Tiger nuts are best enjoyed when they are crisp and fresh and when their sweet, nutty flavor can shine. The Hausa people of Nigeria use the milk from these nuts to make a popular drink called Kunu Aya, and the Spanish use it to make a drink called Horchata de Chufa (especially in Valencia, Spain ).
This beverage, like the nuts it contains, has a creamy and delicious taste and also provides various health benefits. Regular consumption of tiger nut milk has been shown to improve the following four medical conditions.
1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Several mechanisms make tiger nuts useful for digestive health.
To begin, they contain a lot of insoluble fiber, which is a type of fiber that is not absorbed by the body. Insoluble fiber aids avoid constipation by thickening stools and facilitating food passage via the stomach.
2. Type 2 diabetes
It’s possible that tiger nuts can help you keep your blood sugar where it needs to be.
Animal studies have shown that tiger nut extract can help bring blood sugar levels down. One possible explanation is that the high fiber content of the tubers slows the rate at which the body absorbs sugar.
Protein from tiger nuts is rich in the amino acid arginine, which has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and synthesis. This in turn can aid in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
3. Heart disease
Tiger nuts have been linked to improved cardiovascular function. This is largely attributable to the fact that they are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, much like olive oil.
Monounsaturated fat eaters have lower levels of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of good HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). They also seem to reduce the likelihood of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or dying from cardiovascular disease.
4. A compromised resistance to illness
The immune system might get a boost from tiger nuts.
Extracts from tiger nuts were put to the test against a variety of human-infecting bacteria in Petri dishes. The extract was effective against multiple strains of bacteria, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli. The findings of another study on cells were consistent with the previous one. The research suggests that tiger nut extracts may help treat bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
