Sex is a vital component of every marriage. However, it is considered more of a chore for some couples. The frequency of intimacy is less and the reasons are not farfetched, ranging from the daily hustles to make ends meet, stress at the end of the day, psychological problems, etc. This negatively affects sexual intimacy. As such, looking to Nigerian aphrodisiac recipes for a solution is a good one.
Your libido is affected by several factors, like social factors and biological factors like sex hormones, nutrition, etc. There are some foods that, if consumed, would improve your mood and sexual drive. Hence, taking care of what you consume would, in turn, help improve this important area of your marriage.
Therefore, natural aphrodisiacs are your go-to sex drive enhancer. This is because we consume them normally for a healthy lifestyle. It becomes a win-win as it improves your sexual life in addition. Amazing, right?
Below is a list of 12 natural Nigerian aphrodisiac recipes you should try
10 Aphrodisiac Foods and Drinks You Should Try
1. Watermelon
Who doesn’t like this fleshy food? Watermelon is a popular fruit consumed by many. It is appreciated for its significant hydrating properties. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as water constitutes over 90% of its total composition.
In addition, research has shown that it is a very important aphrodisiac. It contains important components like citrulline, lycopene, potassium, etc.
More so, citrulline amino acid is present in a substantial amount of watermelon. This citrulline elevates nitric oxide levels in the body. This nitric oxide helps to relax the blood vessels, thereby aiding blood circulation. This blood flow to the male sex organ is important for erection.
Watermelon is now known as nature’s Viagra as it treats erectile dysfunction.
Watermelon can be eaten normally and can be made into juice.
2. Tiger Nuts
Tiger nuts, known as Aya in the Hausa language, have been one of the most recognized aphrodisiac recipes in Nigeria. This is because it contains numerous nutritious components. These include vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, etc.
One of these significant nutrients is vitamin E. Vitamin E is known to be an important vitamin for fertility in both men and women. This vitamin improves sperm motility, increases sperm count, and boosts sex drive. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin E increases the level of testosterone. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is a factor in sex drive. So tiger nuts are really helpful.
Tiger nuts can be eaten in raw, dry, or roasted forms or made into a drink.
3. Tiger Nuts Drink
Not everyone loves to eat a raw or dried form of tiger nuts. A better alternative is turning these nuts into a milky drink. It is highly nutritious and has the same effect as the tiger nuts mentioned above.
Also, to make it more nutritious, you can add other ingredients like ginger, coconut, dates, etc.
Note the dark chocolates. Dark chocolates with a high concentration of cacao are an important Nigerian aphrodisiac recipe.
Dark chocolate also aids blood flow, which is necessary for erection because it serves as an antioxidant. It also contains other constituents like phenethylamine, endorphin, and serotonin, which put you in the right mood.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato is one of the Nigerian aphrodisiac recipes you should try. They are known to have a robust concentration of potassium. Potassium is a macroelement that helps keep high blood pressure in check. This function, in turn, lowers the risk of erectile dysfunction.
It is also rich in vitamin A, which is important for fertility by enabling better cervical fluid.
You can make your sweet potato into porridge, fry it, etc.
6. Avocados
Avocado is a popular aphrodisiac food. It contains numerous nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, etc. All these constituents work together to improve the duration of sex. It also prevents premature ejaculation.
Omega 3 and 6 are vital components of avocados. Women with low levels of omega 3 and 6 lose interest in sex. Consumption of avocados helps improve this deficiency.
7. Almonds
Almonds are known to be very important for fertility due to their high concentration of Zinc. They’re also sources of essential fatty acids, which are important for healthy libido and fertility.
8. Ginger
Ginger is known to be a very important spice. It is used to cook food. It is also used to make drinks.
A good effect of taking ginger is that it aids detoxification and improves blood flow. As stated previously, this blood flow is important for the erection of the male sex organ. More, so, ginger is a good aphrodisiac food as it increases desire, libido, and sexual performance.
Hence, make ginger a part of your regular spices for your kitchen.
9. Dates
Date fruits popularly known to be abundant in the desert are aphrodisiacs. It contains minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. It has a high level of amino acids which improve sexual stamina.
Date fruits also help to boost the quantity and quality of sperm.
10. Red Pepper (Chili)
Red pepper chili heats the body system thereby allowing increased blood flow. This in turn boosts erection. This is also a regular spice.
Conclusion
In a bid to improve sex drive and overall sexual performance, many have resorted to using various concoctions and drugs. If you ask me, I would tell you that those concoctions have negative side effects. To stay on the safer side, I would advise you to frequently consume the above Nigerian aphrodisiac recipes. They’re all-natural, available, and affordable. Consume them and notice amazing improvements.
Do you find this article helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stomach ache is a very common misnomer for abdominal pain; it is just one of the several causes of abdominal pain. Your abdomen comprises all the organs between the front part of your thorax (chest) and the pelvis, therefore, pain from any of these organs is termed abdominal pain. Nevertheless, we will still refer to it as stomach ache for the purpose of this article.
Stomachache is very common, and everyone must have experienced it at some point in time. While severe stomachache is a medical emergency that needs to be treated by your doctor, you can easily treat mild aches by just making good use of the things available in your kitchen.
Are you ready to explore the several options of home remedies for stomach pain available for you? Let’s ride on!
Home Remedies for Stomach Pain
When you are busy with some projects in the office or lying down peacefully at home, you might start to feel some uneasiness in your stomach.
This could be because there has been an accumulation of excess gas in your stomach, heartburn from peptic ulcer or gastroesophageal disease, cramping from diarrhoea, constipation, or just a bad reaction from the food you ate a few minutes or hours ago.
Whichever one it is, there are several home remedies for stomach pain that you can try to get immediate relief before going to the hospital for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Thus:
1.Give It Some Time
Stomach aches are sometimes mild and all you need to do is to give it time. A good example is a diarrhoea from mild food poisoning or from eating food that your stomach is not used to. In such situations, by allowing your body to flush itself of the offending food, you will be okay in no time.
2.Drink Enough Water
Water is necessary for a lot of functions in the body. This includes digestion and absorption of food. In cases of stomach pain due to diarrhoea or constipation, it is imperative to take enough fluids. Adequate water intake helps in preventing and relieving constipation.
Furthermore, dehydration due to diarrhoea or vomiting could be very dangerous if body water is continuously lost without being replaced. Taking adequate water in such situations, therefore, comes in very handy.
Apart from the water lost to vomiting and diarrhoea, some important substances in your body, known as electrolytes are lost as well, therefore doctors recommend taking Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) in such situations since they also contain glucose, salt, and other electrolytes needed by the body.
The use of heat as a natural remedy comes in handy especially when the pain is a result of muscle cramps. In this case, taking a warm bath or applying a heating pad or bag to the aching area will relax the tense muscles and ease your symptoms. Heat therapy can also be used for indigestion.
Be careful not to use excessive heat to avoid causing harm to yourself.
Adding ginger to your tea and cooking can be very helpful for treating your upset stomach. It helps with nausea, indigestion, and other symptoms as well.
5. Increase Your Fiber Intake
Constipation, as earlier mentioned, is an important cause of stomachache. This can be prevented, as well as treated, by incorporating a good amount of fibre-containing foods into your diet. There are several options available. These includes:
Fruits like apple, banana, citrus, strawberries
Potatoes
Barley
Oats
Dried beans
Whole grains
Most vegetables etc.
6. Potash Used to Be a Wonder Drug
The popular kanwa (potash) in Northern Nigeria has been used for ages to ease symptoms of stomach aches, especially if it is due to acid reflux, constipation, or spasm.
According to research, potash has many other uses e.g. in fertilizer production, toothache treatment, as a preservative, fire extinguishing, cleaning purposes, etc.
Nevertheless, medical experts have warned that its excessive use could result in decreased sperm production, kidney failure, and heart diseases (arrhythmia), so it is best to use safer alternatives.
7. Peppermint Helps to Relax Your Tense Muscles
The menthol content in peppermint helps to ease your symptoms of a stomachache. It has also been shown to relax muscles when a person is having abdominal cramps.
However, it is not recommended for you if you are suffering from a peptic ulcer or any acid reflux disease.
8. Aloe Vera Juice Can Ease Several Symptoms of Stomachache
The juice from the Aloe Vera plant contains substances that may ease your symptoms by reducing inflammation, encouraging bowel movements to treat constipation, improving digestion of proteins, reducing excessive stomach acid, removing toxins, etc.
9. You Can Use Over-the-Counter Medication
There are several over-the-counter medications available, depending on the symptoms you are having. This includes laxatives for constipation, loperamide for diarrhoea and cramps, antacids for reflux disease, and pain relievers like paracetamol.
Nevertheless, you should always consult with your doctor before you buy and take any medication.
Things You Should Avoid When You Have a Stomach Ache
Avoid lying down too quickly after a meal: this is especially important for people experiencing acid reflux. Lying down immediately after a meal will push the acidic contents of your stomach upwards, eventually causing heartburn.
Avoid carbonated drinks: carbonated drinks can easily cause an increase of gas in your system, resulting in burping and flatulence. Excessive amounts of gas will likely cause stomachache, so it is preferable to reduce your intake of such drinks and swap them with water, fruit juice, or the likes
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
Avoid foods that are difficult to digest
Avoid improperly cooked food
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Using the above home remedies for stomach pain might be all that you need for a mild ache, but sometimes it can be severe or be associated with some symptoms that will necessitate you to see a doctor as soon as possible for specialized evaluation and treatment. These include:
Blood in stool
Bleeding from the anus or rectum
Severe pain
Effortless weight loss
Yellowing of the eyes
Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea
Difficulty swallowing
Stomachache during pregnancy
Heartburn that does not get better after taking over-the-counter antacids
FAQ
Q: Should I take antibiotics for a stomach ache?
A: There are several causes of stomach ache and each is treated differently. Antibiotics should only be used when it is evident that harmful microorganisms are responsible for causing the ache. This will be confirmed by your physician.
Q: Should I be worried if I experience recurrent stomachache?
A: Recurrent stomach aches could mean that you have an underlying problem that needs to be treated. You should consult your doctor for immediate and appropriate investigations and treatment.
Conclusion
We believe that by reading up to this point, you are now enlightened on several home remedies for stomach pain that you can easily try at home. However, this should not stop you from going to the doctor for professional treatment if your symptoms persist.
Have you tried any of these methods before? Please share your experience with us in the comments section below.
The immune system of your body has its own defence mechanism in fighting diseases off. It is important to keep our immunity in check. There are foods that boost the immune system and these foods improve the immune function of your body. They help to fight in a certain way. These foods have vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required for proper immune function. Here are 15 foods we found for you:
Foods That Boost Your Immune System
1. Citrus Fruits
People take vitamin C once they feel sick. The reason is thatvitamin Cis essential in boosting our immunity. This vitamin increases the white blood cells production in your body. And they are important in fighting infections in your body.
Citrus fruits have a high vitamin C content. You can get your vitamin C daily dose since they are juicy, delicious and available. You can make smoothies or take them as they are, sliced or in water.
2. Broccoli
Broccoli contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. It is one of the healthiest foods you should consume cooked. This is a healthy addition when you are pregnant, and it can boost your memory.
It contains nutrients that boost the immune system and help you fight off infections.
3. Almonds
Almonds are tasty and they help you fight the flu. And also, boost your immunity. It has vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants. Also, almonds have healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins.You can snack with about half a cup of almonds to meet up your daily dose of vitamin E.
The important food spices every woman has in her kitchen cabinet. Used for making fried rice for its bright yellow color. Also, used by brides for glowing. It is a well-known spice for its anti-inflammatory function and other health benefits.
Papaya is a fruit that has lots of vitamin C. You can get your daily recommended daily dose of vitamin C in a medium size. It has an enzyme Papain that has anti-inflammatory effects. It also contains potassium, magnesium, folate, magnesium, folate, which are important in boosting your immunity.
Taking too much zinc can actually inhibit the immune system function of your body. You can add it to your dishes or make a soup with it.
7. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are one of the foods that boost the immune system because they contain vitamin B riboflavin and niacin, and also selenium. Vitamin B help to boost your immunity while selenium helps you to fight off flu. They also contain polysaccharides that boost the immune functions of your body.
Garlic is the most common ingredient found in every woman’s kitchen. This is because of the flavour it adds to food, it helps to fight bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is at its best when taken in its real form, not the extracted form or in powdered form.
Garlic lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and softens harden arteries. It has immune-boosting properties due to the allicin in it. It is a remedy for cold in many homes.
9. Ginger
Ginger is one of the most used ingredients by women. They use it in dishes, drinks, teas, and snacks. This is because of its taste and flavour let’s not forget its health benefits. It is also a good source of antioxidants and boosts your immunity. Ginger helps to reduce inflammation in your body, helps when cold, sore throat, nausea and vomiting.
10. Spinach
Spinach is also known as Alayyahu in Northern Nigeria. it is one of the most available vegetables in the North. it can grow in your backyard in large quantities without stress and needs little to no effort in its upkeep.
This nutritious vegetable has folates, fibre, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It helps to improve your immunity as it has nutrients that aid in the division of cells and DNA repairs. it is best to cook it lightly to keep its nutrients.
11. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a delicious and nutritious drink that is available in Nigeria. There are a lot of factories producing it. Like SAN yoghurts, Rufaidah yoghurts, Habib Yoghurt, Sahara yoghurts, and many more.
The reason it is considered as food that boost the immune system is that to produce yoghurts, live and active cultures are used in the mixture. This culture helps your immune system in fighting diseases. Yoghurts have vitamins, calcium and are rich in probiotics that help to reduce cold. Nut try to avoid yoghurts if you are diabetic.
12. Watermelon
A refreshing fruit that is delicious, nutritious and contains water in it. it is a good source of water, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and glutathione. This fruit has low calories and is used in gyms as a smoothie weight loss diet.
Chicken pepper soup is the most common remedy for cold. Let’s not forget the tastiness of a crunchy drumstick or how soft and tasty a peppered turkey is.
This is because it helps in lowering the inflammation and reducing the cold. Poultry has vitamin B6, have gelatine, chondroitin that help in improving your immunity.
14. Kiwi
Kiwi is not available like other fruits in Arewa. It is a fruit that contains folate, potassium, vitamin K and C; it helps your body fight infection. Also, it increases white blood cell production in your system.
15. Green Tea
Tea is one of my go-to drinks for finding peace and inspiration. This is because it has a soothing effect on our nerves. Tea has flavonoids that are an antioxidant. Certain teas have L-theanine an amino-acid compound
There are certain foods that boost the immune system and help your body fight diseases off. They help in reducing inflammation, DNA repair, cell regeneration and improving immune function.
What are the foods that improve your immunity when you are down? Kindly leave your comments below to let us know what your immune boosters are.
As the name implies in Hausa, Kunun Gyada is derived from Kunu (meaning pap) and Gyada (meaning groundnut); when you put the two words together, you will have Kunu Gyada, meaning Groundnut Pap. It is a pap that is very popular in northern Nigeria, most especially among the Fulanis, whom you cannot wait to add to your meals, especially breakfast, although Hausas are beginning to embrace the consumption of this recipe too.
There are two ways to prepare the Kunun Gyada: one with rice and one without. In this article, I will take you through the process of making the two. There are two major ingredients for preparing Kunun Gyada that need processing before usage: groundnut and guinea corn. It is paramount that you know how to go about processing the two. Let’s see how:
How to Process the Groundnut for Kunun Gyada
STEP 1: Get your groundnut (preferably the one with the red back because it contains less oil) and pick the dirt from it.
STEP 2: Over high heat, put a frying pan (the size of the frying pan should depend on the quantity of groundnut) and pour sharp sand (sandy soil) into it. Then;
STEP 3: When the sand gets very hot, pour in your groundnut and stir at regular intervals—say, 5 seconds of waiting time in between stirs. Roast for 20 minutes
STEP 4: When roasted, put the frying pan down and spread on a hard surface so as to cool faster.
STEP 5: Pick out the groundnut from the sandy soil. Then;
STEP 6: Peel the back of the groundnut.
STEP 7: If the groundnut isn’t much, you can use a blender by adding a little water to it and blending until it turns into a paste. However, if it is in large quantity, take it to a commercial grinding machine.
How to Process the Guinea Corn for Kunun Gyada
For the guinea corn, well, there are two ways you can have it: either in powdered form or in the form of a paste. For the one in paste form:
STEP 1: Pick the dirt from the guinea corn and wash it well.
STEP 2: Soak in water for 6 hours. You could do that overnight if you intend to make it in the morning.
STEP 3: By now, the grains are already soft. Good.
STEP 4: Wash the grain again and add ginger and kaninfari (cloves).
STEP 5: If it is in small quantity, you can use a blender. Blend it until it turns to paste. If it is a large quantity, I will advise you to take it to a commercial grinding machine.
For the powdered form:
STEP 1: Pick the dirt from the guinea corn and wash it well.
STEP 2: After washing, drain it well and spread it on a mat outside to dry. Then;
STEP 3: Add ginger and kaninfari (cloves) to it.
STEP 4: Use a blender to grind it if it is in small quantities. Resort to a commercial grinding machine if it is in large quantity.
STEP 5: Use a sieve to sieve it well.
Well, to save you all the stress, both the groundnut and guinea corn (paste or powered) have already been sold in the markets.
Having known all this, let’s get cooking!
How to Make Kunun Gyada (with Rice)
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make Kunun Gyada with rice:
1 cup of roasted groundnut
Tamarind (tsamiya)
2 cups of powdered guinea corn, or the desired quantity if using the paste form.
Short-grain rice
Sugar
Procedure for Preparing Kunun Gyada (with Rice)
STEP 1: Soak the short-grain rice with hot water for 30 minutes and set aside.
STEP 2: Soak the tamarind (tsamiya) for 10 minutes with hot water and set aside. Then;
STEP 3: Get your powered guinea corn; pour water into it until it turns into something like a paste, but more watery. If you are using the one in paste, just add a little water and mix well. Set aside, too.
STEP 4: Get a clean bowl and pour in the roasted groundnut paste. Stir it gently, and it is properly mixed. Then add more water to it until it turns very watery for sieving ease.
NB: For the next 4 steps, ensure you have the exact quantity of Kunun Gyada that you want at the end of the day in the back of your mind, and consider that as you are ‘adding’.
STEP 5: Get a sieve and sieve it into a clean pot. You can repeat the sieving if you feel it is not smooth enough for you.
STEP 6: Put the pot over medium heat and add STEP 1 (soaked rice)
STEP 7: In the same pot, sieve STEP 2 (soaked tamarind). Then;
STEP 8: Allow the contents of the pot to boil. However, before it starts boiling, you need to be close to it to avoid spilling by stirring it regularly. Allow it to cook for 5 minutes.
STEP 9: Switch off the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. This is very important, as it helps prevent lumps.
STEP 10: Now, get STEP 3 and add the content to the pot. Stir gently as you pour.
STEP 11: Tada! Your Kunun Gyada with rice is ready!
How to Make Kunun Gyada (without Rice)
Ingredients
Same with the ingredients used in making the one with rice except for the rice.
Procedure for Preparing Kunun Gyada (without Rice)
Repeat every step above, except that you will take out the steps that include rice.
How to Serve Kunun Gyada
This recipe can be served with Kosai, Fried Yam, Fried Sweet Potato, Fried Irish Potato, bread, Kuli-Kuli (Groundnut Cake), Moi Moi and various types of snacks.
Don’t forget to serve hot, but not too hot.
Occasions to Serve Kunun Gyada
For the core Fulanis, most especially those in Adamawa and Gombe, this recipe is a meal for any day, any time, and any event. As such, it can be served in naming ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, condolence waits, Eids, special occasions, breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.
How to Store Kunun Gyada
This delicacy can be stored in a food flask or any warmer of your choice. However, to avoid hardening the surface of the Kunu in your warmer, sprinkle a little water on top of the Kunu before closing.
Kunun Gyada lasts for 24 hours in its best form. It is also important to know that it cannot be stored in a refrigerator.
Avoid taking this delicacy while it is very hot. You could hurt yourself because of the groundnut in it, which helps retain heat. Now that you know how to make Kunun Gyada, I believe you have another choice among the choices that you have to make for meals, most especially breakfast. Tell me in the comments section when you will be making this change.
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below.
Kunun Tsamiya recipe is a northern Nigerian delicacy that is mainly made from powdered millet and tamarind (tsamiya) – that is where the name even came from. It is a very common drink among the Hausas especially for nursing mothers as it is believed that it helps increase breast milk.
Without any delay, let’s get into how it is been prepared. Allow me to be your guide
Equipment for Making Kunun Tsamiya.
Sieve
Bowl
Cheesecloth
Cooking pot
Scoop
Ingredients
2 cups of powdered millet.
Tamarind in the quantity desired.
Spices (dried pepper, ginger, cloves.
Sugar
Water
Procedure for Preparing Kunun Tsamiya
STEP 1: Wash the millet and soak it for 6 hours. You could soak it overnight if you intend to make it in the morning.
STEP 2: By now, the millet grains are soft. Wash again with clean water and add your spices – dried pepper, ginger, and cloves.
STEP 3: Take it to grinders to grind it for you. After grinding, leave it to cool for 10 minutes.
STEP 4: Add more water to the ground millet to enable you to sieve it well and set it aside.
STEP 5: Over medium heat, place a clean pot and add water and tamarind into the pot. Allow it to boil. Alternatively, you could soak it for 30 minutes if you have enough time to spare.
STEP 6: Pour the powdered millet into a clean bowl and add some water. Stir it very well with a spoon of your choice.
STEP 7: When STEP 5 has reached boiling point, take it down and pour the boiling water into the mixed millet powder.
STEP 8: After that, start stirring it gently. But when it gets too thick for your liking, you can still add some water.
STEP 9: Add sugar to your taste to the Kunun Tsamiya and you are done!
As easy as that!
How to Serve Kunun Tsamiya
You can take Kunun Tsamiya recipe with Akara (Beans Cake), Kuli-Kuli (Groundnut Cake), Cincin, or any snack of your choice. It will interest you to know that you could just take this recipe alone without anything to go with it – it tastes just fine.
Occasions to Serve Kunun Tsamiya
To the best of my knowledge, there are no special occasions for the consumption of this pap recipe. This means that it can be consumed anywhere and anytime. Well, as I said earlier, it is advisable for breastfeeding mothers to take it as it is said to increase breast milk flow.
How to Store Kunun Tsamiya
Kunun Tsamiya recipe in its best quality does not last for more than 24 hours. In addition, it cannot be stored in a refrigerator. On that note, I suggested you make just enough for present consumption.
As you have seen, this recipe is easy to make but for its taste, you will need to prepare it to feel it firsthand. So tell me, when do you intend to make it? For a change, try and make this for breakfast for yourself or your family.
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below. Thank you.
