Wat to know about ofor seed: Di healthy natural soup thickener wey dey totori Nigerians

Ofor seed wey di scientific name na Detarium microcarpum na local seed wey dey widely used for traditional cooking for Nigeria, especially for Igbo cuisine.

Ofor na natural soup thickener wey dey help make soups thick, smooth, and slightly sticky.

Oda common English name e get include sweet detar, tallow tree, and sweet dattock but e dey popularly known as ofor by di Igbo, ogbogbo by di Yoruba, and taura by di Hausa.

According to one dietician, Ibrahim Abdulsalam Bichi, ofor seeds contain dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates, protein, and micronutrients like magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, calcium, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and folic acid.

E say e also get phytonutrients wey include flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and steroids.

Ofor dey available as stem bark, roots, leaves, and seeds – either fresh or dried, whole, in large pieces, or powdered.

To prepare di seed for use, you need to soak am for boiling water, peel off di outer seed coat, dry am and grind am bifor you go add am to soups as thickening agent.

Wetin be di health benefits of ofor seeds

Sabi pesin Bichi say many pipo know ofor for di thickening power, but e dey more dan just cooking ingredient as e also contain important nutrients wey dey support good health.

1. Ofor dey make soups thick and easy to eat as e get natural thickening properties wey dey make soup smooth and easy to swallow.

Dis makes am useful for children, older adults and pipo wey dey find am hard to chew or swallow. Thicker soups also dey make meals more satisfying.

2. Ofor dey support good digestion as e contain fiber, wey dey help food move well through di stomach and intestines.

Fiber dey support healthy digestion and help to prevent constipation. Good digestion dey help di body use food better.

3. Ofor dey help pesin feel full for longer becos e dey make food thick and digest slowly, e fit help pesin stay full for longer time afta eating.

Dis fit help to:

- Reduce hunger

- ⁠Reduce overeating

- ⁠Support weight control

4. Ofor dey give di body energy as e contain carbohydrates, wey dey give di body energy for daily activities like to waka, work, study, and play.

Energy dey help di body to stay active and strong.

5. Ofor dey help to control blood sugar as di fiber e get dey slow digestion. So Ofor fit control how sugar enta di blood more slowly afta meals.

Dis fit help to reduce sudden increase in blood sugar.

Dis one dey helpful for pipo wey dey live with diabetes wen dem eat am in di right amount.

6. Ofor dey support healthy weight becos e dey help to keep pesin full for longer, e fit also help to control appetite and support healthy weight management.

7. Ofor also dey support healthy gut function as di natural fiber wey dey Ofor dey help to keep di intestines to work well and support regular bowel movement.

A healthy gut dey support overall body health.

‘Process ofor well bifor you chop am’

Wetin dey make Ofor special na di strong natural thickening ability e get and di smooth, jelly-like texture for soup.

Unlike some oda soup thickeners, Ofor dey give soup rich texture while e also dey add fiber wey dey support digestion and fullness.

To prepare di seed for use, you need to soak am for boiling water, peel off di outer seed coat, dry am and grind am bifor you go add am to soups as a thickening agent..

Di dietician Bichi emphasise di need for ofor seed to dey properly cleaned, processed, and cooked bifor eating.

E say proper preparation dey help to make am safe, easy to digest, and better for di body to use, especially as many pipo wey dey swell am for market dey sell am in di grinded form.

Ofor seed na more dan just a soup thickener. Na useful local food ingredient wey dey help to control appetite, and support healthy blood sugar levels.