ALOMO,OSOMO: How safe?

The craze for Alomo and Osomo these days in Nigeria is alarming. I have tried Alomo too (before I started my healthy living campaign) not really for what they say it is. Lol. The truth is I discovered that it increased my libido. I was making love to my wife twice a day. Whenever I took it, I had an urge for sex….well in that case it is what people says it is….an aphrodisiac.

An aphrodisiac is a  substance that increases sexual desire. - Wikipedia

I have since stopped taking Alomo bitters. Alomo bitters have about 42% alcohol (like Vodka) in each bottle. The problem I have with Alomo and which you should be concerned about is the alcoholic content in each bottle.

A consultant cardiologist at LUTH, Dr. Goke Ale, however, labeled alcohol as “cardio toxic.” He described the combination of alcohol and sex as ‘suicidal’. “Alcohol alone can depress the function of the heart or cause abnormal rhythm of the heart because it has effects on the brain, heart, liver and blood vessels,”.

According to the Kasapreko Company, makers of Alomo bitters, it is a herbal alcoholic product made from carefully chosen tropical plant extracts and it is very well known for its proven medicinal values. It has its roots in the traditional herbal industry that is meticulously researched by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine a World Health Organization affiliate, based at Mampong Akuapem in the Eastern region of Ghana.

The Kasapreko company has not exactly indicated how much of the bitters that could be taken for its purported health effects.

A pharmacist on rxpertcare.com says “due to its intoxicating effect, many tend to abuse it, taking much more than needed. Unfortunately, we see people drink as much as two or three bottles of 200 ml at a sitting claiming it makes them ‘feel alright’. This is an outright abuse. If you take so much over a long period of time, you may get the positive health results on the short term but be sure that it will be accompanied, by the unpleasant health effects of alcohol as time goes on.

The long term health effects of taking more than the required amount irrespective of it’s alleviating ‘bitters’ effect is basically the same as taking excess of vodka, whisky or rum.
Some of these possible adverse effects include anemia, increased risk of cancer and stroke, liver cirrhosis and reduced fertility. In addition, addiction could occur and that’s just a next door neighbor to various forms of mental illnesses.”

In his contribution, Consultant Family Physician, Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Gbolahan Abideen, also said that there was a limit to the role that aphrodisiacs (Alomo) can play in correcting sexual disorders. For instance, Abideen said that sufferers would find aphrodisiacs(Alomo) useless in correcting premature ejaculation, which some studies have claimed to be affecting as many as one in three men.“Aphrodisiacs only work to sustain erection and not delay ejaculation in an individual with premature ejaculation. “The other bit is the unpredictable effect of the aphrodisiac (Alomo) on the heart and sometimes the kidney and liver. 

Over to YOU!

YOUR NATURAL AND BEST BET FOR SEASONING: "Iru (yoruba), dawadawa(hausa)"

Most Nigerians have found out that their visits to the doctors, hospitals and even churches (due to one illness or the order) are on the increase. Degenerative diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, Hypertension, Kidney and liver are taking its toll on our wonderful people. The questions many of our wonderful people (who or their relations have one health issue or the order) have asked me are “where are these diseases coming from? Our forefathers never had these diseases in their time?”

What I often tell them is that these diseases are rampant now because of what we are eating. A lot of foods that we thought were harmless have overtime sent some of our good people to early deaths. Due to my involvement in health, nutrition and lifestyle, I am very particular about what my family and I eat. I now that natural plant foods consumption will greatly improve anyone’s health. We need to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Processed foods such as seasoning cubes; magi, knorr etc. Most seasoning cubes, if not all in Nigeria, will have Monosodium Glutamate(MSG) and since it is a flavor enhancer and seasoning cubes are designed for just that purpose.

God has provided a natural seasoning plant variety for us and this is what my family uses. The African locust beans which is called Iru (Yoruba),dawadawa(Hausa). When you use Iru or dawadawa in your foods, you are getting a rich blend of minerals which the regular seasoning cubes will not provide for you.

Blessing Ekum of Nigerian Tribune says

When it comes to minerals, the African locust beans are loaded with a wide variety. It is a good source of potassium and phosphorus. A 2008 study on the “Chemical composition and anti-nutrients of some lesser known Nigeria fruits” published in the African Journal of Biotechnology reported a high calcium content of 11650mg/kg for the fruit pulp. The recommended dietary allowance for calcium is 800mg/day, which means that about 68g dry weight of the pulp fruit would provide the recommended daily allowance for calcium.

The findings from the study also showed that the pulp is rich in magnesium, a mineral that plays a major role in relaxing muscles along the airways to the lungs, thus allowing asthma patients to breathe easily. The study adds that deficiency of magnesium in man is responsible for severe diarrhoea, migraines, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arteriosclerosis and stroke.

It is equally rich in iron which is an important element in the diet of pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, convulsing patients and the elderly to prevent anaemia and other related diseases

Other studies have reported high potassium, sodium and manganese content in the pulp. Manganese supports the immune system, regulates blood sugar levels and is involved in the production of energy and cell reproduction. It works with Vitamin K to support blood clotting. Working with some vitamins, manganese helps to control the effects of stress. Birth defects can possibly result when an expecting mother does not get enough of this important element.

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG): Maggi, Knorr, Royco infact it is in all the seasoning cubes in Nigeria

I have been very particular about the type of seasoning my wife uses and this led me to a study on Monosodium Glutomate (you remember Vedan and Ajinomoto?) and its effect on the body. It was all in the news some years ago in Nigeria that we needed to avoid Vedan and Ajinomoto because the seasoning is made with Monosodium Glutomate (MSG). White maggi!

What I discovered lately is that MSG is part of the ingredient used to make all the seasoning cubes in the market in Nigeria from Maggi, Knorr, Royco etc. Even the Noodles makers in Nigeria use it in their seasoning. I even checked some products made “by Supreme Spice” and discovered MSG as one of their ingredients.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer added to thousands of foods you and your family regularly eat. It's also one of the worst food additives on the market.  The more you use MSG flavor enhancer in your food, the more you are likely to experience its side effects.MSG is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees, and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities.Some of the Monosodium Glutamate side effects on body include:

Rashes, itching, burning, numbness;

Migraines, headaches;

Asthma;

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms;

Chest tightness, heart palpitations, heart arrhythmia, anxiety;

Irritability, restlessness, sleep disturbance; and

Children are more vulnerable to MSG dangers than adults. In fact, MSG and other flavor enhancers are not permitted in foods produced specifically for infants and young children who are 12 months old or less.

OSES IS TALKING says let us return to our roots. Make a decision to avoid MSG in your diet as much as possible. Prepare food at home, using fresh, locally grown ingredients like “Iru or dawadawa”.(African locust beans).