There’s this popular farce that African foods and recipes are unhealthy and tend to aid in unhealthy weight gain; thereby encouraging obesity, which can lead to depression, illness or early death.
There’s another farce that African foods are mainly heavy starchy foods, stuffed with sugar, high in carbohydrates, messed up with calories and just one spoon, can cause you to go out of shape.
This is funny right?
Okay! The primary purpose of this article, is to equip you with FIVE African meals that keeps you in shape, aids weight management, ensures you’re in good health; your sugar levels are great, your body weight goals is on point, your skin becomes fresher and your melanin glow is doubled!
LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES
Green vegetables, are classified under vitamins, fibre and considered as one of the most important foods for humans. Vegetables are fibres that breaks down easily when eaten. It is also very filling and no amount of vegetable consumed will be outrageous. It is better to consume a full plate of green vegetables than a full plate of red meat.
Leafy greens like spinach, pumpkin leaves, garden egg leaves, and a few others keeps you healthy, aids weight management; as they are low in calories but rich in insoluble fiber, which aids digestion. Ensure you find out the vegetable that suits you, when going on a diet. If possible, consult an expert to advise you on how to combine leafy vegetables with other meals.
EGGS
Egg is a good source of protein; eggs also help in boosting metabolism due to the presence of high amino acid. This nutrient helps in building muscles, which are a necessary replacement for fats. Eggs are rampant in Africa and other continents and quite affordable. eggs curbs the appetite. Eggs should be eaten in moderation and also seek your dietician’s advice on how best to consume eggs.
ACHA (FONIO)
Acha is a very popular millet in Africa and beyond. It is an ancient food that is still reigning in the recent times. Acha is rich in vitamins, minerals, energy, iron and aids easy digestion. It is a proper food good for cardiovascular functions, keeps you off diabetics; as it does not increase the blood sugar, and a proper meal to aid weight management and keep one in shape. Acha is one of the oldest food across Africa, known to be cultivated across the Savannah, this particular grain, can be turned into powder form or cooked in its grain form. In countries like Burkina and Guinea, Acha is a major meal. Surprisingly acha is becoming popular in the western world. Acha is healthy for both adults and kids and can be eaten at anytime of the day.
SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes is a root vegetable, a dicotyledonous plant. It’s large, starchy, sweet-tasting and tuberous roots. The green leaves an also be eaten as leafy vegetable. This particular food cab be eaten with vegetables or gravy sauce. Sweet potatoes are filling and good source of fiber. It aims advised to consume moderately. Sweet potatoes is one of the foods that is largely grown in the Caribbean. It also a good diet for athletes and people that want to maintain a particular weight. Sweet potatoes is nutritious and it has been proven to aid weight management, because it is fibre and digestion is easy.
PLANTAIN
Plantains are a great source of resistant starch, containing nearly Plantain is a good source of magnesium, potassium (more than bananas), vitamin A, and vitamin K. It contains vitamin C and B vitamins, such as thiamin and riboflavin. Plantain is also a good source of fiber. It promotes bowel regularity. Fiber aids digestion and softens the stool. The high amount of potassium found in plantains is essential for maintaining the cell and body fluids that control your heart rate and blood pressure. The fiber in plantains also helps lower your cholesterol, which keeps your heart functioning at its best.
These are few African foods that are healthy for human consumption, aids weight management, aids easy digestion, boost your immune system and nourishes the skin. You can get most of these foods, in any African shop, anywhere in the world.