of the fatty acid content of egusi is unsaturated oil and 35% protein.
This is a great portion of fatty acid that is healthy to consume and improves the lungs, kidney, liver, intestine’s health. Thus, the benefits include the following;
See also: How to prepare Egusi soup for a catering business: The frying method
How to get the best from egusi seeds: 10 benefits to your body
- Improves appetites especially during illness
The melon seed contains good vitamins that increase appetites when you lost one due to illness.
The components of vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin B1(thiamine) and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) allow the fats and oil in the body to experience the process of metabolism for a proper functioning of the body.
- Improves the skin
Truly, egusi seed contains Niacin, which helps maintain healthy skin all through the year and regular consumption will leave you with a gloomy skin.
Also, most skin care products we use today such as soaps contain these vitamins because of the benefits in the skin.
Important example is the Vitamin E, which contains alpha-tocopherol that helps in improving the skin and prevents ageing (especially reducing wrinkles and dry skin).
See also: 7 Dangers of multivitamin overdose: Benefits, pros and effects
- It contains Antioxidant properties
The Egusi seed contains antioxidant properties that really help to prevent cells damage, ulcer and other health conditions caused by oxidization in the body and much more.
- Helps in digestion
Melon seed is a very good nutrition that helps in digestion of food in the body for proper utilization.
This is because it contains good fibre that act as a catalyst in preventing digestive disorder like unpleasant bowel movement and constipation in the body.
- Gives clearer vision
Some doctors usually recommend frequent eating of egusi soup to improve the eye vision and it works out for some patients.
This is because the seeds contain vitamin A and other vitamin properties that improve eye vision.
- Improves heart health
It is no news that melon seed contains unsaturated fatty acids, which is essentially good for the heart.
This implies that it reduces the chances of chances of heart diseases by frequently reducing the blood cholesterols that are not good for the heart.
- Good for the bone
Egusi is essential for bone marrows with the availability of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and even phosphorous which are good for the development of bones.
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With these essential minerals bones diseases and disorder are prevented.
- Prevents anemia
Essential nutrients of egusi are enormous.
Among them include iron, and other minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and also sodium which help in the blood cell formation and thus prevent anemia and other blood related health conditions.
- Reduces Malnutrition
The nutrients in egusi help in increasing the health of infants and growing children.
The protein, minerals and vitamins do the work. Must of pharmaceutical companies we have use it for baby food for general growth and development.
- Reduces inflammation
There is an anti-inflammatory supplement in melon seed which prevents analgesic, ulcer as well as swelling in the body, ulcer of the gastrointestinal and digestive system inflammation.
Do you want to know about the side effects of Egusi (Melon seed) or you want to prepare an egusi soup? Visit our blog next week for some vital information