Botapreneur

Maggi seasoning is possibly the number one ingredient in every West African household used by generations as a cooking companion. You probably couldn’t imagine life without it. I mean you’ve grown up cooking with it all your life so how bad can it really be? Maggi cubes are added as an ingredient to almost every dish and there’s no denying that it contains all the flavour that make your dishes taste amazing! I decided to explore each of the ingredients in Maggi cube. Let’s dive in and see what’s it comprises of: • Iodised Salt • Sugar • Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium     Glutamate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium   Guanylate) • Maize Starch • Vegetable Fat (Palm) • Hydrolysed Soya Beans • Water • Colour (Ammonia Caramel) • Onion • Ferric Pyrophosphate • Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin) • Spice Extracts (White Pepper, Chilli, Clove) • Flavouring • Yeast Extract Use of Maggi as a flavor enhancer is widely used across Africa for many different African recipes. These cubes which have no nutritive value have grossly taken the place of many fermented seeds and products that once added much variety, flavor, and nutritive value to our African foods. Fermentation of seeds like ogiri (sesame seeds) and iru(african locust bean) though still done, may soon be a lost art. Using fermented seeds as food flavoring in soups and other recipes has many more benefits than use of your typical Maggi cube. Research shows that fermentation of these seeds increases the protein content, mineral and vitamin content, and increases the digestibility of the carbohydrates found in the seeds. Thus, addition of these fermented products into our food, would increase the nutritive value of our foods. In contrast, Maggi cubes and similar products, add no nutritive value to our foods, but also actually decreased the healthfulness of our foods. Three primary ingredients in these products are salt, monosodium glutamate(MSG), and hydrogenated oil (trans fat). All three of these ingredients have been found to negatively effect health. TV and Radio adverts have also made stars out of the users of these products without taking cognizance to health risks of their consumption. Of the above list, three ingredients are major. These are Salt, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and Hydrogenated palm oil or Trans fat. It is no longer news that excess salt in a diet is one of the major causes of high blood pressure. This is the reason why patients that are diagnosed of the disease are made to refrain from salt. Can Maggi cube lead to high blood pressure, the answer is simply yes. Since it has been established that one of the major ingredients of Maggi cube is salt, and to make the matter worse, many women usually add several cubes to their cooking with additional salt. It is therefore an established fact that most high blood pressure in the country can be traced to consumption of excess salt derived partly from Maggi cubes. Also, it should be noted that medical research has linked MSG the occurrence of asthma, obesity, cancer among many others. It is also believed that MSG can cause headache, tingling, numbness, general weakness, and muscle tightness when consumed in excess. This is the reason why so many people feel weak and worn out when they consume a meal with excess cubes of Maggi. Although the exact amount of MSG in one packet of Maggi is not known, MSG is known to cause neurological problems, headache and inflammation in the liver. It also increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity and also lowers your appetite. Finally, Trans fat is a sure way to develop coronary heart disease, which is a hardening and narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the heart. This become possible due to the ability of trans fats to increase LDL(bad) cholesterol and decrease HDL(good) cholesterol in our blood stream. The aftermath of the increase in bad cholesterol is an eventual narrowing and blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart thereby leading to stroke or heart attack. How do you control this potential health risk? It all boils down to proportion. Use a little proportion. It’s a Little tricky but its likely the best solution. You can eat Maggi occasionally – once in 15 days (in the case of adults) but avoid eating it daily as it doesn’t have any health benefits. You can alternatively use natural and local seasoning. Dry and grind garlic , ginger , crayfish and yere (a substance used for making locust beans ) together. Use a little bit of the grinded substance in food instead of maggi coupled with a little salt. Try this and you will surely enjoy your meal .  

As much as we always make resolutions at the beginning of the year, there is an aspect of your life you must not forget. It is your HEALTH LIFE. Probably you think all you could do is eat and eat and eat till the end of the year. Many might definitely overeat during this New Year jamboree. Overeating leads to various diseases. There are various effects of overeating. Some of which are : 1) Weight gain and obesity

Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and killed animals for meat since prehistoric times. The advent of civilization allowed the domestication of animals such as chickens, sheep, pigs and cattle, and eventually their use in meat production on an industrial scale. Meat is a great source of vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus , tiamin , biotin , pantothelic , niacin, folacin, riboflavin, iron, copper, zinc and manganese. Red meat, for instance, contains vitamin B6 , which is vital for immune function and help to regulate blood sugar level and B12, a building block for red blood cells and the DNA inside the cells. It is also rich in iron and the body cell can’t survive without iron .  However, caution must be taken when consuming meat. High consumption of red meat in particular can lead to a high production of uric acid, which causes gout (a metabolic disease marked by a painful inflammation). Red meat carries the highest risks of heart disease and cancer, so eating more poultry and pork can help lower your risk . It is advisable to eat meat moderately for the sake of our health .

Tomato, a pulpy nutritious fruit commonly eaten as a vegetable is another wonderful gift of the Mayans to the world. In plant science, a fruit is a seed bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. This justifies the fact why tomato is a fruit. Tomatoes have seized the attention of millions of health seekers for its incredible phytochemical properties. Interestingly, it has more health benefiting compounds than that of some popular fruits like apple! Tomato belongs to Solanaceae or nightshade family of common vegetables, which also includes chili peppers, potato , eggplant, etc. Its scientific name is Lycopersicon esculentum. They are sweet, juicy, and delicious. They are rich in vitamin C. They are low in calories. They are fat free but that’s not all! Let’s look at what make the tomato an excellent healthy choice. Some of the health benefits of tomatoes 1) Cell Repair And Muscle Building It is a naturally rich source of protein, which is good for cell repair and muscle building. 2) Less Fat Content Other basic nutrients include 4 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, 18 calories and 0 grams of saturated fat. This vegetable can be eaten in good amounts due to the lower rate of calories in tomato. 3) Lower Cholesterol Tomatoes seeds have no cholesterol. Thus, tomato seeds don’t add cholesterol to your diet. Tomato seeds are high in fiber; fiber is known to lower cholesterol. Tomato seeds also are rich sources of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin has been used to lower cholesterol levels for many years. 4). Improve Eyesight Tomatoes and their seeds contain high amounts of Vitamin A. Vitamin A has often been associated with excellent eyesight, and a deficiency of this vitamin causes night blindness. Tomato seeds thus help improve eyesight. Skin Benefits Of Tomatoes Besides cooking, tomato can be used in a number of ways to enhance your beauty. It is considered to be the panacea of skin. It is believed that consuming tomato and tomato products will give you a healthy and beautiful skin . Its beauty benefits are gaining popularity with every passing day. Benefits of tomatoes for skin include the following: 1). Treat Open Pores Add four drops of tomato juice to 1 tablespoon of water and apply it on your face with the help of a cotton ball. Gently massage your skin with this mixture and leave it on for 15 minutes. Regular application of this will shrink the pore size. 2). Glowing Skin Tomatoes are not just an important part of a healthy diet but also work wonders when applied topically on the skin. Applying tomato juice or rubbing tomato halves on the skin evens out the skin and revives the glow giving you a healthy looking skin. It contains a high amount of Vitamin C , which is known to brighten skin. Hair Benefits Of Tomatoes You must have noticed that many hair care products including shampoos and conditioners contain tomato extract as one of the ingredients. This is because tomato contains important nutrients like Vitamin A, B, C, and E, which are excellent stimulants for healthy hair . Some of the benefits of tomatoes for hair include these below. 1. Tomatoes are considered to be an excellent cure for hair loss. It is believed that application of tomato pulp on the scalp can prevent hair loss. 2). Tomatoes are amazing natural conditioners coming straight from your kitchen. It provides natural shine to the hair and makes it soft and manageable. Take a few drops of tomato oil in your hand and apply it on your hair. This will act as a leave-in conditioner and will keep the hair manageable and frizz free. 3). Pure, homemade tomato puree can help in bringing radiance and elasticity to dry hair. Mix tomato puree with oil and apply it on the hair. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off. This will make the hair super smooth, shiny and flexible as it contains high amounts of protein in it. 4).Regular swimming often changes the colour of the hair due to the high amount of chlorine present in the pool water. Tomato can be a great help to remove the stains from the hair. Apply pure tomato juice to the hair and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse it off with water, followed by shampoo and conditioning. 5). Tomato hair rinse can be used to impart shine and remove excess build-up from the scalp. Take 3 ripe tomatoes, remove the skin and seeds and squeeze the juice out of it. Spray it on your hair and scalp and wash it off after 1 hour. Tomato juice is gaining immense popularity as popular health drink. Opt for organic tomato juice as it contains three times more lycopene than the regular ones. Regular tomatoes, mainly cherry tomatoes are used in the preparation of salads and sandwiches. You can also stew tomatoes to prepare tomato soup, sauce, and other baked dishes. Homemade tomato sauce is way better than those available in the market. Enjoy! ! !

Staying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age and that doesn’t change . As we grow older, we experience an increasing number of major life changes, including career changes and retirement, and physical changes . How we handle and grow from these changes is the key to staying healthy . Coping with change is difficult, no matter how old you are.The particular challenge for adults over 50 years is the sheer number of changes and transitions that start to occur – including children moving away , the loss of parents , friends , declining health and others . It’s natural to feel those losses . But if that sense of loss is balanced with positive ingredients , you have a formula for staying healthy as you age. Healthy aging means to continually reinvent yourself as you pass through landmark ages such as 60,70,80 and beyond . Unfortunately for many things , aging brings anxiety and fear instead . Many are concerned with their look as they age . You can be as old as 90 and you will still look like a 60 year old . It all narrow down to how you take care of your health from now . There will surely be changes in the physiology of a man when growing but the major changes depend on your attitudes. There are some some diseases that are common with ageing . However , getting older does not automatically mean poor health. Plenty of older adults enjoy vigorous health , often better than many younger people. Preventive measures like healthy eating , exercising , and managing stress can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases or injuries later in life. Also, as you age,  you may eventually notice you don’t remember things as easily as in the past, or memories may start to take a little longer to retrieve. However, significant memory loss is not an inevitable result of aging . Brain training and new learning can occur at any age and there are many things you can do to keep your memory sharp . The sooner you start , the sooner you’ll reap the benefits . One of the most damaging myths of aging is that after a certain age , you just won’t be able to try anything new or contribute things anymore . The opposite is true . Middle aged and older adults are just as capable of learning new things and thriving in new environments , plus they have the wisdom that comes with life experience. If you believe in and have confidence in yourself , you are setting up a positive environment for change no matter your age . There are things that can help you maintain your physical and emotional health as well as live life to the fullest . No matter your age, eat well, exercise well , have a positive mental attitude , rest and sleep , and you’ll remain healthy. You will not die because God has promised you longetivity . Stay healthy and alive! ! !