UZIZA LEAF
The Marvellous Health Benefits of Uziza
Spices are just as important as the salt is to a meal. They are
the taste of every meal. But more importantly, spices are organic substances,
unlike the salt, which is inorganic.
Being organic, spices contain many important molecules which the
body needs to build cells, repair worn out tissues as well as synthesize other
essential chemicals such as enzymes and hormones. As such spices not only add
tastes to our meals but also provide our body with lots of essential materials
to work with and replenish its used molecules.
Of the many known spices
around the world, one vibrant spice which is often utilized in our daily meals
is the Piper Guineese popularly known as Uziza or the Guinean pepper in Nigeria
and across West Africa, where it grows abundantly. It is also called Benin
pepper, kukauabe, false cubeb, Ashanti pepper, and Guinea cubeb in different
parts of West Africa.
Uziza is a plant whose fruits
(which most people refer to as uziza seeds), and leaves can be used to spice a
meal. Uziza leaves has a peppery taste, are green when fresh and dark green
when dried. The leaves can be used when fresh to prepare any meal by washing
and shredding it first and then adding it to the food about 15 minutes before
bringing it down from the fire or dried, grounded and then added to the meal.
The fruit can also be used similarly as every other spice is used to prepare a
meal. Uziza seed is very similar to black pepper.
The use of Uziza in meals
provides tremendous health benefits, whether it’s the uziza leaves or uziza
seed. Below we have outlined some of the reasons why you should consider adding
Uziza to your meals as often as you can. In this informative article, you will
learn about the nutritional contents and health benefits of uziza.
Nutritional Content of Uziza
Uziza leaves contain:
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Protein
·
Dietary fiber
·
Alkaloids
·
Steroids
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Glycosides
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Flavonoids
·
Essential oils
·
Tannins
·
Saponins
·
Peptide
·
Phenols.
·
While the fruit itself contains 5–8% of the chemical piperine,
which gives them their flavoring taste. They also have large amounts of beta-caryophyllene,
which is an anti-inflammatory agent. It also contains notable amounts ofof
myristicin, elemicin, safrole, and dillapiol, as well as a little amount of
apiole.
·
Health benefits of Uziza
·
We are going to be discussing the health benefits of uziza
leaves and the fruits. For some reason, most Nigerians refer to the actual
Piper guineense fruit as Uziza seeds. So, the plant is uziza, and it has leaves
(uziza leaves) and fruits (which some call uziza seed and which is the spice).
So let’s proceed with the uziza’s health benefits.
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1. Relieves cough
·
Spices generally can clear the throat and cause a runny nose.
This ability is common to every spice.
·
When you have a cough or are finding it difficult to breathe due
to influenza flu, you can quickly clear the mucus out of the way by using Uziza
pepper.
·
To do this, you’ll need to get some Uziza leaves, whether fresh
or dried and grounded and put them in a clean bowl. Add some clean boiled water
to the vegetable and allow to stand for at least ten minutes.
·
Sieve the mixture and drink the filtrate. The spicy quality,
coupled with the warm water, will help clear your cough as well as lubricate
your throat for easy breathing.
·
2. Prevents constipation
·
When a person finds it difficult to have bowel movements for a
few days, the problem is called constipation.
·
Most times, constipation is caused by the absence of roughages
in our food. Roughages are dietary fiber. These fibers help in promoting active
bowel movements as such are essential for preventing constipation.
·
Interestingly, Uziza is quite rich in dietary fiber. By adding Uziza
to your meal always, you not only make sure you consume the right amount of
roughages but also keep constipation at bay. Unfortunately, Uziza cannot be
used to treat constipation; it can only be used to prevent it from ever
occurring.
3.
Prevents cancer
Free radicals are the primary
cause of cancerous growths in the human tissues. By consuming anti-inflammatory
and anti-oxidants regularly, the free radicals will be neutralized, and the
chances of your body developing cancerous cells will be significantly reduced.
Uziza contains a substance
called flavonoid; a powerful anti-oxidant which can help neutralize free
radicals in the body.
4. Treats
diarrhea
Uziza leaves come with
powerful antibacterial minerals which are useful in fighting diarrhea-causing
micro-organisms in the intestine. As such, adding Uziza spice to your meal can
serve as an excellent preventive measure against diarrhea. If you already have
diarrhea, you can also increase your intake of Uziza leaves in combination with
lots of water to keep you hydrated.
5.
Improves fertility
Uziza is used in many local
herbal medicines to treat infertility. It is taken in combination with honey to
address the problem of infertility in women and in men to improve low sperm
counts. Thus, just like one of the health
benefits of black pepper, uziza boosts fertility in men.
However a study in Cameroon
on the Effect of the aqueous extract of dry fruits ofPiper guineense on the reproductive function of adult
male rats, found out that it boosted male reproduction function after 8 days of
treatment, but started showing adverse effects after 55 days of treatment. So
long term or prolonged use of uziza might not be good for male fertility.
In the eastern part of Nigeria, the leaves are used by local
midwives to increase contraction rate of the uterine walls during childbirth.
6.
Remedy for stomach ache
Being a good source of roughages, Uziza can help remedy
stomachaches and bring about relieve from menstrual cramps.
It could be consumed whole or added to hot water just as the case for the treatment of cough.
Other significant health benefits of Uziza
Other health benefits of Uziza pepper are the use in the treatment of rheumatism, prevention of diabetes, prevention of hypertension, and improvement of appetite.
Uziza leaves can also be used to keep mosquitos away from home. In some local areas, people sleep with Uziza leafs close to their bed. This is because the leafs produce a scent that keeps mosquitoes away. Many insecticides are also based on compounds extracted from the leaves.
It could be consumed whole or added to hot water just as the case for the treatment of cough.
Other significant health benefits of Uziza
Other health benefits of Uziza pepper are the use in the treatment of rheumatism, prevention of diabetes, prevention of hypertension, and improvement of appetite.
Uziza leaves can also be used to keep mosquitos away from home. In some local areas, people sleep with Uziza leafs close to their bed. This is because the leafs produce a scent that keeps mosquitoes away. Many insecticides are also based on compounds extracted from the leaves.
Uziza
and pregnancy
Many people have been asking if uziza leaves or seeds can affect
pregnancy. Well, there is no direct link or medical evidence that suggests that
uziza affects pregnancy. However, pregnant women are advised to avoid too much
peppers or consuming spicy food during pregnancy.
There’s also no medical evidence that says that uziza and uda spice is a contraceptive or can cause miscarriage.
There’s also no medical evidence that says that uziza and uda spice is a contraceptive or can cause miscarriage.
Bottom Line
Uziza is a plant whose leaves
and seeds can be used as a spice in many cuisines. They have a lot of medicinal
uses and health benefits. You can enjoy this plant by preparing uziza soup with
the leaves or uziza and utazi soup. You can also make use of the seeds as your
spice when preparing you healthy Nigerian meals.
Uziza Egusi Soup
Uziza Egusi
soup is just a twist on the regular egusi soup made with pumpkin leaves. This
West African dish made with a local melon seed (Egusi) and leafy green
vegetables. This soup is prepared by most tribes in Nigeria in many different
ways. It is known as Miyan Gushi in Hausa, Ofe Egusi in Igbo and Efo Elegusi in
Yoruba. Uziza Egusi soup stands out well as the Uziza leaves (piper guineense) brings an exquisite flavor and
unique taste to the soup.
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850g Assorted Meat and Fish – Beef, Cow Tripe, Fish, Stock Fish, and/or Smoked Fish.
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1 Cup Blended Melon Seeds
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1 Tablespoon Crayfish
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4 Medium Sized Smoked Fish
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1 Tablespoon Locust Beans
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Onion
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Palm Oil
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1 Medium sized bunch of Uziza Leaves
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2 Habanero Pepper
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1 Teaspoon Dried Scotch Bonnet Pepper
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1 Teaspoon Salt
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2 Cups Water
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2 Bouillon cubes
Ingredients
1.
Add melon seeds, onion and 1 habanero pepper in a blender. Pour
½ cup of water and blend till it forms a thick paste.
2.
Slice the uziza leaves, set aside.
3.
Wash the meat properly at least twice. Put in a clean pot along
with the stockfish, smoked fish, crayfish, the second habenero pepper, scotch
bonnet pepper, palm oil and allow to boil for 15 minutes.
4.
Now scoop melon paste into the pot in little bits, be sure not
to stir it together, cover and allow cook for 10 minutes.
5.
Finally add the uziza leaves, mix together and allow to cook for
5 minutes.
Serving options: Serve with Pounded yam, Fufu, Rice or any
staple food.
+2348074926468.
Pharex Global Ventures Foods.
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