Kitchen Tips

Kitchen Tips

Do you have palm oil stained bowls like this? All you need do is keep them out in the sun for 2/3hrs and they change back to clean white color you originally had.

Preventing Sticky Frying pan:
Freshly washed frying pans tend to cause foods to stick when frying.
To prevent this heat pan till very hot before adding oil. This way your food will not stick.

Time Saver Tip:
Planning to cook beans during the week? Get the children busy with picking out dirt ,days ahead.
Children will likely eat the final dish when they are part of the cooking process.

Tip for Fresh House fragrance:
Put Lemon grass in a pot and just bring to boil. The whole house is soon filled with fresh lemony fragrance.

Tip on Preventing Tomato Spillage:
When boiling your tomato /pepper mixture, add a little vegetable oil and it will not boil over and mess up your cooker.

Shopping Tip:
Making a shopping list before heading to the market or shop keeps you under control of your budget and needed ingredients for cooking.

HOW TO PREVENT Burning HEAT OF PEPPER ON YOUR HANDS?
Capsaicin is what makes pepper hot.
RUB OIL generously on your hands and the effect of the heat is much less when handling pepper.

Easy way to boil Plantain
Without peeling, wash , cut and boil plantain . Just peel skin and serve.This method helps to retain all the flavor and nutrients in your plantain.

Frying tip
You can minimize oil in your foods. Make it a habit to place fried foods on kitchen paper towel to take out some oil before serving.

PRESERVING BITTER LEAVES
You have excess washed bitter leaves? Spread this on a tray and leave in an air conditioned room. It dries very well without smelling stale. You can then use your bitter leaves dry

Get Rid of Onion smell on Hands
Over the Christmas holiday,I tried this method and it works! Wash hands with soap and rub front and back inside a clean sink. Smell disappears!

Left over POUNDED YAM
Do you throw away left over pounded yam or eba? You can enjoy your left over. Simply wrap the pounded yam in a cellophane or zip lock bag. Place in a Pyrex dish and warm in microwave oven. Enjoy

STORAGE OF BEANS
Do you want to keep weevils out of your beans? Buy wholesome beans, pour into a plastic jerry can, cover tightly and store in the freezer. Weevils cannot survive in the cold and the container prevents your beans getting wet

Do you want to de-scale your old aluminium kettles or pots. 

Drop handful of dried zobo flower into the pot or kettle full of water.Heat up for a few minute and allow to stand overnight.Rinse off in the morning and you have a clean pot free of scale deposits

Recipe: AKARA(Bean cake/balls)

AKARA(Bean cake/balls)

Ingredients

1 cup of Beans (black-eyed or brown beans)

2 habanero chilli peppers(atarodo)

1 medium Onion

Crayfish (optional)

Salt to taste

Vegetable Oil for frying

NOTE: Before you fry Akara

Remove the beans coat. It is important that you do not let salt come in contact with the beans you will use in making Akara till you are ready to fry it. Salt is believed to destroy the leavening property of beans. This is what prevents spattering of the beans batter during frying.

Then soak the beans in water for 2 hours to make it soft enough for your blender.

Cut the pepper and onions into desirable sizes.

Making Akara

Grind the beans with your blender making sure you add as little water as possible. The water should be just enough to move the blades of your blender.

 The less water you add at the grinding stage, the more the beans batter will stay together during frying thereby reducing spatter. Also, do not add any other ingredient when grinding the beans for Akara. It is believed that other ingredients, if added too early, reduce the ability of the ground beans particles to stick together.

Set some vegetable oil on the cooker to heat up. The oil should be at least 3 inches deep.

Put some of the ground beans into a mortar. This should be the quantity you can fry in one go.

Stir the beans puree with the pestle in a continuous circular motion. You need to apply some pressure so that you can energize the particles of the beans puree.

This stirring technique releases the gas that will act like a leavening agent to the beans particles, making them rise and somehow stick together. This will be like the yeast making the dough rise in Puff Puff or what folding does to cake batter.

Keep stirring till the ground beans appears whiter and you can perceive its peculiar aroma.

Add some water

Check to make sure the oil is hot. The oil should be hot enough to sizzle but not too hot. If too hot, the Akara will spatter as soon as the beans batter hits the oil.

Once the oil is hot, add the onions,crayfish and pepper to the beans puree in the mortar. Stir well.

Add salt to your taste and stir again. Salt should always be added just before scooping the beans mixture into the oil. If salt stays in the mixture for extended periods of time, it will destroy the leavening property of the beans. This property is what makes the Akara float in the oil and prevent spatter during frying.

To fry the Akara, scoop the mixture with a table spoon and slowly pour this into the oil. Dipping the spoon a little bit into the oil helps reduce spatter.

Fry the underside till brown and flip to fry the top side too.

When the Akara balls are brown all over, remove and place in a sieve lined with paper towels.

Serve Akara with Custard/Ogi/Akamu, Agidi or Bread.etc…

 The best bread to eat Akara with is oven-fresh, hot and stretchy bread like Agege Bread . lol!

Making Akara may seem like rocket science but with practice, you will perfect this recipe. If you do not get it right the first time, try again. Everybody has the same first time experience with making Akara.

Important points to note when making Akara

Use freshly skinned beans.

Use a very small quantity of water when grinding.

Smoothen the mix with mortar and pestle before frying.

Add salt just before frying.
ENJOY.......................

Food Benefits: Watermelon

Watermelon

Summer and watermelon are inseparable. Watermelons are found almost everywhere in the world. Although we can find watermelons in our markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.

It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.

The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.

Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.

Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

Recipe: OFADA STEW (AYAMASE)

OFADA STEW (AYAMASE)

Ofada stew or Ayamase is a tasty,spicy stew that you eat and just can't forget.
      It used to be a ''best-kept-secret',' and was only known by the natives and a few Mamaput/Buka(road side cooks)  in  south-western Nigeria ,small wonder why people just can't get enough after a visit to the Buka.
      Well, now we can all replicate these stew in our homes. So here's the Ofada stew (Ayamase) recipe and below are frequently asked questions about this native stew. ...  hope you enjoy.

ingredients

  10 pcs unripe habanero peppers

  5 green tatashe peppers or green bell peppers

1wrap locust bean seasoning (Iru, ogiri okpei or dawadawa)

20cl red palm oil (at least)

  1 big onion

1 handful crayfish (optional)

 550g assorted meat

Beef

kpomo

Shaki  (cow tripe)

Dry fish

Stock fish  {all chopped into bite-able pieces}

 (…………or as desired)

Cubes  seasoning stock

Salt to taste 

Garnish:
*4 Hard Boiled eggs(without shell)(optional)

* Sliced ugu leaves (optional)

Cooking Directions

Wash and blend the peppers and the onion. Remember to remove the seeds from the green tatashe or the green bell peppers.

Grind the crayfish and the locust bean seasoning with a dry mill.

Cook all the meat and fish with the stock cube till well done.

Pour the pepper blend into a separate pot and cook on high heat till all the water dries up.

Pour the red palm oil into a clean dry pot and bleach till it turns clear. It should look like vegetable oil when done Leave the oil to cool down a bit then add the boiled pepper puree. Fry till all the water has dried from the pepper.

Add the crayfish and locust bean seasoning, the orisirisi meat and fish and stir well.

Add salt to taste and stock cube , add the boiled eggs then you can add sliced ugu leaves and sliced onion(optional) (forgive me I love onions)

 Leave to simmer and it is ready to be served.

Note: Serve with Ofada Rice. 

To get the full effects, line the plate with uma leaves. You can also use banana leaves.

Tips for bleaching red palm oil

Bleach the palm oil with a clean dry stainless steel pot. Aluminum pots work well too. Never use non-stick pots or enamel pots when bleaching red palm oil.

If possible, use a free flowing pure red palm oil. The congealed almost yellow ones contain some water.

Use low heat when bleaching the oil. This ensures that the oil is not very dark when done.

Do so in a well ventilated area. Turn on your kitchen extractor to remove the smoke as much as possible. Turn off your smoke alarm if any, you don't want everyone to know that you are cooking Ofada Stew. ;-)

Do not leave the pot unattended because the oil will catch fire if overheated. Check it constantly and turn off the heat once the bleaching is complete.

Do allow the oil to cool down a bit before adding the ingredients. This will prevent hot splashes of oil and will keep your food from burning due to the high temperatures.

......................ENJOY

Recipe: Corned Beef Stew /sauce

Corned Beef Stew /sauce

Ingredients for Corned Beef Stew/sauce

700ml Tomato Stew

450g corned beef or minced beef

1 onion

I teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon curry powder (turmeric)

1 cooking spoon vegetable oil

1 big stock cube

Pepper & salt (to taste)

*Important notes on the ingredients

Tomato Stew is fresh tomato puree and the tinned tomato paste that has been boiled and fried to remove all traces of water and the sour/tangy taste of tomatoes. Please note that this stew does not contain spices or seasoning. It only contains tomato puree, then onions and vegetable oil that was used in frying it.

If you do not like corned beef, use minced beef instead. Minced beef is simply ground beef and can be purchased from all major supermarkets in Nigeria.

The curry powder mentioned here is not the hot and spicy curry powder rather much closer to turmeric. We call it curry powder in Nigeria.

Before you cook Nigerian Corned Beef Stew

If you already have Tomato Stew in your freezer, bring it out to defrost in good time before you need to use it in the recipe. If not, prepare some Tomato Stew. Remember to pour out the excess oil when done. 

Bring out the corned beef from the tin and use a tablespoon to separate it into small pieces.

Cut the onions into tiny pieces.

Pound the pepper (if fresh) or grind if dry.

Cooking Directions

Start cooking the staple food you will serve with the stew: yam, rice, pasta or potatoes etc….

Pour the vegetable oil into another (dry) pot.

When the oil is heated, add the diced onions and fry for a bit.

Add the corned beef or the minced beef and fry till the beef turns pale. Ensure you stir constantly so that the beef will not form lumps. Tiny pieces is the best...

Add the thyme and stock cubes.

Add water to the same level as the contents of the pot and cook till the meat is done. This should take about 7 minutes on medium heat.

Add pepper, curry powder, tomato stew and salt to taste.

Stir very well, cover and leave to simmer and it's done! So so easy!

Serve with the following staple food of your choice: Pasta, White Rice, Boiled yam and Boiled Potatoes etc….

Food News: Most Expensive Toaster

Most Expensive Toaster

Have you ever looked at your toaster and thought, “This toaster just isn’t good enough for me?” If so, Dualit has the toaster for you. The British company’s Combi 2×2, the world’s most expensive toaster, is guaranteed to put your puny toaster to shame.

What can Dualit’s expensive toaster do that yours can’t? It has adjustable wire guards, for starters, that can accommodate any reasonable thickness of bread. It comes with sandwich cages that allow you to toast sandwiches with buttered bread, meats, cheeses (they recommend thinly pre-sliced cheese) or whatever else you can fit in there. It’ll even hold your toasted foods in place until you hit the ejector knob, keeping your food warm as long as the toaster is.

The most expensive toaster in the world comes in a range of colors, from retro colors like mint green and canary yellow to a more modern (and more expensive) polished finish. The Dualit Combi 2×2 costs £163 or £187 polished, $331 and $382 USD, respectively. Dualit also offers a slightly cheaper model, the Combi 2+1, which has three slots to the 2×2′s four and starts at $311 USD. US citizens can purchase Dualit toasters through Williams-Sonoma, though they don’t appear to offer the Combi models on their website.

Health Benefits of Eating Vegetables

Health Benefits of Eating Vegetables

Eating vegetables provides health benefits - people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body.

Health benefits

• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases.
• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for type 2 diabetes.
• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain cancers, such as mouth, stomach, and colon-rectum cancer.
• Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Eating fruits and vegetables rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and may help to decrease bone loss.
• Eating foods such as vegetables that are low in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.

Nutrients

Food sources of the nutrients in bold can be found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Click on the nutrient name to link to the food sources table.

• Most vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. None have cholesterol. (Sauces or seasonings may add fat, calories, or cholesterol.)
• Potassium rich nutrientsVegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C.
• Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Vegetable sources of potassium include sweet potatoes, white potatoes, white beans, tomato products (paste, sauce, and juice), beet greens, soybeans, lima beans, winter squash, spinach, lentils, kidney beans, and split peas.
• Dietary fiber from vegetables, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-containing foods such as vegetables help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.
• Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and those in the first trimester of pregnancy should consume adequate folate, including folic acid from fortified foods or supplements. This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.
• Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections.
• Vitamin E helps protect vitamin A and essential fatty acids from cell oxidation.
• Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Vitamin C aids in iron absorption.

Recipe: ice cream(strawberry,chocolate,vanilla)

Strawberry Ice Cream

Valentine is just around the corner , try this  at home you will love it

Mixing strawberry Ice cream

Ingredients for Strawberry ice cream. 3 Eggs 1/2 cup of Icing Sugar 1 tin Evaporated Milk 1 teaspoon of Strawberry Flavour 1 teaspoon of Pink food coloring

You can use the mixing part of your food processor, a hand whisk, blender or a cake mixer. Combine the eggs, milk, flavor and coloring together. Mix very well. Then add the sugar little by little till everything is mixed and smooth. Pour into a plastic bowl and freeze. Do not open until after 3-6  hours(depending on your freezer). Tada…. Your strawberry ice cream is ready

Chocolate Ice cream

Ingredients For Chocolate Ice cream Same as above but with; 2 or 3 tablespoons of unsweetened Cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon of coffee Same process as above. After blending all the liquid ingredients, add the cocoa and coffee then continue mixing. You can brew the coffee before adding Pour into a food-grade plastic bowl and freeze. Freeze overnight if you want it very solid  Enjoy! Vanilla Ice Cream Ingredients For vanilla Ice cream 3 Eggs 1/2 cup of Icing Sugar 1 tin Evaporated Milk 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla  Flavour You can use the mixing part of your food processor, a hand whisk, blender or a cake mixer. Combine the eggs, milk, flavor. Mix very well. Then add the icing sugar little by little till everything is mixed and smooth. Pour into a plastic bowl and freeze. Do not open until after 3-6  hours(depending on your freezer). Your vanilla ice cream is ready. This recipes’ can be doubled ………………………… ENJOY

Recipe: Garden Egg Sauce

Garden Egg Sauce 

Ingredients:
Garden Eggs
Red Chili Peppers
Titus Fish(optional)
Palm Oil
Onions
Salt
Seasoning

Steps
Wash and Boil garden eggs (I prefer to boil mine with the yam)
when soft, blend , pound or mash with a fork(I pounded mine)
Blend chili peppers and onions roughly (I used a manual blender for this)
Meanwhile, wash, season and boil the fish(optional)
When fish is cooked, set aside and mash

bleach a fair quantity of palm oil in a saucepan
Add the pepper and onions
Add fish stock and leave to simmer(optional)
When the pepper is fried, add the garden egg and stir
Then add the fish
Salt and season to taste
Cook for 5 minutes and turn off the heat!
Enjoy!!!

TIPS: 15 Uses of the Tooth Paste that you Never Knew

15 Uses of the Tooth Paste that you Never Knew

Beauty Uses

Toothpaste contains many useful ingredients that can be soothing and healing to the skin. For this reason, you’ll be able to use toothpaste to help you with the following issues:

 1) Pimples. Reduce redness and the size of your pimples with a dab of toothpaste. Let it sit overnight, then rinse away in the morning for a noticeable difference.

 2) Brittle fingernails. Since our nails are made of the same enamel as teeth, toothpaste can do a lot to help them. Simply give your nails a good scrub with some toothpaste for cleaner, shinier, stronger nails. You’ll also get that dirt out from underneath them in no time!

3) Fly-away hair. A gel toothpaste is largely made with the same ingredients as basic hair gels, so you’ll be able to substitute easily here. Just use a little dab and apply like a hair gel when needed.

 First Aid Uses

 Beyond beauty care, you’ll also find helpful ways to use toothpaste in that first aid kit. Keep a small tube tucked inside your kit for these emergencies:

4) Bites, sores, and blisters. Apply toothpaste to areas of skin irritation to reduce itching, swelling, and irritation. Toothpaste will dry them up quickly and help them heal faster.

 5) Burns. For minor burns with no open sores, a quick toothpaste application can give you instant relief. The cooling properties get to work right away, relieving that painful sting. In the long-term, toothpaste will keep the burn from becoming a painful, oozing blister.

 6) Bruises. For large bruises that take forever to fade, use a little toothpaste and a wide-tooth comb. Apply the toothpaste and gently comb the bruise in one direction to break up the blood clotting beneath the skin. Toothpaste helps with circulation and fights off the inflammation.

 Fashion Uses

 Our clothing and accessories can also benefit from many of the ingredients found in the average tube of toothpaste. Give these a try:

7) Jewelry cleaner. Before you pay for someone else to clean it, rub toothpaste onto your silver jewelry and leave it overnight, the wipe it clean with a soft cloth. Give a light scrubbing to your diamonds to see them sparkle again, just be sure to rinse thoroughly. Avoid using toothpaste on pearls.

 8) Show care. Scuffed or dirty shoes can look new again with a little toothpaste. Apply it directly to the dull, dirty, or scuffed parts of the shoe, scrub with a brush, and wipe them clean. Ta-da!

9) Clothing stains. Tough stains will disappear with a little toothpaste and some brisk scrubbing. Squeeze it right on the stain and rub until it disappears, then wash as normal. If using whitening toothpaste, be advised that this can have a bleaching effect on some colors and fabrics.

 Household uses :

 Toothpaste can save you money around the house by helping with some very basic tasks:

 10) Computer cleaner. Scrub away fingerprints from your keyboard with a white, baking soda-based toothpaste. Follow up with a damp cloth and your keys are good as new!

 11) Iron cleaner. Take away the “crusties” from the bottom of your clothes iron with a quick toothpaste rinse. Just be sure to remove all the toothpaste before you start ironing again.

12) Baby bottles. To freshen up baby bottles and remove that sour-milk smell, put some toothpaste on your bottle scrubber and give them a quick wash. Always rinse them very well afterwards.

 13) Piano keys. Like computer keys, piano keys get grubby with repeated use from the dirt, oil, and grime on our fingertips. Use a damp cloth and some toothpaste to rub down the keys, then wipe them clean with a dry cloth.

14) Crayon stains. Undo your kids’ damage to the walls with a damp cloth and some toothpaste. Rub it in gentle circles and watch the crayon fade away.

 15) Odor removal. After cooking with “stinky” foods in the kitchen (fish, garlic, onions, etc.), getting the smell out of the skin is a challenge. Wash your hands thoroughly with water and toothpaste for a quick and easy remedy.

Health Benefits: Things Bitter Leaf Can Do

Things Bitter Leaf Can Do

Bitter leaf is a traditional ingredient in many African soups. Also known as Vernonia amydalia, its bitter taste makes it distinct from many other ingredients used for preparing soups. Recent studies indicate that eating more of Bitter leaf also called ‘Ewuro’ in Yoruba. ‘Onugbu’ in Igbo, and ‘Shiwaka’ in Hausas, has many potentials health benefits.

Treat diabetes:
Bitter leaf does not only reduce the blood sugar level drastically, it also helps to repair the pancreas. Squeeze 10 handfuls of the fresh leaves in 10 litres of water and take two glasses thrice daily. Some people take a handful of bitter leaf and eat it too.

According to a study published in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bio resources, researchers at the University of Jos, stated that the crude chloroform extract of the leaves of Bitter leaf has an anti-diabetic effect in rats with diabetes mellitus (Type 2 diabetes) under laboratory conditions.

Similarly, researchers writing in the Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences said that the administration of aqueous extract of bitter leaf at a concentration of 500 mg/kg of body weight significantly decreased the level of blood glucose. Its efficacy to lower blood glucose level was comparable with that of chlorpropamide, a standard drug used in the management of diabetes.”

Indeed, a Bitter leaf-based herbal anti-diabetic medication has passed human clinical trials and received a United States Patent 6531461 for the treatment of diabetes far back as 2008.

Ward off heart attack, stroke:
Regular consumption of vegetables such as Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Telfairia occidentalis (Ugwu) can help to regulate the blood’s cholesterol level, a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

This build-up of cholesterol and other substances called plaque, can narrow the artery like a clogged drain, leading to arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Over time, this causes heart attack.

The 2011 study published in the African Journal of Biochemistry Research showed that the treatment with bitter leaf and ugwu diets led to a significant increase in serum good cholesterol (HDL-C), showing their protective role in conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels such as heart attack.

Treat stomach ache
In cases of constipation, stomach ache and inflammation of the stomach, bitter leaf is a remedy. Chew the tender stem of the plant like a chewing stick and swallow the bitterness or extract the juice and add a pinch of salt to three tablespoons for immediate relief.

Prevent malaria
Bitter leaf has been widely used and recognised for its efficacy in preventing malaria. The raw leaves are plucked and washed before being squeezed to extract the juice. Drinking the juice alone is an antidote for malaria.

Scientists in a study of the antimalarial activities of the aqueous and ethanolic crude extracts of bitter leaves, found that under laboratory conditions, extracts of bitter leaf made from water and ethanol showed moderate antimalarial activity and a negligible level of toxicity in the test animals–rats.

In the 2011 edition of the Science World Journal study, the ethanol extract of bitter leave showed the highest antimalarial activity of 78.1 per cent. The water extract had the malaria parasite growth inhibition of 74.0 per cent.  

In addition, another 2008 study documented in the journal African Health Sciences the potential use of bitter leaf in reversing chloroquine resistance when used as an adjuvant with chloroquine.

Prevent toothache
Researchers in 2005 edition of the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines say that chewing the stem of Bitterleaf helps to prevent Gingivitis (a tooth-gum problem) and toothache due to its proven antimicrobial activity says. Whilst the bitter taste may make it unappealing to many people for everyday use, a person with embarrassing gingivitis or toothache may benefit from using it.

Treat skin infections
Common skin diseases such as ringworm, eczema and others have been successfully treated with bitter leaf because of its antimicrobial effect.

In many communities, individuals squeeze and paste bitter leaf regularly on the affected portion of the skin, coupled with the drinking of the fresh bitter leaf juice. This clear the skin diseases in no time.

Supports healthy liver
Bitter leaf protects the liver from drug induced damage. A study published in Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that Bitter leaf elicits protection against liver damage through its antioxidant (prevents cell death) activity on acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in mice.

Inhibits breast cancer
The results of a study by Professor Ernest B. Izevbigie suggest that Bitter leaf, if incorporated in the diet, can slow cancer growth and even kill cancer cells. Simply squeeze the flesh leaves in water and take a glassful four times daily.

Hastening childbirth
The aqueous extract of Bitter leaf can help in inducing labour. Ugandan researchers studying the use of Bitter leaf herbal remedies in stimulating childbirth traditionally in rats found that the water extract of the plant showed marked rat uterine stimulation (oxytocic). This is an indication that Bitter leaf can hasten childbirth or cause abortion if used in preterm pregnancy.
In Malawi, ethnobotanical survey found that the dried bark of Bitter leaf is used to improve contractions of the womb during childbirth.

As worm expeller
Wild chimpanzees in Tanzania eat bitterleaf to get rid of worms and other parasite diseases.

Stop bleeding
Where there is no medical help, blood oozing from fresh wound can be stopped by squeezing fresh, green bitter leaves and dropping it on the wound.

Protects prostate from damage
A study published in Health Inequalities Hub indicated that extract of bitter leaf can help to combat the adverse effects of diabetes on the testes of male rats.

Eat bitter-leaf  today and be healthy ………. Enjoy.