Kunu drink is insanely popular in Nigeria. But did you know that Kunu drink also offers some serious health benefits?
Before we get to our list of 5 health benefits of Kunu, we need to first understand what this drink is made from.
Kunu drink is made from millet, sweet potato, cloves, water and sugar. Other variations of Kunu drink replace millet with rice (Kunu Gyada) or with Tiger Nuts (Kunu Aya).
how to prepare Kunu drink? Actually, it is very easy to make it. Be patient because to prepare the drink you will need from one to two days, because the fermentation process must be triggered by water.
How to Make Kunu Zaki With Millet
Kunu made from millet is called kunu zaki. It has been said that if you know how to make akamu then how to make this kunu drink should not be a problem.
Recipes for Making Kunu With Millet
- Millet
- Ginger
- Sweet potatoes (Optional).
- Cloves
- Sugar (optional).
- Water
Directions on How to Prepare Kunu Drink With Millet
Here are steps to follow in the preparation of kunu drink with millet.
- STEP 1: Sorting of the millet to remove unwanted particles. You can also pour in water to separate the sand and some other particles, which will settle at the bottom, from the millet grains.
- STEP 2: Soak the sorted millet in water for 24 – 48 hours. Note: change the water used to soak the millet at intervals.
- STEP 3: Discard the water and rinse millet thoroughly.
- STEP 4: Peel ginger, sweet potatoes, and cloves.
- STEP 5: Rinse properly and pound.
- STEP 6: Blend the germinated millet grains, ginger, sweet potatoes, and gloves together.
- STEP 7: Sieve using a muslin cloth. Add water to make sieving easy.
- STEP 8: Unlike kunu Aya, discard the chaff after squeezing the moisture from it.
- STEP 9: Allow the liquid sieved settle for 4 – 7 hours.
- STEP 10: Decant the supernatant by sieving away the top liquid without stirring.
- STEP 11: Divide the sediment, which has gathered at the bottom, into two halves.
- STEP 12: Add boiling water to the first half like when you are preparing your normal pap.
- STEP 13: Mix the second half with cold water.
- STEP 14: Combine the two remixed halves in a bowl.
- STEP 15: Add sugar and water to desired level.
- STEP 17:
- STEP 18: Kunu Zaki is ready.
- STEP 19: Refrigerate and drink.
Health Benefits Of Kunu
Kunu Drink and Pregnancy
Kunu Drink has significant health benefits for pregnant women.
The reason is simple: it creates a magic ingredient.
The magic ingredient is the “super-food”, ginger, that offers a range of benefits for pregnant women.
Here are just a few of those benefits:
- Ginger improves the blood circulation in the body. This is important so that you’re baby will get the right level of blood supply.
- All pregnant women know that nausea is a common symptom during the first trimester. The ginger in Kunu Drink can settle your stomach and help reduce nausea.
- Pregnancy causes the muscles in the digestive tract to relax and, therefore, food will travel through the intestines at a slower rate. The result is serious indigestion and bloating. The ginger in Kunu Drink will help reduce problems with digestion.
Boost Your Sperm Count
Perhaps you’re not yet pregnant but trying to conceive. If so, then this next health benefit of Kunu Drink is a must read…
As I said above, Kunu Drink contains sweet potato (another so-called “super-food” by the way).
Sweet potato is filled with very high levels of vitamin C. In one large sweet potato of 180g, there is 35.3g of vitamin C. And that’s great news if you’re looking to increase your sperm count.
certain studies have reported that vitamin C is an antioxidant that has the “power to neutralize sperm-busting free radicals”.
Advantages of vitamin C include reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and eye problems.
3 Lose Weight With Kunu Drink
You might feel like you’re getting to grips with understanding the nutritional value of Kunu drink.
is Kunu drink fattening?
To be honest, this is a difficult question to answer. Because like all types of food, the answer depends on how much Kunu drink you consume and how much sugar or other sweeteners you add.
The great thing about Kunu drink (when drunk in moderation, at least) it that it can actually help you lose weight.
It does this due to its core ingredient: Millet. This nutritious grain contains high levels of protein and allows you to meet your daily protein requirements without eating meat.
The problem with eating lots of meat is that is rich in calories and can lead to weight gain. There is a clear link between eating less meat and loosing weight.
So if you drink Kunu drink as opposed to eating more calorific foods (e.g. hamburgers, sausages etc.), then this will help anyone looking avoid fattening.
4 Sooth Colds And Coughs With Kunu Drink
Kunu drink is usually served in Nigeria with cloves, which brings us to the next health benefit: it soothes colds and coughs.
Yes, cloves are well known for their medicinal properties. And according to Health.com:
“Cloves work as an expectorant, loosening mucus in the throat and esophagus so you can cough it up”
Next time you have a cold or cough, try drinking Kunu drink with lots of cloves and you may feel the benefits.
5 Protect Your Heart with Kunu Drink
Kunu drink offers excellent protection for your heart due to the use of millet.
Millet contains a lot of magnesium and potassium and both of these minerals play an important role in reducing blood pressure.
You probably know that having high blood pressure increases the risk of having a stroke or heart attack. So Kunu drink can be great for your heart as it actually reduces blood pressure.
Kunu Drink also contains high levels of Vitamin B3 due to its millet content. Some doctors argue that Vitamin B3 can help your heart by increasing the good cholestral in your body.
