Bitter kola nut with the scientific name garcinia kola is a tropical flowering plant grown mainly in West and Central Africa. Just as it is identified by different words in Nigerian languages -- orogbo in Yoruba, Namijin-goro in Hausa and Akuilu in Ibo – bitter kola is said to contain dimeric flavonoid, which is believed to have many healing benefits.
Over the years, garcinia kola has been used to fight common colds particularly cough and sneezing. But according to reports, researchers have discovered that it has far more benefits than just treating cold.
According to family health expert, bitter kola is used in many tropical countries to fight infectious diseases such as AIDS and the Ebola virus. It has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
It is also believed, she said, to cure impotence and has been used successfully to treat patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. It reduced pain and swelling and improved movement.
“Garcinia kola is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is used to prevent infections and viruses, especially of the immune system.
As a substitute and preservative, garcinia kola is used as a substitute for hops in brewing lager beer. It is especially useful in preventing beer spoilage.
Mrs Chinyere Nwokeke, a researcher with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), is quoted in a Daily Champion report as saying that the kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV and went ahead to state other benefits of the tropical fruit.
Bitter kola “is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its anti-bacterial, detoxification and cleansing properties,” she said.
She said that the chemical Saponin in bitter kola is responsible for its cleansing effect. Saponin is mainly used as tonic for the liver; it enhances the functions of the liver and gall bladder.
“It is also very effective in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.
“When food is suspected to be contaminated by bacteria, chew bitter kola immediately after and it will forestall the development of any infection or poisoning,” she advised.
Nwokeke said that in the past, the kola was eaten mostly by the elderly because of their belief that it could prolong life.
“Actually, researches in modern science have revealed that bitter kola contains chemical compounds that will help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and has other medicinal uses which account for its longevity property in man. Bitter kola is anti-poison too and has the ability to repel evil men and spirits. It could sound superstitious but it works,” she said.
The naturalist said that the seed and the bark of bitter kola should be eaten together in cases where food poisoning is suspected. “It helps to detoxify the system. It can also be used to repel snakes for those who live in areas that are prone to snakes,” she said.
The expert also said that bitter kola could be used in the treatment of breast cancer as it has anti-cancerous effect.
Locally, with illnesses like mumps and measles in children, it is ground or chopped into tiny bits and mixed with honey or palm oil which the child drinks and some of it rubbed on his or her body. It is also said to stop vomiting in children and adults and during pregnancy.
Some other experts have pointed out that most benefits of garcinia kola are derived from its high concentration of hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, which is chemically related to the citric acid you find in lemons or grapefruit.
A growing body of research shows the effectiveness of the nut and HCA as a dietary supplement. They define it as a diet pill that works. It is an invaluable tool for dieters working to suppress carbohydrate cravings and inhibit the storage of fat, while giving you more energy and enhancing your immune system.
They also correct the misconception that bitter kola extracts suppress cravings for carbohydrate. It is often incorrectly assumed that because garcinia kola extract suppresses carbohydrate cravings, it suppresses appetite in general.
The way it works is by boosting seratonin levels in your brain. Seratonin is a neurotransmitter or natural drug that your brain uses to regulate your mood.
When you eat large amounts of carbohydrates, the amino acids used to break down sugar are pulled out of your blood and concentrated in your muscles. This effectively makes more room in your brain for the chemicals used to build neurotransmitters like seratonin. This is why depression often leads to carbohydrate binging. Your brain knows that eating carbohydrates will give it more of the seratonin it needs.
By enhancing your seratonin levels, garcinia kola frees you from the carbohydrate-binging cycle, allowing you to enjoy a normal, healthy appetite for fresh, nutritious foods. For this reason, garcinia kola is particularly effective when it is used in combination with a low-carb diet.
The tropical fruit, they say, also interferes with your body’s ability to produce and store new fat, causing more of your own stored fat to be burned off for energy. Garcinia kola is also known to help decrease levels of harmful LDL cholesterol and potentially deadly triglycerides.
By the same process, garcinia kola also prevents the carbohydrates you eat from being converted into new fat, resulting in a marked decrease in the ‘backsliding’ effect common among low-carb dieters.
The way garcinia kola does all this is by inhibiting the actions of a specific enzyme in your liver called ATP Cytrate Lyase. This enzyme is specifically responsible for the conversion of carbohydrates to fat and is also related to the production of cholesterol.
By and large, there are more sweet elements of the bitter kola than just the bitter taste it gives off in the mouth. As much as you can, you are advised to balance up your sugar intake by consuming a decent amount of bitter foods and bitter kola is highly recommended for this purpose.
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