Popular Nigerian Foods and their Health Benefits

Tiger Nuts

Tiger nuts known as aki awusa in Igbo language, aya Hausa in Hausa language and ofio in Yoruba language

Tiger nuts are an excellent source of dietary fibre, sugar, phosphorus, carbohydrates, fat, protein, potassium, zinc, sodium, calcium, magnesium and traces of copper, vitamin C and vitamin E. These nutrients, vitamins and minerals are essential for building and maintaining healthy bones, repairing damaged tissues and muscles, aid blood circulation as well as support the healthy functioning of the human body.

It is characterised by nutty sweet taste and can be eaten raw, dried, roasted, steamed, soaked or processed into tiger nut oil or tiger nut milk. Tiger nuts can be used for making both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks such as beer, ice creams and kunnu