Benefits and harms of caffeinated kola nuts. Cola tree shiny

Kola nuts are the seeds of the Kola pointed plant ( Cola acuminata), which belongs to the Malvov family, the subfamily Sterkuliev (previously cocoa was also included in it). Homeland are tropical countries, mainly West Africa, today it grows on the island of Sri Lanka and in other regions with a hot, humid climate. The tree that gives these unique nuts reaches 20 m in height and belongs to the evergreen species.

The fruits of the plant contain 3 times more caffeine than coffee beans. They are star shaped. Each contains about a dozen rose-scented seeds - these are kola nuts. Initially, such seeds seem bitter, but you gradually get used to their taste. Plus, they freshen your breath.

Modern man consumes products that contain the extract of this nut. Basically it's without alcoholic drinks. In the early 19th century, Georgia pharmacist John Pemberton mixed cola and coca extracts with sugar, then added carbonated water and a few other ingredients. Thus was born famous drink"Coca Cola". But in 1904, the United States banned the addition of soft drinks extracts from the leaves of Peruvian coca, therefore original recipe no longer used.

• By chemical composition Cola seeds are similar to guarana, coffee beans, and tea leaves. They contain 2-3.5% caffeine, as well as two more well-known stimulants - theobromine (1.0-2.5%) and theophylline.
• Other components: phenolic compounds (red pigment flobafen, epicatechin, D-catechin and tannic acids), colanine (gives caffeine when broken down), glycosides, vegetable oils and anthocyanins, cellulose, etc.
• Nuts contain the carcinogen N-nitroso. That's why Nigeria, where cola chewing is part of many rituals, has an abnormally high number of cancer cases. oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.

Beneficial features

1. Folk medicine in tropical countries has long used the walnut to suppress appetite as an aphrodisiac and antidepressant, as well as to treat indigestion, in the fight against morning sickness, migraine and intoxication. However, standard Western medicine is still very skeptical about some of the benefits of the kola nut and confirms only a few of them.
2. Scientists have confirmed the effectiveness of this caffeine-containing product for lowering blood pressure, treating rheumatism and hepatitis, congestive heart failure (common in the elderly), sexually transmitted diseases, infections of the excretory system.
3. Walnut extract is a natural diuretic and bronchodilator (relieves bronchospasm during an asthma attack).

Crushed seeds or cola powder can also be used to make homemade tincture. AT medicinal purposes this tincture should be taken 2 ml 3 times a day.

For digestion

The extract of this nut, as well as its powder and drinks based on it, accelerate the production of acid in the stomach, thereby contributing to the rapid digestion of food. Recent studies have shown that kola nut is useful in the treatment of functional (nervous) diarrhea.

In some African tribes for more than a thousand years, it has been customary to chew a piece of such a nut before each meal to improve digestion.

For weight loss

The caffeine in kola nut helps curb appetite and improve digestion, which ultimately leads to weight loss. The metabolism is accelerated, the body is charged with energy for long term. Overeating is excluded.

An animal study published in the first issue of the Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences (2009) showed a decrease in appetite and body weight in rats given kola nut extract regularly. Similar findings can be found in the March issue of the African Journal of Biotechnology (2006).

Pain Relieving Properties

Studies have shown that this nut extract is effective in treating migraines. Thanks to the same caffeine, the product is able to relieve even such severe pain as a woman experiences during childbirth.

Antimicrobial properties

Nut extract inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause dangerous diseases, including tuberculosis and meningitis. This is evidenced by a May 2004 publication in the journal Phytotherapy Research.

From prostate cancer

Kola nut contains plant compounds that cause the death of prostate cancer cells, according to an article in the Journal of Toxicology (2009). However, there has not yet been a full cycle of clinical trials. Before taking a doctor's consultation is required!

Stimulation of the nervous system

Just one tablespoon of crushed kola nut added to a cup of black coffee kickstarts the process of saving nerve and muscle energy, according to Richard Alan Miller, author of Magical and Ritual Uses of Herbs. This is a good herbal antidepressant that is not highly addictive.

The nut extract is also used in combination with low doses of ephedrine (a poisonous plant alkaloid) to treat the syndrome. chronic fatigue. Although scientists from the University of Maryland speak out against the use of this nut in the fight against CFS due to the risk of seizures and psychosis.

Harm and contraindications

Possible side effects kola nut and its derivatives:

• indigestion: heartburn, vomiting and nausea due to overproduction stomach acids;
• insomnia due to stimulation of the nervous system;
• elevated blood pressure, including in hypertensive patients who are sensitive to caffeine-containing products;
• shaking hands with regular consumption is another sign of an unstable nervous system.

Like many other nuts, cola can cause allergic reaction. Common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, nasal congestion and runny nose, skin itching and irritation in the mouth, shortness of breath and heart palpitations, in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.

People with heart disease, stroke survivors, anxiety, and insomnia should not consume kola nut or other caffeinated foods. The ban also applies to pregnant women and patients taking antidepressants.

Cola is an evergreen plant that belongs to the Malvaceae family.. Its height can reach 20 meters. Its branches are lowered down and covered with rather large oblong leaves. Of particular interest are the fruits of this tree - kola nuts. They are collected in leathery or woody leaflets of 4-5 nuts. The first fruits appear on kola trees only 10 years after they are planted, but up to 40 kg can be harvested per year delicious nuts. The nuts themselves are quite large, their length can be up to 5 cm.

For the first time, the kola tree was discovered in Africa, it is there, in the western part of the continent, that it is still grown the largest number this plant. However, due to its vitality and ability to survive in various climatic conditions, the kola tree has also spread to India, Ceylon, the Antilles and Seychelles, Zanzibar and even Australia.

The distribution of the kola nut has interesting story . For the first time in America, they learned about it from blacks who were brought as slaves and took with them the fruits of the stake tree. Then the English sailors began to carry the cola nut along different countries. So they learned about him in the east. Europeans liked these nuts so much that they began to cultivate this plant in their colonies. For example, thanks to the Dutch, mass cultivation of the cola tree began in Java, and thanks to the Germans, in Cameroon. Less than 100 years have passed since the acquaintance of Europeans with the kola nut until the time of its active use. Research in the field of medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries showed that this fruit has a beneficial effect on the functioning of muscles and the heart, giving them tone.

Nowadays, especially a lot of kola plantations are located in Guinea.. There, the growth of trees is monitored especially carefully. The fact is that when falling, some nuts break. To prevent this from happening, nets are pulled everywhere under the trees or bags are placed to soften the impact of the fruit on the ground. The nuts are then harvested, sorted and washed thoroughly. And already in this form, kola nuts are sent to a variety of countries - to markets and store shelves.

Composition of kola nut

AT cola nuts contains water, starch, cellulose, protein, tannins, essential oils and caffeine. They also contain small amounts of substances such as theobromine and colatin. It is the combination of these two substances and caffeine that gives tonic properties.

Useful properties of the kola nut

For a long time, Europeans did not believe in miraculous properties. cola nut. But one day, many residents of France had to make sure that this fruit really acts on the body in an amazing way. An officer of the French army, making an ascent to Mount Kanga, from time to time took a powder made from kola nuts. This allowed him to move without sleep and fatigue for 12 hours. Later, he told his superiors about this, after which the news about the tonic properties of this nut scattered throughout Europe, and then throughout the world. The fruits of the kola tree began to be studied with medical point vision.

Kola nut is a unique energy stimulant. It has this property due to high content it has caffeine in it. Kola nut not only gives energy and eliminates fatigue, but also perfectly saturates the body, dulls the feeling of hunger. Some travelers knew about this property as early as the 16th century. They wrote that African natives chew this nut constantly so as not to feel tired and do hard work.

Later studies by scientists showed that the brain begins to work better under the influence of substances contained in cola nut. At the same time, concentration of attention increases, the process of memorization improves. All this is very important for people who are engaged in intellectual work, as well as for schoolchildren or students preparing for exams. A few kola nuts eaten by a person help to make thoughts clear, concentrate one's attention, get rid of drowsiness and fatigue.

According to some of its properties, the kola nut is even similar to alcohol.. It is very popular in Muslim countries where alcoholic beverages are prohibited. It is also used by weak elders, who often need to overcome fatigue and a feeling of fatigue.

But in Sudan it is used for treatment various diseases. For example, it is used to relieve headaches, migraines, dysentery and exhaustion. It is known that many Africans have to work hard and hard to provide food for themselves and their families. Kola nuts help them with this. For example, an African man can walk up to 80 km a day under the burning sun, eating just one kola nut. Aborigines also believe that this nut is a meat substitute, able to quench thirst and even purify water. They also use it to increase sexual potency and remove toxins and poisons from the body after alcohol poisoning.

In addition to useful properties, the kola nut also has one harmful. It is known that any product containing caffeine is addictive to one degree or another. If you constantly stimulate your body artificially, then this can lead to the fact that without this stimulant a person will feel lethargic, and even insomnia may appear.

Uses of the kola nut

Kola nuts can be eaten both fresh and dried.. They taste a little bitter, but they are enough nutritious food and are very invigorating. AT different parts light it is used to increase the tone and satisfy hunger. It can also be used for weight loss.

It is also used in medicine. To do this, an extract is extracted from the kola nut or a tincture is made. Kola nut extract can be purchased in liquid or powder form. It is also used in confectionery. Chocolates with ground kola nuts are popular with climbers, skiers and hikers. It is also used in the manufacture of special tonic tablets and drinks.

Interestingly, the world-famous Coca-Cola drink got its name precisely because of this nut. However, you should not think that it contains real nuts, they were replaced a long time ago with cheaper tonics. Find in Russia cola nuts very difficult. In large stores you can find ground nuts or chocolates with them.

For most people, the name cola is associated with a drink, but not with a nut. But it was thanks to him that soda was born. Initially, the kola nut was its main ingredient. The potion prepared on its basis was not much like a drink and was intended to treat toothache, depression and chronic fatigue. The demand for the medicine was small, but after its inventor accidentally added carbonated water to the mixture, the product began to gain popularity, and subsequently became almost national drink Americans.

The kola nut is a native of Africa. It grows on evergreen trees of the same name. Scientists call kola nuts close relatives of cocoa beans, but outwardly they are not similar. The first are small, about a few centimeters seeds, enclosed in several pieces in dense leathery fruits. Nuts have a bitter taste and smell similar to the aroma of rosemary.

The world first heard about the walnut in the 17th century. He became known thanks to the Negroes brought to the continent as slaves. Europeans were struck miraculous properties cola relieve fatigue, instantly restore strength and dull even severe hunger. Thanks to the sailors, the fame of wonderful nuts spread around the world. Actively use them in medical purposes became a hundred years later.

Benefits of kola nut

Main beneficial features cola lies in its strong tonic effect. Under its influence, the work of the brain improves, concentration of attention and the ability to memorize increase. A few nuts eaten will clarify thoughts, activate muscle energy, relieve fatigue and drowsiness. Cola owes this effect to the caffeine, colatin and theobromine present in the composition. The unique combination of substances makes the nut a natural tranquilizer. It contains essential oils, fats, protein, tannins, starch, glycoside and cellulose. This gives cola and other useful properties.

Aborigines consider the nut an excellent meat substitute that can save on for a long time. It is used to quench thirst, remove toxins, enhance potency and purify water. Scientists have found that it helps in the fight against migraines, nausea, infections of the excretory system, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis and rheumatism.

Kola nut extract acts as a diuretic and helps relieve spasms during seizures bronchial asthma. It has analgesic and antimicrobial properties. It can be used to relieve even severe pain and treat dangerous diseases - meningitis and tuberculosis.

What can harm a kola nut

The benefits of cola are undeniable, but it also has a significant drawback, which is that the nut is addictive.

The properties of cola to increase the production of gastric juice can provoke heartburn, nausea and vomiting, and its stimulating effect can cause insomnia, arrhythmia and increased pressure. Excessive consumption of nuts can even lead to mental disorders. This product is not recommended for people suffering from heart disease and anxiety, pregnant women, those prone to allergies and those with sleep problems. It is forbidden to combine it with antidepressants.

A tree belonging to the Malvaceae family is called the kola nut. This is an evergreen plant from West Africa, reaching a height of 20 meters. Since ancient times, people have used its seeds as a means of strengthening physical endurance, sharpening attention, memory and concentration. Dry nuts satisfy hunger, give energy, relieve fatigue, help to cope with hard work. However, their action does not affect the heart and vascular system. In a soft natural way, they eliminate drowsiness, increase potency, and raise physical tone. And now the kola nut plays a leading social role in many African cultures.

historical intelligence

The kola nut is a distant relative of the cocoa bean. Europe first learned about it in the 16th century, and the first Indian plantations were sown in the western part of India in 1680. Pharmacists in the 19th century began experimenting with the unique seeds by mixing coca leaves and sugar with them. This infusion was used to treat toothache, migraine, depression. The cure was not successful until carbonated water was accidentally added to it. It turned out delicious drink energizing.

Later, the recipe was sold to an American businessman who launched a campaign to produce the powerful psychotropic drink Coca-Cola. Now instead of natural ingredient in the once refreshing natural drink add chemistry. You can feel the natural vivacity and taste of true cola nuts by tasting a chocolate bar, which includes crushed nuts.

Description

The most valuable species is the brilliant Cola, which grows in the equatorial part. The tree has large elongated leaves, with dark veins, and small purple-striped flowers, bell-shaped, collected in panicles. Leathery fruits consist of several carpels, appearing on the tree from 8-10 years of age.

The plant bears fruit for about 60 years. Harvest ripens 7-8 months. When ripe, the fruits crack, and 3 to 6 pieces are shown outside. rather large seeds of red or white color, 5 cm long, 3 cm wide. Then fruiting begins again, despite heavy tropical rains. The kola nut is a year-round fruit bearer. For one harvest, a tree can give 45 kg. nuts.

This is a hardy plant that can withstand various climatic conditions. Walnut is grown on huge plantations in India, Zanzibar, Ceylon, Australia, Sri Lanka. Most of all, it is cultivated in Guinea, where the ripened crop is monitored with special care. Nuts break when they fall. Therefore, nets are stretched under each tree, bags are hung or pillows are laid out to save the fruits from blows.

For trade, only the seeds of the plant, which are obtained in several ways, are of value. You can get the nuts by hand, soak in water or dry for 5-6 days, so that the body cracks and the shell separates from the seed. Freshly picked fruits are placed in termite mounds. Insects eat the body of the seeds, but do not touch the nuts themselves. After harvesting, the peeled nuts are sorted, sorted, washed, dried and sent to other countries.

Compound

Cola nut is similar in composition to tea, ginseng, cocoa, guarana, coffee beans. Includes starch, water, protein, cellulose, essential oil, tannins. In addition, theobromine (2.5%), caffeine (more than 5%) and colatin (about 0.05%) are an important component that attracted attention to the nut. In tandem, phytoaphrodisiacs affect the body softer and longer than caffeine in pure form. Predominant in fresh nuts a large number of carcinogenic nitroso compounds.

Properties

Kola nut is used as a tonic, aphrodisiac nervous system. It is prescribed in dry form or in tincture. Chocolates or cola tablets are often used by travelers on expeditions, climbers in the next conquest of high mountains, skiers and tourists when they need to quickly and safely overcome fatigue. Besides:

• kola nut is included in pharmaceutical forms of drugs prescribed for overwork, apathy, migraines, exhaustion, dysentery, neuralgia;
• nuts help relieve headache, reduce toxicosis and pain during childbirth;
• doctors confirmed that cola tincture reduces blood pressure, helps to cure hepatitis and rheumatism, relieves heart failure, and allows you to recover from infectious diseases: tuberculosis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis, meningitis, including venereal diseases.
  Tincture recipe: 100 g of nuts are crushed and infused in the same amount of 70% alcohol for 20 days. Then the mixture is filtered and drunk three times a day for half a teaspoon.
• cola extract is considered an effective natural medicine that relieves spasmodic attacks in bronchial asthma;
• Cola is useful for diarrhea that occurs on a nervous basis. Africans chew on pieces of nuts before meals to stimulate digestion;
• African natives can do hard work by constantly chewing kola nuts. Seeds perfectly saturate the body and dull hunger. Walnut fruits are used by older people who want to be cheerful and overcome fatigue that fetters the body due to age;
• under the influence of nuts, the brain improves work, attention and memory are aggravated. This is useful for people engaged in mental work. A few kola nuts eaten make thoughts clear, eliminate drowsiness, invigorate;
• in Muslim countries where alcohol is prohibited, kola nuts are very popular, as their properties resemble alcohol and cause mild euphoria;
• kola seeds increase potency, supplying all tissues with blood, remove toxins after alcohol poisoning.

Application

Cola nuts can not only fill you up, but also quench your thirst. In Africa, they are used to make tonic drinks, which are very popular among tourists and locals. You can use them fresh or dried. The taste of cola nuts is not very pleasant. They are slightly bitter, but are extremely nutritious.

• they are used for weight loss to reduce appetite and increase tone. 2-3 eaten nuts satisfy hunger for 5-8 hours, and body weight is slowly decreasing. In 100 g of the product 150 kcal;
• used in the confectionery industry. In the manufacture of refreshing drinks, elixirs and tinctures, energy drinks, tablets. In crushed form, they are added to chocolate and pastries;
• African tribes used the fruits as ceremonial gifts offered to honored guests, respected and loved people. In northern Ghana, important political meetings begin with chewing cola nuts. In religious events, they are offered to the gods, chewed at weddings and funerals, given to the poor, handed over as payment to doctors and soothsayers. For some time, the kola nut was used as currency in West Africa;
• in Russia, these nuts are a rare find that can be found in large supermarkets, in the Internet store, on the market in the form of a powder or souvenirs. On the basis of fruits, products with cola are widespread - chocolate, extract, powder, tablets;
• in cosmetology, walnut powder is popular as a skin regenerating agent that strengthens nails and hair. Masks and wraps restore lipolysis of subcutaneous fat, restore cell elasticity, normalize structure, improve blood circulation. Walnut is included in creams with anti-aging, anti-cellulite action, in lotions for the face and sunburn.

Cola extract

Extract from nuts is obtained by vacuum drying. Due to the high content of aphrodisiacs, the product has tonic properties. A valuable extract is used in the treatment of neuralgic diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and gastric ailments. It is widely used for cosmetic purposes - it relieves inflammation of the skin, dries acne, reduces acne. Constantly using creams and masks, which contain cola extract, you can notice that the skin has acquired a toned, moisturized, fresh look.

Contraindications

Small amounts are safe useful product. But if you consume such nuts excessively, nervousness, depression, insomnia, tachycardia, gastric upset, heartburn, due to a lack of gastric acid, and increased pressure may occur. All these disorders are caused by caffeine, which, if used uncontrollably, can cause tremors in the limbs.

Kola nut, like all nuts, can cause severe allergies. First symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• itching, redness of the skin;
• headache, aching joints;
• runny nose or nasal congestion;
• cardiopalmus;
• difficulty breathing.

It is forbidden to use kola nut during pregnancy and lactation, people with heart disease, stroke survivors, the elderly with health problems.

Important! Although it is a natural stimulant, like a drug, it can be addictive. A person chewing nuts in the hope of losing weight or a constant boost of energy can refuse normal food and cause serious damage to the body. In Nigeria, where kola nuts are constantly chewed and considered common practice, cancer diseases mouth or intestines caused by cola.

cola nut- the fruit of the evergreen plant Cola nitida, which belongs to the mallow family.

Description

The kola nut is a distant relative of cocoa. The most valuable species of the genus Cola nitida is Cola brilliant, which grows in West Africa, more precisely in its equatorial part.

Kola brilliant is an evergreen tree, whose height reaches 15 m, has large leaves. The flowers of this plant are bell-shaped and small. The tree begins to bear fruit from the 6-10th year, and gives fruit for 50-60 years, sometimes more. Growth, and then the ripening of the fruit occurs 7-8 months. The fruits grow large and crack when ripe. They have up to six red or white very large seeds, 5 cm long and 3 cm wide.

Today, due to the vitality of the plant and its ability to survive in different climatic conditions, the Kola tree is cultivated on plantations in India, Ceylon, the Antilles and Seychelles, Zanzibar and even Australia.

Story

The expansion of the kola nut has an interesting history. In America, it was first learned about it from African Americans brought as slaves and taking with them the fruits of the kola tree. Over time, English sailors began to carry this nut to different countries. Over time, they learned about the nut in the east. Europeans liked these nuts so much that they began to grow this plant in the territories of their colonies. For example, the mass cultivation of the Kola tree in Java was due to the Dutch, and in Cameroon - thanks to the Germans. Thus, less than 100 years have passed since the introduction of the kola nut by Europeans until the time of its active use.

Stories about the miraculous properties of the kola nut were considered by Europeans to be colonial tales for many years, and only when the lieutenant colonel of the French army submitted a report to his superiors describing in detail extraordinary properties this exotic fruit, this nut was taken seriously. He reported that while climbing Mount Kanga, he used a powder of crushed kola nut, which allowed him to move without fatigue and interruption for 12 hours. It was this fact that served as an impetus for a more detailed study of an exotic plant.

Nowadays, the largest number of kola plantations is located in Guinea. There are especially carefully monitor the growth of trees. Due to the fact that some nuts break when they fall, nets are pulled in all directions under the trees or bags are placed that are designed to soften the impact of the fruit on the ground. After that, the nuts are harvested, then sorted and washed thoroughly. It is in this form that kola nuts are transported to a wide variety of countries - to store shelves and markets.

Composition of kola nuts

Nuts contain starch, water, protein, cellulose, tannins, gum, red antacium pigment, caffeine and essential oils. In addition, they contain small amounts of substances such as colatin and theobromine. The combination of these two substances with caffeine endows kola nut with tonic properties.

These essential biologically active substances in kola seeds relieve fatigue and also maintain vigor. The effect of cola substances on the body is slower and lasts longer than the effect of pure caffeine. Kola nuts quench thirst and tone up. Therefore, they are used to make tonic drinks, popular in Africa, from nuts ground into a fine powder.

The young leaves of the plant also contain caffeine and theobromine.

Properties of kola nut

• It is used as a tonic that excites the central nervous system. It is prescribed as a dry or liquid extract or tincture. Cola nut chocolate and cola tablets are used by climbers, hikers, and skiers as a tonic and natural narcotic, temporarily and easily arousing.
• In the form of pharmaceutical galenic preparations, kola nuts are prescribed not only as an aphrodisiac for weakness, overwork or apathy, but also for neuralgia and migraine.

To do this, 100 grams of powdered kola nuts are infused in 100 ml of alcohol (70%) for 20 days in a dark glass dish. Then filter and take this extract 2-3 times a day, 0.5 tsp. with fatigue, heart weakness or sexual impotence.

• Kola nut not only eliminates fatigue and gives vigor, but also perfectly saturates the body, in addition, dulls the feeling of hunger. Some travelers knew about this property of the nut as early as the 16th century. They reported that African natives chew this nut constantly in order to do hard work and not feel tired.
• Research scientists have found that the human brain under the influence of substances contained in the kola nut begins to work better. At the same time, concentration of attention increases, memory improves. All this is extremely important for people engaged in intellectual work, as well as for students in the period of preparation for exams. Just a few kola nuts eaten by a person will make thoughts clear, help to concentrate, relieve fatigue and drowsiness.
• The kola nut is similar to alcohol in some of its properties. That is why it is very popular in countries where alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Aborigines also use walnut to increase sexual potency and remove poisons and toxins from the human body after alcohol poisoning.

Uses of the kola nut

The taste of nuts is slightly bitter, but they invigorate perfectly and are a very nutritious product.

Nuts can be used for weight loss.

Kola nut is also used in confectionery. Refreshing drinks, elixirs and tinctures based on kola nuts are produced in many countries of the world.

At the beginning of the century, Cola was the main ingredient in the world-famous Coca-Cola drink, however, now it is no longer used as part of the drink, but is produced from "chemistry". Now you can feel the invigorating taste of a nut only in Cola chocolate, since crushed nuts are part of it.

In African tribes, nuts often play the role of ceremonial gifts.

In Russia, the kola nut is very rare, it can sometimes be purchased in large supermarkets in ground form or only as souvenirs.

Contraindications to the use of kola nut

Kola nut is safe in small quantities, but its long-term and overuse can cause nervousness or insomnia, increased heart rate, depression (due to its caffeine content). Also, long-term use of cola is not recommended due to the danger of addiction to the drug.

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