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HEALTH

Kenya's hot, how to protect yourself

Fruits and healthy drinks for this season

20-02-2022 by Leni Frau

With the arrival of the great heat of summer on the coast of Kenya, for those who are not accustomed to live there forever or almost, it is worth observing a few small precautions to avoid running into health problems or sudden decompensation, such as drops in blood pressure, sunstroke and dermatological problems.
Here is the advice of the experts of Malindikenya.net, regarding adjuvant fruits and beneficial drinks matured over the years through consultations with doctors and local and European specialists stationed in Kenya, but also herbalists and traditional healers

COCONUT WATER
It would be easy to suggest that you drink a lot of water, but those who frequent the Kenyan coast have an additional fortune and, on closer inspection, not much more expensive than a good mineral spring water: coconut water. The price of a fresh coconut that contains from 350 to 500 centiliters of water, varies from 30 shillings at which it is sold at the market, to 50 that are paid to sellers along the beach, up to 100 that the beach boys are able to shake off the unexpected tourist on the beaches.
Coconut water is a particularly thirst quenching beverage and rich in minerals that can be considered as a real natural supplement. It contains magnesium, potassium and calcium. Mineral salts act in synergy to keep the body hydrated during physical activity. It can therefore be considered as a natural alternative to sports drinks and energy drinks rich in dyes and preservatives. An advice of Malindikenya.net is to try it instead of water to prepare smoothies, for example with pineapple, mint and banana.
It is considered as a real panacea if taken in the amount of 40-50 cl per day. In general, it helps to improve energy levels, stimulating the production of hormones by the thyroid gland and boosting the metabolism. This beverage derived from coconut contains numerous bioactive enzymes that our body uses to digest food. Drinking coconut water is a useful natural remedy for those who suffer from digestive problems and abdominal pains caused by poor digestion, which are particularly acute in hot weather. Of course, it must be taken regularly to get the desired effects.

PAPAYA
In Kenya they call it the fruit that protects and not only from the sun.
As a fruit, are recognized the qualities of balancer of digestive and intestinal functions with laxative power expressed particularly in the morning on an empty stomach and when not enjoyed with a squeeze of lime.
Considering Papaya as a sort of cosmetic, this fruit obtained from a plant which, as opposed to what one may think, is not autochthonous to Africa but arrived in about 1700 from South America, has known emollient and anti burn properties for the body.
An application after a day at the beach with the risk not only of peeling but also of skin rashes can prove to be a salvation. So also to prevent sweat dermatitis.
Moreover, it is a highly vitaminic fruit (it contains above all vitamins A and C), and it is a mine of fibers and precious minerals, among which stands out the content of potassium, with draining and anti-asthenia functions. There are people who, in order to prevent the lowering of pressure due to hot weather, eat a banana, because of the presence of potassium. Excellent solution, but not really digestible...try with a papaya instead!
Finally, thanks to the presence of numerous antioxidants and papain, its original enzyme, papaya plays an important anti-inflammatory action and lightens the work of the liver. It is always better to eat it before meals or far from them, during the digestion phase, especially of meat or protein foods. Often people avoid this fruit because they are convinced, maybe from an occasional taste, that it does not taste very good or has an unattractive taste. In this case, try the red one from Zanzibar!

RED HIBISCUS
In Italy we know it as carcadè and it was brought to Europe by the Italians of Abyssinia, as it originated in Ethiopia and in the highlands north of Kenya. The herbal tea extracted from the leaves of red hibiscus produce a drink that, consumed fresh and slightly sweetened with honey or cane sugar, is a panacea against the undesirable effects of the equatorial heat.
It has diuretic properties, refreshing, emollient and mildly laxative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and invigorating.
It is the organic acids and phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanins) that promote physical recovery after exposure to the sun, with mucilage, phytosterols and vitamin C helping to keep blood pressure under control (but beware, excessive use lowers it too much) and to combat water retention. Although it does not contain caffeine, carcadè has a tonic action that can fight fatigue and asthenia. Above all a few dried hibiscus flowers are enough to prepare a good glass of herbal tea. It is enough to leave it in infusion for at least ten minutes, filtering and letting it cool down.
Having always in the fridge some carcadè is a great help to fight the increase of African temperatures and at the same time feel a pleasant sensation of relief.
As far as a suitable diet is concerned, the Kenyan coast proposes fish in good quantities and with different options: prefer it to red meat and goat meat, alternate it at the limit with chicken, avoid octopus, which is less digestible than fish and squid, and limit shellfish. If you add a bit of pilipili (Kenyan chili pepper) in every dish, which is a natural vasodilator, you are doing the right thing.

And...I forgot, Freddie's advice! A healthy Tusker Lager baridi a day, especially around 6pm, cures the body and spirit at the same time!

TAGS: frutti kenyabevande kenyacaldo kenyasalute kenya

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