Are there are any health benefits of bitter kola? Bitter kola has long been used to treat diseases ranging from the common cold to hepatitis. According to a 2018 study, bitter kola can aid in the treatment of coughs, bacterial infections, and viral infections. When infection first appears, eating bitter kola may help you fight the infection and recover faster. If you want to stay healthy, then you should have some bitter kola.
Bitter kola, also known as bitter cola or Garcinia Kola, is a plant native to Central and Western Africa with a long history of therapeutic use. Although all parts of the Bitter Kola plant are used in traditional African medicine, the seeds are the most regularly consumed.
Health Benefits of Bitter Kola
1. Viruses and Infections
Bitter kola has long been used to treat diseases ranging from the common cold to hepatitis. According to a 2018 study, bitter kola can aid in the treatment of coughs, bacterial infections, and viral infections. When an infection first appears, eating bitter kola may help you fight the infection and recover faster.
2. Inflammation
In Africa, bitter kola seeds are often consumed to treat inflammatory disorders like arthritis. In a 2008 study, people with osteoarthritis in their knees who ate bitter kola had a significant reduction in inflammation when compared to a placebo. Bitter kola’s high potassium content could be a factor in its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Diabetes
Early research suggests that kolaviron, a molecule contained in bitter kola, may protect persons with type 2 diabetes from hypoglycemia. Although the first study was conducted on rats and has yet to be replicated in humans, the preliminary results are encouraging.