Have You Had Your Pap Today?
Pap is a staple common in Africa and some western countries.
There are lots of variations including those made with corn, guinea corn, millet, soya bean, etc.
Pap is mostly eaten as breakfast alongside akara and it is very healthy and nutritious. One of the most common variants is Akamu, made with corn.
It may surprise you to know that corn qualifies as a medicinal plant.
It is a nutritious food plant which is a good source of carbohydrates, B vitamins (pantothenic acid – B5, niacin – B3, riboflavin and thiamine – B1), folic acid, vitamin A and C, potassium, Chromium, selenium, zinc, phosphorous, magnesium and many others.
Scientifically known as Zea mays, corn is the basis of a lot of dishes used as main meals. Some great reasons to eat corn pap includes;
-Corn pap is 100% natural. It has no additives or artificial content whatsoever.
-It has no sodium and contains potassium (lowers B.P). This means that it helps to maintain a normal blood pressure effortlessly, which makes it a perfect food for people who are hypertensive and those who do not want to develop high blood pressure.
-Pap has a high water content and helps to supply the daily requirement of water. It is as a result of this that it is used by nursing mothers to help the easy flow of breast milk (lactation) after delivery.
-The texture of corn pap makes it very easy to digest and a perfect food for convalescencing individuals who are recovering from illness. The texture also makes it an ideal breakfast food because it exerts very little stress on the digestive system when instant energy is required after overnight sleep.
– The carbohydrate in pap delivers. You may laugh at this, but it is a perfect food for athletes like footballers during half time when they need to refresh, but cannot take anything heavy which might hamper their movement in the field. It will also help to replace some of the fluid that is lost from profuse sweating.
-corn has an adequate protein score i.e. the protein in it is more than the 8% required in food. The problem with pap is the volume. This is why our ancestors (in their wisdom), combine corn pap with a protein-rich accompaniment e.g. Akara (bean cake), Moin-moin (bean pudding).
-Corn pap does not go through the long manfacturing process that cornflakes does. As a result, it retains more nutrients.
This is especially so with the cornmeal which is not sifted i.e. the corn is blended to smoothness and used like that for pap. Corn pap that is prepared this way is high in fibre because of the outer coat covering the grain. It is healthy helps to increase the amount of fibre in our diet.
-The fermented water from soaked milled corn is very nutritious and has a lot of use traditionally. In Yoruba language, it is called omidun which literarily translates to “sweet water”.
Pap made from millet on the other hand
Does NOT feed pathogenic yeast (candida),
Acts as a prebiotic to feed important microflora in your inner ecosystem
Provides serotonin to calm and soothe your moods.
Helps hydrate your colon to keep you regular.
Is alkaline.
Digests easily
Millet is rich in Magnesium, Calcium, Maganese, Tryptophan, Phoshorus, Fiber, B vitamins and Antioxidants.
Magnesium in millet can help reduce the affects of migraines and heart attacks. Niacin (vitamin B3) in millet can help lower cholesterol. Phosphorus in millet helps with fat metabolism, body tissue repair and creating energy (phosphorus is an essential component ofadenosine triphosphate or ATP, a precursor to energy in your body). Millet can help lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Fiber from whole grains has been shown to protect against breast cancer. Whole grains have been shown to protect against childhood asthma.
Soya beans is a complete reservoir of nutrients, especially proteins. It is the phytochemicals in soybean that prevents blood clotting from taking place. It aids in protecting the heart against oxidation. As far as the soy bean nutritional value is concerned, soybean serves as an excellent.
By: Foodstantly.
There are lots of variations including those made with corn, guinea corn, millet, soya bean, etc.
Pap is mostly eaten as breakfast alongside akara and it is very healthy and nutritious. One of the most common variants is Akamu, made with corn.
It may surprise you to know that corn qualifies as a medicinal plant.
It is a nutritious food plant which is a good source of carbohydrates, B vitamins (pantothenic acid – B5, niacin – B3, riboflavin and thiamine – B1), folic acid, vitamin A and C, potassium, Chromium, selenium, zinc, phosphorous, magnesium and many others.
Scientifically known as Zea mays, corn is the basis of a lot of dishes used as main meals. Some great reasons to eat corn pap includes;
-Corn pap is 100% natural. It has no additives or artificial content whatsoever.
-It has no sodium and contains potassium (lowers B.P). This means that it helps to maintain a normal blood pressure effortlessly, which makes it a perfect food for people who are hypertensive and those who do not want to develop high blood pressure.
-Pap has a high water content and helps to supply the daily requirement of water. It is as a result of this that it is used by nursing mothers to help the easy flow of breast milk (lactation) after delivery.
-The texture of corn pap makes it very easy to digest and a perfect food for convalescencing individuals who are recovering from illness. The texture also makes it an ideal breakfast food because it exerts very little stress on the digestive system when instant energy is required after overnight sleep.
– The carbohydrate in pap delivers. You may laugh at this, but it is a perfect food for athletes like footballers during half time when they need to refresh, but cannot take anything heavy which might hamper their movement in the field. It will also help to replace some of the fluid that is lost from profuse sweating.
-corn has an adequate protein score i.e. the protein in it is more than the 8% required in food. The problem with pap is the volume. This is why our ancestors (in their wisdom), combine corn pap with a protein-rich accompaniment e.g. Akara (bean cake), Moin-moin (bean pudding).
-Corn pap does not go through the long manfacturing process that cornflakes does. As a result, it retains more nutrients.
This is especially so with the cornmeal which is not sifted i.e. the corn is blended to smoothness and used like that for pap. Corn pap that is prepared this way is high in fibre because of the outer coat covering the grain. It is healthy helps to increase the amount of fibre in our diet.
-The fermented water from soaked milled corn is very nutritious and has a lot of use traditionally. In Yoruba language, it is called omidun which literarily translates to “sweet water”.
Pap made from millet on the other hand
Does NOT feed pathogenic yeast (candida),
Acts as a prebiotic to feed important microflora in your inner ecosystem
Provides serotonin to calm and soothe your moods.
Helps hydrate your colon to keep you regular.
Is alkaline.
Digests easily
Millet is rich in Magnesium, Calcium, Maganese, Tryptophan, Phoshorus, Fiber, B vitamins and Antioxidants.
Magnesium in millet can help reduce the affects of migraines and heart attacks. Niacin (vitamin B3) in millet can help lower cholesterol. Phosphorus in millet helps with fat metabolism, body tissue repair and creating energy (phosphorus is an essential component ofadenosine triphosphate or ATP, a precursor to energy in your body). Millet can help lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Fiber from whole grains has been shown to protect against breast cancer. Whole grains have been shown to protect against childhood asthma.
Soya beans is a complete reservoir of nutrients, especially proteins. It is the phytochemicals in soybean that prevents blood clotting from taking place. It aids in protecting the heart against oxidation. As far as the soy bean nutritional value is concerned, soybean serves as an excellent.
By: Foodstantly.
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