DRIED PONMO (COW SKIN)
What Is Inside Ponmo,
Cow Skin/hide?
What is inside the Ponmo, Cow skin/hide that we eat?
A lot of people over time have
pondered about what exactly is inside it. In times past, we were told that it
contains nothing useful. But Ponmo contains something useful for the body.
100g of boiled, thick cow skin
contains about 224.65kcal of energy, 6.80g of carbohydrate, about 43.9g of
water, 46.9g of protein, 1.09g of fat, and 0.02g of fibre. For micronutrients,
it contains small amounts of calcium (61mg), iron (4.3mg), magnesium (12mg),
phosphorus (36mg) and Zinc (6.79mg).
So, Ponmo actually contains something and contributes
something to your diets.
Let us look at the quality of what it contributes. Cow skin, Ponmo,
contains a lot of collagen. When rating protein, the amino acid (building
blocks of protein) profile is often looked at. When comparing Ponmo to lean
beef, beef takes the prize in quality of protein.
Collagen when
cooked forms gelatin. Gelatin is also called hydrolyzed collagen and it
contains at least eight essential amino acids along with other non-essential
amino acids. However, it does not contain all essential amino acids. It is
therefore regarded as having lower biological value. For muscle meat, it
contains all essential amino acids.
Collagen is the most abundant
protein in our bodies. Because our bodies produce collagen, it is not essential
that we must eat collagen for growth. However, as we grow older, our ability to
produce collagen reduces leading us to have wrinkles. Eating too much sugar or
refined carbohydrates (white flour, white rice), Smoking and ultraviolet rays
from the sun also reduces our ability to produce collagen.
While there has been a lot to say
about countries like Nigeria “eating their shoes”, interestingly, there has
also been an increase in promotion of collagen supplements on the internet and
drug shops. Some of these supplements are made from animal skins and animal
parts containing collagen.
Collagen is widely being promoted for
rejuvenating skin, improving hair, building muscle mass, improving skin
elasticity, and reducing pain caused by arthritis. There are a few scientific
studies that back up these claims.
You decide: Ponmo for your Shoe or Ponmo for
better skin health?
The downside of eating Ponmo has to do with:
·
Cow skin diseases
·
Chemicals and waste
materials in cow skin
·
Processing of cow
skin/hide for eating
·
Cow skin that is boiled and skin scrapped to remove hair is
purportedly better than those singed by firewood, spent engine or spent tyres.
The singed Ponmo (that usually has the brown smoked look) is
reported to contain more Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene and dioxins which are all culprits in cancer formation.
You will also find PAH in smoked fish, roasted plantains (and generally foods
that have contact with naked flames).
·
Oko and Okoye 2017 also reported that the difference in total PAH
content of singed and non-singed Ponmo was not significant. While this is a recent
study, it is just one study. However, the fact that singed Ponmo contains PAH should cause us to caution when
choosing to buy.
·
Oko and Okoye 2017 also recommended sundrying, soaking in water
and washing Ponmowith an
iron sponge to reduce the level of some contaminants.
·
There is also the issue of cow skin diseases and other waste
materials in the skin.
·
Also, if we want our shoe industry to thrive, we might want to
ration our Ponmo eating as opposed to an outright ban as it
was being proposed in some states. Most people do not eat the Ponmo for its collagen. It is eaten because it is a
delicacy and people just love it in Nigeria and other countries like Ghana.
·
SUMMARY
·
In conclusion, Ponmo contains nutrients too. It should however not
replace your beef, fish, and other great sources of complete protein. Ponmo contains collagen, which is especially
helpful for those aging and our elderly ones, in improving skin and hair.
·
Our way of breeding cattle, environmental factors and processing
of the skin determine the levels of toxic chemicals in them. If you cannot be
certain of controlling these 3 factors mentioned, you should exercise
serious caution in purchasing and consuming ponmo.
PEPPERED PONMO (cow skin).
This Nigerian snack is very easy and extremely quick to make .
Please note that I don’t measure any of my ingredients and I don’t time the cooking process. I use my ingredients according to how I want my meal to taste.
Here are the list of ingredients I used for this PEPPERED PONMO.
.
Ponmo (cow skin)
Bell pepper
Scotch bonnet
Onion
Curry
Thyme
Oil
Salt
Seasoning
PEPPERED PONMO (cow skin).
This Nigerian snack is very easy and extremely quick to make .
Please note that I don’t measure any of my ingredients and I don’t time the cooking process. I use my ingredients according to how I want my meal to taste.
Here are the list of ingredients I used for this PEPPERED PONMO.
.
Ponmo (cow skin)
Bell pepper
Scotch bonnet
Onion
Curry
Thyme
Oil
Salt
Seasoning
+2348074926468.
Pharex Global Ventures Foods.
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