Kola is a kind of herb that grows in tropical climate. The seeds of the fruits of kola tree are called the kola nut, or bitter cola. It belongs to the Malvaceae plant family, of the cocoa family. Kola trees are originally grown in tropical countries, mostly western Africa, but are now grown in many other humid climate countries like Sri Lanka and others.
Kola nut trees are about 20-40ft tall. The kola trees bear white and yellow flowers with purplish spots on them. Kola leaf is ovate shaped, pointy at both ends and long with a leathery texture. The fruit is star shaped. Each fruit bears about a dozen of square or round shaped bitter kola seeds within whitish seed shells.
These are caffeine based edible seeds. The kola tree, formally known as Cola acuminate, is usually 20m tall tree of the evergreen species. Yellow kola flowers have purple spots on them. Kola nuts caffeine content is 3 times higher than coffee, thus it is an instant energizer, but according to researches it is not addictive like other caffeine energizers.
The nut has to be boiled to get the kola extract. The well known Cola drinks’ recipes originated from kola seed.
The seed, which is actually the kola nut, smells like rose. The initial taste of the seed when put in mouth is bitter but gradually it sweetens on chewing. Kola seeds are chewed as a breath freshener.
Kola nuts contains 2-3.5% of caffeine, 1.0-2.5% of theobromine, Phenolix (composed of phlobaphens which is the kola red, Epicatechin, D-catechin, and tannic acid), Sugar (which contains water and cellulose)
Kola nut is constituted of Caffeine, Kolanin, Glocuside, Starch, Sugar, Fatty matter, TanninsOils, Some anti-oxidants like phenolics and anthrocyanin, Protein.
Kola nut and its products have many benefits. Since ancient days kola nut had been in vogue use for its caffeine content and many other beneficial contents.
Kola nut extract, kola nut powder, and kola nut products accelerate production of gastric acid and helps remarkably in digestion. Research show that kola nut can be used as a treatment of nervous diarrhea.
Kola nut extract and other kola nut products are also used as effective remedies for venereal diseases, rheumatism, excretion-tract infections, congestive heart failure, and hepatitis.
The caffeine content of kola nut extract, kola nut powder, and other kola nut products curbs appetite and helps in digestion as well, leading to weight loss. Kola nut and kola nut products help in enhancing metabolism. Kola nut supply almost instant energy and is often taken after work out sessions, thus giving more energy for further exercise and in turn helping in further weight loss.
Researches showed that consumption of kola nut, kola nut extract, kola nut powder, and other kola nut products are effective in treating migraine. Due to the caffeine content in kola nut which supplies instant energy, consumption of kola nut products help in bearing pain.
Over consumption of kola nut products can sometimes result in stomach pain, frequent and abnormal excretion, vomiting, and even diarrhea. It is often seen that nasal congestion, running nose, itchy nose, and sneezing occur due to the allergy. Sometimes the allergy leads to itchy skin, flakey skin particles when itched, red and swollen marks on body parts, irritation inside or around the mouth. Allergy can result in breath shortness, increase chances of asthma attack, could be even fatal if aid is not provided immediately. Severe nut allergy can be a life threat resulting in anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are swelling of tongue or throat, fainting down, extreme breathing difficulty, low blood pressure, and difficult to speak. It could be fatal if not taken care of as an emergency. This allergy can increase the heartbeat to a notable rate after consumption of nuts and leave the person feel dizzy and fatigued.
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