12 Amazing Health Benefits of Akamu (Pap or Ogi)

This write-up discusses several nutritional and Health Benefits of Akamu that are derived fully from the cereals and the process involved.

Akamu is a fermented superlight cereal pudding that is very common in Nigeria, it is usually made from maize, sorghum, or millet.

By tradition, the grains are soaked in water for up to three days, before wet milling and sieving to remove the husks. It is often taken at breakfast or dinner.

Health Benefits of Akamu: Akamu Meaning

Akamu is a very popular breakfast porridge in many African countries. The English name is Pap.

What name you call this creamy, corn porridge, hinges on where you live in Africa.

In Nigeria – West Africa, Corn Pap is called Ogi by the Yorubas, Akamu by the Igbos, and the Hausas call it Kira Masara. In South Africa, and Ghana it is camouflaged as porridge, Millie pap, or Koko.

This locally-made ogi, akamu, or pap has a sour taste and can make a complete combo with Moi-moi, fried plant, pancakes, Akamu and Akara, fried yam, okpa di oku, bread, puff puff, and beans.

Any of this combination with Akamu makes for a great breakfast meal.

Health Benefits of Akamu: Nutritional Content of Akamu

Raw Pap is very powerful and effective. High source of carbohydrates, B vitamins (pantothenic acid – B5, niacin – B3, riboflavin, and thiamine – B1), folic acid, vitamin A and C, potassium, selenium, chromium, zinc, phosphorous, magnesium, and many more.

Please Read >>> Corn Pap: Health Benefits and Easy Preparation Methods

The nutritional composition also includes a high content of amino acids for instance tryptophan, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, and valine.

The calories per serving of pap are 152.

Akamu Benefits: The Health Benefits of Pap

• Reduces risk of blood pressure

Pap is very good for people with high blood pressure due to its high potassium and zero sodium content. This helps lower blood pressure.

• Good source of energy

It is a good source of carbohydrates and a perfect meal for athletes.

• Replaces lost body fluid

It is a food substitute for lost fluids due to its high water content.

• High Fiber diet

Akamu is made from grains which are rich sources of fiber. High-fiber foods reduce the risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and cancer

It is also useful in stopping stooling in both infants, toddlers, and adults. It works like Magic.

How to:

• Firstly, dilute the raw pap with cold water as if you want to prepare it. It should not be too thick or too watery either.
• After that, drink it raw like that.
• Akamu Water

The fermented water from soaked milled corn is very nutritious and has a lot of use locally. In the Yoruba language, they call it omidun which literarily means “sweet water”.

• Easy to digest

It helps to pass unwanted substances in the body through urine. Note that whenever you take akamu, you tend to urinate a lot. Its texture makes it very easy to digest and perfect food for convalescing individuals. It does not stress the digestive system.

• 100% Natural

It is a meal that retains many of its nutrients after processing. This is because it does not have to go through lengthy production processes and no additives are available in it.

• Increase breast milk for nursing mothers

Pap helps nursing mothers to increase their breast milk flow, which is why people recommend it for nursing mothers. You can take it alone or together with other foods like bean cake (Akara), bean pudding (moi-moi), and bean porridge.

• Akamu and Weight Loss

Though 100g of akamu offers only 50 calories, the added sugar and occasionally milk significantly increase the calorie content of akamu which can harm your weight loss goals.

• Akamu and Ulcer

Foods like porridge or akamu are mild in the stomach because they have less fat, acidity, and spiciness.

On the other hand, adding a heavily spiced Akara or fried fish to your akamu can worsen the ulcer because fried and spicy foods activate stomach acid and irritate open sores.

• Helps to Maintain a Good Sleep

Getting proper sleep is essential to good health. The presence of Tryptophan in the cereals used to make akamu increases the level of serotonin in the body which helps to manage stress.

• Akamu is good for babies and toddlers

Pap is one of the healthiest Nigerian foods for babies. It is a popular weaning meal that you can a Nigerian child. Aside from the fact that it is very economical, it is easy to make and digest, and very nutritious for a growing child.

Related >>> How to Make Perfect Ogi, Akamu. Or Pap

Akamu Recipe: How to Make Akamu

• Firstly, put some lumps of akamu/ogi/pap into a sizeable bowl.
• Secondly, use a tablespoon to crush the lumps of ogi into very small pieces.
• Thirdly, add cool water in small quantities and mix till you have a medium consistency with no lumps.
• After that, allow a kettle of water to boil.
• Immediately the water starts boiling pour the hot water into the bowl containing the mixture until it congeals
• Lastly, add sugar, milk, or honey to taste and enjoy

Side Effects of Akamu

• Akamu is safe if consumed in moderate amounts. Nevertheless, extreme consumption can lead to serious side effects as the grain contains substances that interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland.
• Millets-based akamu can cause hindered digestion because of their slow digestion as they are high in fiber.
• Those who do not tolerate cereals should also avoid akamu.

Is akamu the same as cornstarch? Is akamu a cornstarch?

Today’s dish is for a type of maize pudding that is popular in Nigeria. The Igbos call it Akamu, the Yorubas call it Ogi, and the rest of Nigerians call it Pap.

It’s quite similar to British custard, which is made from dehydrated cornstarch and flavored with various spices.

What are the advantages of akamu? What is the benefit of akamu?

For toddlers, growing children, the elderly, lactating moms, and convalescents, Akamu is a wonderful gluten-free option.

Energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins are abundant in this cereal. In addition, it functions as a probiotic, which aids in the relief of diarrhea and stomach discomfort in youngsters (or adults)

How many days can I soak corn for pap?

Between three to four days

Wash the dry corn completely before soaking it for three to four days in cold water.

It is crucial that some form of fermentation occurs, so do not refrigerate it.

Does akamu increase motility?

Akamu has been discovered to have natural male fluid boosting properties.

One of Nigeria’s basic foods, akamu (pap) or ogi, can be eaten alone or with substitutes ( akamu and Akara, akamu and beans, moimoi, porridge beans, fried yam and plantain, bread, etc).

Can I gain weight by eating pap?

Obesity can be caused by eating too many carbs. Being overweight can be caused by eating pap twice a day and drinking a lot of sugary drinks.

Is it okay if I drink pap at night?

Pap provides a slew of health benefits, and taking it in the morning, evening, or night isn’t too awful.

Taking pap at night will not cause you to gain weight or acquire a large stomach…it will not cause you to gain belly fat.

Please take pleasure in your pap at any time of day. To make it more healthy and helpful, you can even add milk.

How do you make akamu from scratch? How do you make akamu from corn flour?

Preparation

• Firstly, put some lumps of akamu/ogi/pap into a sizeable bowl
• Secondly, use a tablespoon to crush the lumps of ogi into very small pieces
• Then, add cool water in small quantities and mix till you have a medium consistency with no lumps
• After that, put a kettle of water to boil. Ensure the water will suffice. When making akamu, it’s better to boil too much water than not enough.
• Now, stir the mixture thoroughly just before the water boils, as some of the ogi may have settled at the bottom of the dish.
• This is the main cause of lumps when you first start preparing it if you don’t stir it well.
• Once the water has reached a boil, slowly pour it into the akamu bowl in a circular manner while stirring constantly.
• Note that it’s important to pour the hot water gently while stirring at the same time to avoid lumps.

Is pap beneficial to the liver? Health Benefits of Akamu

Although PAP is overexpressed in liver cancer, its functional relevance is unknown.

In this study, we show that HIP/PAP is a paracrine hepatic growth factor that promotes both liver cell proliferation and viability in vivo.

Is it healthful to consume pap on a daily basis? Health Benefits of Akamu

If you do not have insulin resistance or diabetes, eating maize meal porridge, or ‘pap’ as it is known in South Africa, is not an issue.

Unfortunately, if eaten hot, maize meal porridge has a high glycaemic index (GI).

Is it healthy to consume pap? Boosts health of kidneys

Uric acid, urea, poisons, trash, and other hazardous chemicals are some of the things that might impair this crucial organ.

The good news is that drinking pap can assist in the evacuation of undesirable materials from the body through urine, which can help you get rid of these chemicals.

How do you make a pap with ginger?

Steps

1. Firstly, soak the Joro or millet for 24 hours in water.
2. Secondly, wash it thoroughly and season with ginger and garlic to taste.
3. Then, grind it until it’s completely smooth, then filter it to remove the chaff.
4. After that, allow settling before pouring it into an akamu bag to drain any remaining water.
5. Lastly, your pap is ready. Milk, sugar, or honey can be added.
6. Enjoy.

Is it okay if I add ginger to my baby pap?

You can mix healthy food supplements with your baby’s pap (akamu) to help them grow stronger.

If your kid is under the age of one year, you should avoid adding beverages like Milo and Bournvita to his or her pap.

How can I make my baby rich pap? Can I add a raw egg to my baby pap?

You can also add an egg, but you must cook it; do not feed on a raw egg. As a result, the pap becomes a well-balanced supper.

How do you make akamu without lumps?

Once the water has reached a boil, slowly pour it into the akamu bowl in a circular manner while stirring constantly.

It’s important to pour the hot water gently while stirring at the same time to avoid lumps.

How do you know when pap is ready? What are the signs?

Begin by bringing it to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium to thicken it, and then reduce it to low for a few minutes.

It will start to come away from the sides of the pan after around 5–10 minutes. This is a sign that it’s ready.

What is akamu called in English?

Ogi (or Akamu) is a fermented cereal pudding from Nigeria, normally made from maize, sorghum, or millet.

What are the benefits of pap akamu? Health Benefits of Pap (Akamu or Ogi)

• Regulates Blood Pressure
• Lowers LDL Cholesterol
• Highly beneficial for nursing mothers
• Good source of energy
• Easy to digest
• Promotes healthy pregnancy and lowers the risk of neural tube defects
• Akamu is good for babies and toddlers

FAQs on Health Benefits of Akamu

Types of pap Akamu

Pap comes in different colors based on the type of grain used as the base.

• White Pap – white corn
• Yellow Pap – yellow corn
• Greyish Pap – millet
• Maroon Pap – guinea corn

What are the ingredients for making pap?

What you will need to make Akamu/Ogi/Pap

• Wet Corn Starch (Akamu, Ogi, or Pap)
• Water (Hot and Cold)
• Evaporated Milk (Peak Milk)
• Sugar (to taste)

How to make akamu from millet

Steps

• Firstly, soak clean millet in a bucket of water overnight.
• Secondly, wash the millet well to remove dirt (small stones) and, put clean water, ginger, glove, and dry pepper.
• After that, grind the millet with the grinding machine and use a clean sieving cloth with enough water to sieve until it’s just the chaff remaining.
• Then, allow for some hours to ferment and remove the water to remain the Akamu paste that has ferment
• Get a little quantity of the Akamu paste in a bowl and then, turn boiled water into it that will be enough and stir well gently until it’s smooth.
• Lastly, add sugar stir well, and serve with akara or moi-moi

How to add flavor to pap

To add flavor to the pap, firstly add vanilla extract for vanilla flavor, then add, chocolate powder for example milo for a chocolate flavor, and lastly dry strawberry powder or strawberry extract for strawberry flavor. Enjoy!

How do you wash akamu? Process of making Ogi (pap, akamu)

• Firstly, wash the dry corn thoroughly and soak it in a generous quantity of cold water for 3 to 4 days.
• Secondly, wash the corn and change the water every day.
• Then, on the third or fourth day, wash and mill. Drape the chiffon cloth over a big bowl and tie it up.
• After that, sieve the milled corn. When you’ve rinsed all the milled corn, blend the shaft and rinse again
• Then, set the mixture of water and akamu aside to settle for at least three hours.
• Now, pour out the clear water and decant the rest of the mixture into the muslin bag.
• Bond the bag and keep it in such a way as to let the water drain from the ogi.
• When you see that the water has drained off, tie the bag tighter
• Allow this overnight so that the akamu will have the classic sour taste. Yet again, do not refrigerate it.

10. The following day, bring out the akamu from the bag, and cut it up into single-use chunks,
11. Finally, if you don’t have a freezer, keep it in a bucket with a tight lock and add water to cover the ogi but the water should be changed often to avoid being spoilt.

How do you sieve ogi?

Simply sieve as usual. Squeeze the cheesecloth to allow the ogi to fall into the bowl beneath the bowl.

The chaff will be left inside the cheese cloth after sieving. To ferment, place the resulting paste in a covered bowl.

How to Make Ogi

To make ogi, simply boil water, mix the amount you want to drink with ordinary water, and ensure a smooth paste before adding boiled water.

Then, gradually but steadily pour in the hot water until the akamu thickens.

Add sugar and milk to taste, just like custard, and serve with akamu and akara, plantain, bread, and so on.

Is it true that pap makes babies fat?

Corn pap is an excellent weight-gainer. This pap is made from millet, maize, and corn.

Some mothers become what Nigerians call kunun gyada. It is one of the most effective baby weight gain foods.

Is akamu a type of cornstarch?

Today’s recipe is for a type of corn pudding that is popular in Nigeria.

Local names for it include Akamu by the Igbos, Ogi by the Yorubas, and Pap in general in Nigeria. It is very similar to British custard, which is made from dehydrated cornstarch and flavoring

Can I combine egg and baby pap? Is akamu safe for infants?

Akamu is an excellent probiotic food for infants, children, and even adults.

Probiotics are foods that aid in the health of your digestive tract. They aid in the treatment of diarrhoea, stomach upset, and dysentery.

In older children and adults, fermented uncooked ogi can be used to quickly relieve stomach upset.

What are the health benefits of pap or Akamu? Health Benefits of Akamu

Amazing source of energy

Pap is a good source of carbohydrates, which is one of the nutrients your body needs to function properly.

Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as pap, not only provide energy to your body but also promote mental sharpness and accelerate fat metabolism for energy.

Can I combine egg and baby pap? Is akamu safe for infants?

Akamu is an excellent probiotic food for infants, children, and even adults. Probiotics are foods that aid in the health of your digestive tract.

They aid in the treatment of diarrhea, stomach upset, and dysentery. In older children and adults, fermented uncooked ogi can be used to quickly relieve stomach upset.

What are the health benefits of pap or Akamu?

Amazing source of energy

Pap is a good source of carbohydrates, which is one of the nutrients your body needs to function properly.

Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as pap, not only provide energy to your body but also promote mental sharpness and accelerate fat metabolism for energy.

What are the benefits of consuming pap? Health Benefits of Akamu

Pap aids in the maintenance of high blood pressure due to its high potassium content and lack of sodium.

Because of its high water content, pap aids in fluid restoration and dehydration prevention. It is extremely beneficial to someone suffering from diarrhea.

Is it safe to drink pap?

Many macro and micronutrients, including magnesium, phosphorus, dietary fibre, potassium, zinc, folic acid, carbohydrates, protein, calcium, and tryptophan, are found in akamu.

How many calories are there in Akamu?

It was also high in amino acids like tryptophan, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, and valine. One serving of pap contains 152 calories

Does akamu boost sperm count?

Akamu has been discovered to be an effective natural sperm booster.

Akamu (pap) or ogi is a Nigerian staple that can be eaten alone or with other foods ( akara, moimoi, porridge beans, fried yam and plantain, bread, etc)

Can pap cause weight gain? Can pap make you fat?

Obesity can be caused by eating a lot of carbohydrates.

Fhulufhelo Tshivhase (29), of Duthuni village, became overweight as a result of eating pap twice a day and drinking a lot of sugary drinks.

Is pap better for you than rice?

In this category, maize triumphs, corn contains vitamins A, E, C, and K, whereas rice is deficient in all of these nutrients.

Corn also contains more B vitamins, including B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B5 (pantothenic acid) in particular, except for vitamin B9 (folate).

Is pap healthy for the heart?

Because of its high potassium and zero sodium content, Pap is ideal for people with high blood pressure.

This aids in the reduction of blood pressure. It contains a lot of carbohydrates. This is an excellent meal for athletes.

Is pap good for the liver?

Oyedepo. Adeleke University, Ede, researchers have created a potential cure for liver diseases using omi ogi (pap water) and lemon.

Adeleke University, Ede, researchers have created a potential cure for liver diseases using omi ogi (pap water) and lemon

Is pap good for the kidney? Improves kidney health

Uric acid, urea, toxins, waste, and other potentially harmful substances can all harm this vital organ.

The good news is that drinking pap can assist in the elimination of unwanted elements from the body through urine, which can help you get rid of these substances.

When is the best time to drink pap?

There are numerous health benefits to taking pap in the morning, evening, and night. Taking pap at night will not cause you to gain weight or develop a large tummy.

It will not cause you to gain belly fat. Please enjoy your papa at any time of day. To make it more nutritious, you can even add milk.

What are the side effects of eating corn?

Here are some of the major corn side effects that you should be aware of:

• Allergic Reactions
• Risk of Pellagra
• Not Good For Diabetics
• Causes Bloating and Flatulence
• Causes Indigestion and Stomach Upset
• Causes Intestinal Irritation And Diarrhea
• May Cause Tooth Decay
• May Cause Osteoporosis

How can I make my sperm thick and strong? How to Make Sperm Thicker and Stronger

• Avoid a Sedentary Lifestyle. There are many reasons why sperm is watery and of poor quality; but, the most popular is a sedentary lifestyle
• Exercise Daily
• Quit Smoking
• Avoid Certain Medications
• Take Plenty of Vitamin C
• Get Enough Vitamin D
• Indulge in Stress Relief
• Take Zinc

What is the composition of akamu? What is akamu made of?

Ogi, a Yoruba word for pap and popularly known as “akamu” by the Igbo is a simple Nigerian breakfast dish made from fermented corn.

In Nigeria, three types of corn are used to make ogi: white corn, yellow corn, and guinea corn. Yellow corn is used to make yellow ogi.

Is pap safe for diabetics?

Type 2 diabetics can continue to eat their mieliepap or maize meal porridge three times a day, but they will have much better control of their blood sugar levels, insulin levels, weight, and health if they cook their pap, cool it down, and then eat it with other low-GI foods.

Is maize meal pap good for losing weight?

No Fat: As I mentioned earlier about pap containing fibre, another major reason I believe pap is good for weight loss and confirming my yes answer is that pap is primarily made from maize, which contains no fat but a high percentage of fibre that is best used for digestion and aids in weight loss.

Is pap good for cholesterol?

On the plus side, pap contains a good amount of chromium, zinc, magnesium, and other active ingredients that help reduce the body’s LDL cholesterol levels.

Chromium has been found in pap to be involved in lowering LDL cholesterol levels as well as inhibiting the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the body.

Is pap recommended for high blood pressure?

Long-term PAP treatment, as well as increased PAP hours in OSAHS patients, resulted in significant BP reductions not only in hypertensive patients but also in normotensive patients.

Is green maize good for diabetics?

If you have diabetes, you can eat corn. Corn contains energy, vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

It also has low sodium and fat content. However, follow the American Diabetes Association’s advice.

What role does akamu play in the body?

Immune system booster

Akamu (Ogi) contains all of the nutrients that the body requires.

It is high in protein, carbohydrates, fats, B-vitamins (vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5), iron, zinc, and other minerals needed for the proper functioning of your immune system