Horse Eye Bean (Ukpo) - Di soup thickener wey dey give strong bones and teeth

Horse Eye Bean wey di scientific name ma Mucuna sloanei, wey dem dey call Ukpo for Igbo language, na one local seed wey dem dey commonly use to cook, especially for traditional soups for Nigeria.

Ukpo seed belong to di papiloncea sub-family. E get pods wey dey covered wit a brownish dense whisker like hair dem dey call trichomes wey dey itch wen dem touch pesin skin or eyes and each pod fit contain one to three seeds wit a hard coating wey dey white wen e neva mature but e go turn black wen e don mature and dem dry am.

Many pipo, especially di Igbos for southeastern Nigeria dey use am mainly as a soup thickener for dia native soups, but e pass like dat.

Ukpo na nutritious food wey dey give body wit important nutrients wey dey needed for good health, growth, and strength.

According to Ibrahim Abdulsalam Bichi wey be dietician, horse eye bean get important nutrients like protein, fiber, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, and oda minerals wey go help di body work well-well.

Health Benefits of Horse Eye Bean (Ukpo)

Bichi list some health benefits of horse eye beans aka Ukpo to include:

1. E dey help to build and repair di Body: Horse eye bean dey rich in protein, wey be one of di most important nutrients wey di body need. Protein dey help to build muscles, repair damaged body tissues, and support growth in both small pikin dem and adults.

E especially dey good for:

Protein also dey help di body heal faster after injury or illness.

2. E good for digestion: Horse eye bean contain fiber, wey dey important for a healthy digestive system. Fiber dey help food move smoothly through di stomach and intestines.

Dis dey help to:

Fiber also dey helps pesin feel full for a longer time, wey fit help to reduce overeating.

3. E dey give di body energy: Horse eye bean contain carbohydrates wey be di main source of energy for di body. Di body dey use dis energy for daily activities like to waka, work, study, and play.

Dis one make am good food for students, workers, children, active adults and e dey to help reduce tiredness and support strength.

4. E dey help to prevent weakness and tiredness: Horse eye bean get iron wey dey help di body produce healthy blood. Iron dey needed to make hemoglobin, dat is di part of blood wey dey carry oxygen around di body.

Wen di body lack iron, pesin fit feel weak, tired, dizzy and low in energy. Eating iron-rich foods fit also help to prevent anemia and improve strength.

5. E dey make bones and teeth strong: Horse eye bean contain calcium and oda important minerals wey dey help build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Dis dey important for children for growth; adults to maintain bone health; older pipo to reduce bone weakness and strong bones to help support movement and body strength.

6. E dey support heart health: Di fiber and natural plant nutrients wey dey horse eye bean fit help to reduce bad cholesterol for di body. High bad cholesterol fit increase di risk of heart problems. By helping to control cholesterol, horse eye bean fit:

A healthy heart dey help di whole body to function better.

7. E dey help to control blood sugar: Becos horse eye bean contain fiber and dey digests slowly, e fit help sugar enter di blood more slowly. Dis fit help to avoid sudden increase in blood sugar levels.

Dis one dey helpful for pipo wey dey live with Diabetes wen dem eat am in di right portion as part of a healthy diet.

8. E dey supports healthy weight: Di protein and fiber for horse eye bean dey help to make belle-full increase after eating. Dis fit help to reduce hunger and unnecessary snacking.

Dis one dey help with weight management , appetite control, healthy eating habits and e fit dey useful for pipo wey dey try to lose or maintain weight.

9. E dey help body growth and recovery: Horse eye bean dey provide important nutrients wey dey support body growth, healing, and recovery. Children need dis nutrients to grow well, and sick pipo need am to regain strength.

E fit support:

‘Cook and prepare am well-well bifor you chop am’

Ibrahim Abdulsalam Bichi di dietician warn say e sey important to properly process horse eye bean and cook am well-well bifor eating. Raw seeds fit contain natural substances wey fit dey difficult to digest or harmful pesin eat am without proper preparation.

To cook am well dey make am safer to eat, easier to digest and better for di body to absorb im nutrients

Horse Eye Bean (Ukpo) na more dan just a soup thickener. Na ogbonge nutritious local food wey dey support body growth, improve digestion, provide energy, strengthen bones, support heart health, and help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Wen dem prepare am properly and eat am as part of a balanced diet, na correct food for both children and adults.