Health Benefits of Pap

Pap, also known as akamu, ogi or koko in the Nigerian Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa languages respectively is a local staple food made from processed whole corn grains like maize, millet and guinea corn. Pap is widely consumed across all ages essentially for its nutritional values and easy digestion.

Traditionally processed pap has a synonymous sour taste and smells. This makes some people to dislike the consumption of this all-rich food. Modern processing of pap like that of Andreys Fresh Pap presents pap in different variants with lasting refreshing taste and flavor that is more inviting for all to consume.

Nutritional Content of Pap

Studies has shown that pap is rich in essential nutrients like carbohydrate, Vitamins [A, B5, B3, B1, riboflavin, C), folic acid, potassium, chromium, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium. It also contained high contents of amino acids such as tryptophan, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine and valine. One serving of pap is estimated to contain 152 calories.

The Health Benefits of Pap

The health benefits of eating pap are enormous; some of the main benefits are highlighted as follows:

1. Regulates Blood Pressure

Pap is an excellent source of potassium and contains zero amount of sodium, making it a perfect food for people with high blood pressure and those who want to maintain healthy blood pressure or avoid developing hypertension. Another advantage of taking potassium-rich foods like pap is that it helps in lessening the effects of sodium in the body while also easing tension in your blood vessel wall.

2. Good Source of Energy

The major chemical component of the maize, millet and guinea corn kernel is starch, which provides up to 72 to 73 percent of the kernel weight. Other carbohydrates are simple sugars present as glucose, sucrose and fructose in amounts that vary from 1 to 3 percent of the kernel.

Pap therefore is an excellent source of carbohydrate present in the starch that is required by the body to produce instant and adequate energy.

Carbohydrate-rich foods like pap do not only help the body with energy but also promotes mental alertness and accelerate the metabolism of fat for energy.

3. Lowers LDL Cholesterol

There are two major cholesterol types in the body, namely Low-Density Lipoprotein [LDL] and High-Density Lipoprotein [HDL]. The former, LDL, is often regarded as ‘bad’ cholesterol due to the fact that having an excess of it in your body might cause plaque to form in the artery walls, and thus making blood circulation difficult. This might further result in undue strain on the heart and might even lead to high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack.

Pap contains a good amount of chromium, zinc, magnesium, and some other potent properties that help in reducing the levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in the body.

The chromium in pap is found to be effective in lowering the LDL cholesterol levels as well as inhibiting the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the body. This same mineral is also linked with improving blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lowering depression, elevating energy levels and increasing regenerative abilities.

Again, the zinc and magnesium content of pap are also considered to be great for lowering LDL cholesterols in the body as they contain potent properties useful for this purpose.

4. Highly beneficial for nursing mothers

In Nigeria, pap is recommended to nursing mothers immediately after delivery because it contains high amount of water, energy and some other components that promote easy and adequate flow of breast milk for lactating mothers. It also helps in regaining strength after suffering from one illness or the other.

5. Easy to digest

Pap is very easy to digest and provides instant energy. Due to its high water content, it allows the body to easily get rid of unwanted elements and substances simply by increasing the rate at which you urinate. It is therefore most convenient and ideal for convalescence individuals who are recovering from illness.

Pap is also ideal for people with digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD), or sensitive stomach since it does not irritate or cause disruption of the digestive system.

6. Promotes healthy pregnancy and lowers the risk of neural tube defects

Pap is rich in folic acid, making it an ideal food during pregnancy. Folic acid is one of the essential properties pregnant women need for a healthy pregnancy. The deficiency of this acid could result in the birth of underweight infants or might even trigger neural tube defects in newly born babies.