ginkgo nut/ njugu ya mginkgo/ icho/ karanga za ginkgo

Ginkgo nut comes from the Ginkgo biloba tree, native to China and then later introduced to Japan. Like the African baobab tree, Ginkgo tree has survived for millennia in the Far East Asian countries as a source of medicine, food, and wood.

In places where Ginkgo tree, also known as maidenhair tree has survived through generations, the ginkgo is considered a symbol of endurance and longevity.

Ginkgo nuts and leaves have been used as remedies for different health problems, and to prevent cognitive decline. Ginkgo biloba tree belongs to the dioecious species of plants and only the female tree produces the nuts.

Known as njugu ya mginkgo or karanga za ginkgo for roasted in Swahili, ginkgo nuts are encased in an oval shaped hard woody shell. Ginkgo nuts are toxic when eaten raw and have to be cooked before eating them.

To get the soft consumable inner ginkgo seed, crack open the semi-hard, outer shell of the ginkgo nut using a hammer, a nut cracker or you could just fry them in a frying pan to pop the shell.

Ginkgo nuts are available as a whole raw nut; roasted and salted; often consumed as snack, and ground.

In culinary ginkgo nuts are used in Japanese and Chinese cooking. They are used in sauces, soups and stews.

Ginkgo nuts are available in online stores as whole nuts, whilst other Ginkgo biloba extracts are available as daily use supplements capsules in retail stores.

Health benefits of ginkgo nuts include

• May improve brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain, thus improving cognition and memory
• Reduces inflammation
• Reduces cholesterol in blood that boosts cardiovascular health
• Helps in increasing blood flow to the penis thus boosting your sex life
• Has antioxidant properties even after cooking, which help rid free radicals thus preventing cancer
• Helps to reverse symptoms of aging; memory loss, ringing ears and lack of awareness
• Help maintain vision and eye health

Moderate consumption of nuts will help improve your health. Please note that this isn't medical advice,as for this, consult a doctor.