Well, just in case you would want to live long, science is saying some ingredients such as chili pepper and other healthy spices used to prepare Hausa Koko could extend your life by 13% if you eat these ingredients frequently.  I couldn’t believe this until I review more literature and examined the ingredients in Hausa Koko for correlation.

Apart from the ingredients, the process of fermentation also provides important health benefits.  For instance, two studies (Ritchie and Romanuk, 2012; King et al. 2014) found that fermented foods are rich in beneficial probiotics and have been associated with a range of health benefits such as better digestion to stronger immunity. 

Hausa Koko, science, ingredients

Hot chili powder

Chili Pepper, long life

The first study was conducted by Jun et al.(2015) from China and examined the connection between spicy foods and longevity in humans.  The study provided compelling evidence that peppers reduced death from all causes, including cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.  

Chopan and Littenberg(2017)  used over 16,000 people, the researchers found that the more we consumed hot red chili peppers, it has the potential to lower the risk of mortality over an average of nearly 19years.  This study is amazing! However, we do not know how consuming peppers might help us against death. Munoz, K(2017), espoused that it could be a result of the abundance of capsaicin, which can aid gut health and act as an antioxidant to reduce inflammation.

Hausa Koko, Connection?

Yes, there is a connection because all these healthy spices are used in Hausa Koko and the studies found that using these spices alone is not enough but should be combined with a healthy diet. What about waakye? Not everyone gets the hot pepper(shito) but these spices are immersed in the Hausa Koko combination; this makes Hausa Koko superior or superfood.

Millet

Five studies (Devi et al. 2016; Kumari et al. 2017; Pizino et al. 2017; Xiang et al. 2019; Chandrasekara and Shahidi, 2010) confirmed that millet is loaded with antioxidants to guard the body against harmful oxidative stress.

Other studies in mice( Zduńska et al. 2017; Liu et al. 2017) correlate Ferulic acid to faster wound healing, skin protection, and anti-inflammatory properties.  It has been established that these catechins bind to heavy metals,  and avert poisoning our bloodstream( Chandrasekaraand Shahidi, 2010; Bernatoniene and  Kopustinskiene, 2018).

Kumari et al.(2017) explained that though all millet types are loaded with antioxidants, the specific ones with a darker colour such as proso, and foxtail millet are superior juxtaposed to those with white or yellow counterparts.

Peppercorns

Those diagnosed with cancers and those concerned with cancer prevention could benefit from Hausa koko due to the added peppercorn. Peppercorn is regarded as the king of spices.  The cancer potential of this specie was demonstrated in two studies(Zheng et al. 2016; Rather and Bhagat, 2018). The researchers found that the active compound in black pepper, piperine, could have cancer-fighting properties.

Four test tube studies( Ba and Malhotra, 2018; Do et al. 2013; Yaffe et al. 2015; Lackova et al. 2017) found that piperine slowed the replication of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells and induced cancer cell death. Though, it is a test tube study, consuming Hausa Koko with peppercorn could be helping you resist these common cancers in Ghana.

Also,  Abdelhamedet al.(2014) test tube examined 55 compounds from spices and found that piperine from black pepper was the most effective at enhancing the efficacy of traditional treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive cancer type. This is so amazing and provides the leeway for breast cancer patients in Ghana to use this spice either in their Hausa Koko or any other form.

Cloves 

Two animal studies (Ali et al.2014; Kuroda et al. 2012) found that the compounds in cloves may have numerous health benefits, such as support to liver health and lowering blood sugar levels.

Cloves are loaded with antioxidants, especially the type called eugenol, which is a phenolic compound that can lower oxidative stress. This compound is present in concentrations of 80%–90% in clove bud oil and 82%–88% in clove leaf oil.

Ground ginger

For Hausa koko, ground ginger is used instead of raw ginger root. This does not mean the raw ginger root has special medicinal superiority as compared to ground ginger.

You see, ground ginger contains fewer essential oils and less gingerol than fresh ginger but more shogaol, which is spicy and pungent.   Two studies (Wang et al. 2014; Mashhadi et al. 2013 ) found that the superior medicinal potential of ginger emanates from gingerol which is potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Two studies, (Poltronieri et al. 2014; Kumara et al. 2017) found that the anti-cancer properties are linked to gingerol, which is found in large amounts in raw ginger. Finally, two studies have demonstrated that ginger can be effective against breast cancer and ovarian cancer(Martin et al. 2017; Pashaei-Asl et al. 2017).

Take Home

Millet-based spiced Hausa Koko

It is interesting how the ingredients in our local foods have immersed health benefits on our health yet we are not aware of them.  Empirical studies have demonstrated the immersed benefits of these ingredients which are also found in our kitchen. So if chili pepper alone in Hausa Koko could extend your life by 13%; don’t you think that the combination of these healthy spices in Hausa Koko could prolong your life beyond 13%?  Let’s focus on eating our local foods to live long.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, President, of Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation. E-mail: collegeofholisticmedicine@gmail.com.  For more information, contact: Stephanie(PRO)on 0244433553