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LIFESTYLE: An unbelievable medicinal benefits of cloves that need to be known.

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Photo credit: NourishDoc

Cloves are a popular spice used in a variety of ways across the world, particularly in Asia. They form a culinary base in a number of different Asian cuisines.

Clove is the dried bud of the flower from the tree Syzygium aromaticum. It belongs to the plant family named Myrtaceae. It is an evergreen plant growing in tropical and subtropical conditions. Clove is an herb of which people use various parts of the plant, including the dried buds, stems, and leaves to make medicine. Clove oil is famous for its ancient medicinal properties.

Health Benefits of Cloves.
Packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds, it is no wonder that even a small amount of cloves have some interesting health benefits to offer. Let’s take a look at their health benefits.

It boosts Gastrointestinal Health.
Cloves are known to have been used in several traditional medicinal cultures as a way to help with stomach issues. According to the book ‘Herbs that Heal: Natural Remedies for Good Health’, cloves have been used to boost digestion and control gastrointestinal irritation. Furthermore, fried cloves could also be used to stop vomiting, owing to their anesthetic properties. It is also effective against ulcers and can be used as a purgative agent.

It has antibacterial properties.
Cloves are touted by many for their antibacterial properties against several human pathogens. The extracts of cloves were potent enough to kill those pathogens.

It protects the liver
Cloves contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are ideal for protecting the organs from the effects of free radicals, especially the liver. Metabolism, in the long run, increases free radical production and lipid profile, while decreasing the antioxidants in the liver. Clove extracts are a helpful component in counteracting these effects with their hepatoprotective properties.

It serves Diabetes Management.
Extracts from cloves imitate insulin in certain ways and help in controlling blood sugar levels. One study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that cloves may have a beneficial effect on diabetes as part of a plant-based diet.

It preserves the bone.
The hydro-alcoholic extracts of this spice include phenolic compounds, such as eugenol, and its derivatives, such as flavones, isoflavones, and flavonoids. Studies have suggested that these extracts may be helpful in preserving bone density and the mineral content of bone, as well as increasing the tensile strength of bones in case of osteoporosis. More research is needed to confirm the efficacy of these findings.

It serves as an immunity booster
Ayurveda describes certain plants to be effective in developing and protecting the immune system. One such plant is the clove. The dried flower bud of clove contains compounds that help in improving the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thereby, improving delayed-type hypersensitivity.

It has anti-inflammatory properties
The spice possesses anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Studies on clove extracts administered to lab rats suggest that the presence of eugenol reduced the inflammation caused by edema. It was also confirmed that eugenol can reduce pain by stimulating pain receptors.

Health benefits of cloves infographic
Clove is an herb of which people use various parts of the plant, including the dried buds, stems, and leaves to make medicine.

It gives oral health
Cloves can be taken for a reduction in gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Clove bud extracts significantly control the growth of oral pathogens, which are responsible for various oral diseases, as per a study published in the Journal of Natural Products. They can also be used for toothaches due to their pain-killing properties.

It has aphrodisiac properties
Since ancient times, spices such as clove and nutmeg have been said to possess aphrodisiac properties, according to Unani medicine. Experiments on clove and nutmeg extracts were tested against standard drugs administered for that reason, and both clove and nutmeg showed positive results.

It is good for headache treatment
Headaches may be reduced by using cloves. Make a paste of a few spice buds and mix it with a dash of rock salt. Add this to a glass of milk. This mixture reduces headaches quickly and effectively.

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LIFESTYLE: Vital body organs and how to keep them for proper functioning.

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Photo credit: The Portugal News.

Human body parts are the most essential for living which is not sold in the open market. To live long and healthy, the body parts need to be taken care of properly from all diseases and other ailments.

There are certain safety protocols that could be observed to live healthy for long life. These are the body parts and how they could be taken care of properly.

STOMACH
The stomach is injured when you do not have breakfast in the morning. Aside from fasting, it is important to take breakfast every morning to prevent the stomach been harmed.

KIDNEYS
The kidneys are one of the most important organs in the body that acts as very efficient filters for ridding the body of waste and toxic substances, and returning vitamins, amino acids, glucose, hormones, and other vital substances into the bloodstream.
The kidneys are injured when you do not even drink 10 glasses of water in 24 hours, therefore, water should be taken regularly to keep the kidneys healthy at all times.

LIVER
The liver is one of the most powerful organs in the body. The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile which helps to carry away waste products from the liver.
The liver needs to be protected well for functioning by avoiding eating heavy fried food, junk, and fast food.

HEART
The heart is another important body organ that is the center of the circulatory system, which is a network of blood vessels that delivers blood to every part of the body.
The heart is injured when meals with more salt and cholesterol are consumed in the body.

LUNGS
The lungs are also important organs in the body. They are the center of the respiratory system and the lungs provide oxygen to the body for living and get rid of the carbon dioxide waste product that is made by the cells during their normal everyday function.
The lungs are injured when one breathes in the smoke and stays in a polluted environment of cigarettes.

SMALL INTESTINE
The small intestine is an organ that carries out most of the digestive process, absorbing almost all the nutrients needed from foods that are consumed into the bloodstream.
To give a healthy living to the organ, one must avoid eating cold and stale foods.

LARGE INTESTINES
The large intestines are to absorbed water and salts from the materials that have not been digested as food, get rid of any waste products left over.
The large intestines are injured when more fried and spicy food is consumed into the body.

Let us all take good care of our body organs for healthy living.

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Financial institutions should tailor a package for the youth who venture into agriculture – Hon. Zenator Rawlings.

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Agriculture is perceived to be a dirty job reserved for the aged. Youth of today, after graduating from the tertiary institutions yearns to work in the office, putting on suit with tie leaving the agriculture sector for the aged due to lack of support.

To change the narrative and save the country from the imminent hunger strike and food security and to achieve SDG2, Hon. Zenator Rawlings, the MP for Osu Klorttey, and the Patron for the ongoing AG-STUD 2021 Bootcamp has underscored the need for the financial institutions to tailored a package for the youth who venture into agriculture.

Passionately speaking, Hon. Zenator said a lot of people have the mindset of agriculture being a subsistence concept that does not yield any profit, but agriculture is a very profitable sector and agribusiness is the future of Ghana, therefore, there is a need to give the youth orientation, encouragement, and support them.

She commended Agrihouse Foundation for organizing such a Bootcamp for the youth. “This is one workshop that I think is going to be a lot of use to the youth because we have the Bootcamp here, not just about having mentors to speak to but also the practical experience and the support and we need more support for these young people who are daring to take that risk in the agric sector”.

“We should make sure that the financial institutions tailor a package specifically for the youth who are venturing into the agriculture sector”, Hon. added.

She urged the private partners to support the improvement of the youth as Agrihouse Foundation is doing and called on the stakeholders to support Agrichouse to impact more knowledge and skills in the youth to change the narrative.

Speaking to Agric Today, Alberta Nana Akosa, the Executive Director of Agrichouse Foundation said as a result of the great impact that the AG-STUD has had on those who participated in previous years, seventeen schools participated this year.

“The Bootcamp has really built the capacities of the students. From the various testimonies, more business opportunities have been created, and it is amazing to say that this year, seventeen schools came on board as compared to last year’s seven schools”, she gladly said.

Madam Alberta urged the government, private organizations, and stakeholders to support the course to develop the youth to take an active role in the agribusiness to solve food security and unemployment rate in the country.

“I am calling on everyone who wants to assist this course to come on board because this is the project that transforms, equips, and builds the capacities of the youth and arouses their interest in agribusiness as they are availed to their mentors.

Obed Asamoah, a beneficiary of AG-STUD 2018 and a mentor to AG-STUD 2021 appraised Agrihouse Foundation for igniting the interest he had in agriculture when he was in school.

According to him, the knowledge, and the skills gained from the Bootcamp have broadened his horizon and have opened greater opportunities for him. As a beneficiary, he has gained a scholarship to study Pathology at Utsunomiya University, Japan.

He thanked Agrihouse Foundation, sponsors, and the supporting partners for making it possible for the youth actualizing their potentials in the agriculture sector. He called for more support especially the stakeholders and the financial institutions to support the youth who have the passion to produce to feed the country.

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LIFESTYLE: This veggie could be described as the best due to its medicinal benefits.

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Broccoli is known to be a hearty and tasty vegetable that is rich in dozens of nutrients. It is said to pack the most nutritional punch of any vegetable. Thinking about green vegetables to include in our diet, broccoli is one of the foremost veggies to consider. Coming from the cabbage family, broccoli can be categorized as an edible green plant.

Here are some of the medicinal benefits of broccoli:
It prevents cancer

Broccoli shares cancer-fighting and immune-boosting properties with other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Broccoli contains properties that deplete estrogens which usually cause cancer in the body. Research shows that broccoli is extremely suitable for preventing breast and uterus cancer.

It reduces cholesterol level
Like many whole foods, broccoli is packed with soluble fiber that draws cholesterol out of your body. This is because the fiber in broccoli helps bind with bile acids in the digestive tract. This makes excreting cholesterol out of our body easy. According to research by the Institute of Food Research, a particular variety of broccoli can help reduce the blood LDL-cholesterol levels by 6 percent.

It reduces allergic reaction and inflammation
Research has shown the ability of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our bodies. Broccoli even has significant amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, which are well known as an anti-inflammatory. Along with this, broccoli can also help people suffering from arthritis as broccoli contains sulforaphane, a chemical that blocks the enzymes that can cause joint destruction and hence lead to inflammation.

It is a powerful antioxidant
Broccoli contains antioxidants that can help the body in a variety of ways. Broccoli is deeply concentrated with vitamin C, making it great for immunity. Other than this, broccoli also contains flavonoids which help recycle the vitamin C efficiently. It is also enriched with carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and other power-packed antioxidants.

For strong bone
Broccoli contains high levels of both calcium and vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis. Along with calcium, broccoli is also full of other nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and phosphorous. Because of these properties, broccoli is extremely suitable for children, the elderly and lactating mothers.

It protects the Heart
The anti-inflammatory properties of sulforaphane, one of the isothiocyanates (ITCs) in broccoli, may be able to prevent (or even reverse) some of the damage to blood vessel linings that can be caused by inflammation due to chronic blood sugar problems. Broccoli is great for heart health as it contains fibers, fatty acids, and vitamins that help to regulate blood pressure in the body. This also helps in reducing bad cholesterol, hence leading to a healthy heart. Broccoli helps to protect blood vessels from damage as well.

It aids in diet
Broccoli is a good carb and is high in fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating. Along with this, broccoli is also great for weight loss because it is rich in fiber. It is an ideal green vegetable to include in your salads and completing your five coloured vegetables every day. In addition to this, broccoli also contains proteins, making it suitable for vegetarians that are otherwise not able to complete their protein requirement.

It is a great veggie for detoxification
Since broccoli is rich in fiber, it can help get rid of toxins through the digestive tract. Other than this, broccoli is also full of antioxidants that help in the overall detoxification of the body. Broccoli includes special phytonutrients that help in the body’s detox process. This means that the body gets rids of unwanted contaminants. Broccoli also contains isothiocyanates, which help in the detox process at the genetic level.

Good for the skin
Skincare not only includes glow but also its immunity. Since broccoli is a powerhouse of antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin C and minerals such as copper and zinc, broccoli helps in maintaining healthy skin. This means it also protects the skin from getting infections as well as keeps the natural glow of your skin. Broccoli is full of vitamin K, amino acids, and folates, making it ideal for maintaining healthy skin immunity.

Good for the Eye
Broccoli contains beta-carotene, vitamin A, phosphorous and other vitamins such as B complex, vitamin C and E. All these rich nutrients are great for eye health as these help in protecting the eyes against mascular degeneration, cataract and even repairs damage done by harmful radiations we go through by being constantly on our phones or being in front of a screen.

It serves as an anti-aging property
Since broccoli is enriched with vitamin C, which has numerous antioxidant properties, it is great for anti-aging. This is because antioxidants help fight the free radicals responsible for aging. These free radicals often damage the skin. Eating broccoli regularly helps in reducing fine lines, wrinkles, skin issues like acne, and even pigmentation.

It prevents and fights pollution and toxins
Broccoli is a nutrient-rich vegetable with a number of helpful vitamins, minerals. What makes it an effective anti-pollution food is its ability to act down on certain pollutants. It’s not the sprouts themselves but the components found in the stub which are good for the body. In fact, a study conducted in China found out that broccoli sprouts were particularly helpful in fighting and detoxing away the air pollutants from the root.

When you eat broccoli, the phytochemical present in it, called glucoraphanin initiates a chemical reaction that attaches itself to the harmful benzene compound, breaks it down, and recharges the body to excrete it faster, before it gets the time to do the damage on the cellular level. The same mechanism has also been found helpful to get rid of toxins associated with pollution and cigarette smoke. Hence, detoxifying the body by consuming a simple vegetable like fresh broccoli juice or smoothie as soon as you hit home can alleviate some of the health risks at the ground level.

The people in the new study who drank a concentrated tea made with broccoli spouts excreted 61 percent more benzene and 23 percent more acrolein, a lung irritant, as compared with a group who drank a placebo beverage.

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PRESS RELEASE: Cocoa fruit sorbet; Venchi launches a gelato made with Koa.

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Summer is here. With its latest gelato product range, the Italian chocolate and gelato manufacturer Venchi offers a surprisingly refreshing taste experience. The ingredient for the new cocoa fruit sorbet is produced by the start-up Koa. The natural cocoa fruit juice “Koa Pure” offers the ideal basis for innovative applications with a sustainable vision.

Until now, the pulp that surrounds the cocoa beans couldn’t be processed in cocoa-growing countries due to a lack of infrastructure and technology. In conventional cocoa processing, only a small part of the white pulp was used for fermentation. Koa has found an innovative way to gently process the cocoa fruit in close cooperation with 1,600 smallholders. “The utilisation of the cocoa pulp enables the smallholders to earn an additional income and at the same time creates jobs in rural Ghana,” Daniel Otu, Operations Director at Koa in Ghana, explains.

Cocoa fruit sorbet, shake, and praline for Gelato fans
Koa Pure opens up new possibilities for the food industry. Thanks to the 100% natural juice and its gentle processing, the original aroma of the cocoa fruit is preserved. Besides aroma, sweetness is an important factor for gelato creations. Koa Pure naturally provides it. Especially at low temperatures, the exotic fruity taste unfolds. Thus, it’s ideal for applications such as gelato.

The Italian chocolate and gelato manufacturer Venchi has discovered this potential and recently presented its product innovation, the cocoa fruit sorbet. Based on the sorbet, Venchi also offers a gelato shake and a gelato praline. The three creations are available in Italy, England, and Germany at Venchi boutiques (https://eu.venchi.com).

Giovanni Battista Mantelli, Venchi director, and innovation manager emphasizes: “I am really glad we found a partner which is located directly at the cocoa farms and perfectly preserves this precious nectar. Thanks to this collaboration, we can present a world premiere of our Italian gelato made with cocoa pulp to discover the delicate fruity and refreshing taste which I tried for the first time when I visited the cocoa rainforest.”

For Koa, the partnership is a milestone. “As young entrepreneurs, we’re particularly proud to cooperate with the traditional manufacturer and innovation leader Venchi for this new gelato,” Anian Schreiber, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Koa, highlights. “Venchi’s launch clearly shows how versatile Koa Pure can be used and what potential the cocoa fruit has. The additional income benefits not only the cocoa farmers but also gelato fans with a wonderful summer-like taste and the conscience of doing something good.” By using the pulp, cocoa farmers can now benefit twice. Koa aims to partner with 80,000 smallholders by 2030 to sustainably transform cocoa farming.

About Koa
The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa uses the pulp of the cocoa fruit, thus reducing food waste and providing cocoa smallholders with an additional income. Today, 42 employees in Ghana and Switzerland dedicate themselves to the growth of Koa to boost value creation in the cocoa-growing regions and to developing innovative and pioneering processes. With the natural cocoa fruit products, Koa brings a previously unknown taste to the European market and opens up new possibilities for both the food and beverage industry as well as for gastronomy.

www.koa-impact.com

Press contact
Koa Switzerland AG Andrea Werdin
+41 79 825 47 05
andrea@koa-impact.com

Using cocoa fruit to fight smallholder poverty.
Smallholders with farms of two to three hectares form the backbone of cocoa farming worldwide. More than 90% of cocoa comes from smallholders, 75% of which live in West Africa. In Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer, around 800,000 smallholders cultivate mixed crops.

The cooperation with Koa and the use of the cocoa pulp increases the income of smallholders and diversifies their income source. At the same time, new jobs are created for locals.

Photos
A selection of photos in high resolution can be found here:

http://bit.ly/cocoafruitgelato

Cocoa fruit products since 2017
Koa has been working with smallholders in Ghana since 2017 and offers cocoa fruit products for a wide range of applications.

Besides “Koa Pure,” their cocoa fruit juice, Koa recently launched “Koa Powder”, dried cocoa fruit pulp. All Koa products are pure and all-natural, gently processed, and 100% transparently traceable. All in line with the company’s motto, “Taste your impact,” doubling the customers’ enjoyment.

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LIFESTYLE: Foods to avoid if you have fatty liver disease.

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Fatty liver disease as the name suggests having too much fat in the liver. In a healthy body, the liver helps to remove toxins and produces bile, the digestive protein. The fatty liver disease damages the liver and prevents it from working as it should.

There are two major types of fatty liver disease: alcohol-induced and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease affects adults and it is one of the leading contributors to liver failure. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is most commonly diagnosed in those who are obese or sedentary and those who eat a highly-processed diet.

There are definitely foods one should avoid or limit if you have fatty liver disease. These foods generally contribute to weight gain and increasing blood sugar.
Alcohol. Alcohol is a major cause of fatty liver disease as well as other liver diseases.

Added sugar. Stay away from sugary foods such as candy, cookies, sodas, and fruit juices. High blood sugar increases the amount of fat buildup in the liver.

Fried foods. Fried foods are high in fat and calories.

Salt. Eating too much salt can make your body hold on to excess water. Limit sodium to less than 1,500 milligrams per day.

White bread, rice, and pasta. White usually means the flour is highly processed, which can raise your blood sugar more than whole grains due to a lack of fiber.

Red meat. Beef and deli meats are high in saturated fat.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Generation Africa is here again with the third annual US$100,000 GoGettaz youth Agripreneur Prize Competition.

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The Generation Africa is here again with the third annual US$100,000 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition looking for young, agrifood change-makers with business models that can revolutionize food systems across the African continent.

Returning for its third year, the ground-breaking US$100,000 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition continues to inspire agrifood entrepreneurs from Cape Town to Cairo to use their energy, courage, and creativity to solve the biggest problems facing Africa’s food systems. Launching on 19 April 2021, this year’s competition aims to expand the GoGettaz community of agripreneurs, providing them with access to education, mentorship, and investment networks as they launch, grow, or scale their agrifood ventures.

The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition is open to African citizens between 18 and 35 years old who are founders or co-founders of social or commercial agrifood businesses headquartered in Africa. After a challenging selection process ending in a grand finale pitch competition in July 2021, two winners, one woman, and one man, with scalable and impactful business or social ventures will each receive US$50,000 for their businesses. The award ceremony will take place alongside the prestigious Africa Food Prize. Applications can be submitted here: http://gogettaz.africa.

Head of Generation Africa Dickson Naftali says, “This is an incredibly important year for global food systems. COVID has exacerbated food insecurity, inequalities, and poverty. The pandemic has challenged conventional logic around food production and food security as global supply lines came to a standstill. It is obvious that things must change. Generation Africa believes that food systems can change if we collaboratively support young African agri-food entrepreneurs, as well as small and medium agribusinesses across the continent.”

Through the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition, Generation Africa seeks to reward visionary young Africans who demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative problem-solving in developing and growing their agrifood businesses. Beyond the two grand prizes, last year’s competition awarded four additional prizes of US$2,500 to enterprises that played an inspiring role in their communities. These Impact Awards were created to celebrate businesses with tangible social impact. Generation Africa hopes to discover more deserving recipients in the 2021 competition.

Cash prizes are not the only motivation for entering the competition. “Last year, a thousand members of the GoGettaz community received free access to the Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness courses organized by the Agripreneurship Alliance. And all who join the GoGettaz community gets instant online access to high-quality training material to help guide them through the business start-up process,” says Amanda Namayi, GoGettaz Lead.

The Generation Africa GoGettaz online platform is also a community-building initiative to give a voice to the young agripreneurs of Africa. Through research surveys, conversations, and high-level meetings, Generation Africa works to ensure opportunities and challenges are understood and taken seriously in agenda-setting forums across the continent and globally.

Since its launch in 2019, Generation Africa has brought onboard USAID as a co-founding partner. Additionally, influential new collaborators, Nourishing Africa and One Young World have joined the exciting Generation Africa ecosystem development movement to reach and inspire agrifood entrepreneurs on the African continent in innovative ways.

Speaking from the AGRA head office, Amanda says, “Even with the COVID crisis, last year more than 3,000 applicants from 29 African countries, registered to compete, with 12 exceptional businesses making it through to the Top 12. It was an impressive turn-out. This year we look forward to thousands of more entrepreneurs hearing our message, joining GoGettaz, and caring to compete for the grand prizes. GoGettaz is a movement for change, and these are the changemakers!”

The proposition is simple: Show the world your solution and win US$50,000.
Go to http://gogettaz.africa to find out more.
Generation Africa Co-Founders:
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa: https://agra.org/
Corteva Agriscience: https://www.corteva.com/
Econet: https://www.econetafrica.com/
Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions: http://www.sacau.org/
Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture: https://www.syngentafoundation.org/
U.S. Agency for International Development https://www.usaid.gov/
Yara International: https://www.yara.com/

Generation Africa Collaborators:
Nourishing Africa https://nourishingafrica.com/
One Young World https://www.oneyoungworld.com/

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LIFESTYLE: Amazing health benefits of mustard seed that you must know.

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Mustard seeds are rich in a nutrient called selenium, known for its high anti-inflammatory effects. N The high source of magnesium in mustard seeds helps to reduce the severity of asthma attacks and certain symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and lowering blood pressure.

Health benefits of mustard seed.
It help prevents cancer.
The presence of compounds like glucosinolates and mirosinase in mustard seeds are known to use phytochemicals to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This is definitely a major mustard seeds health benefit.

It helps to relieve Rheumatic Arthritis
Mustard seeds are a source of relief for people having rheumatic arthritis. The selenium and magnesium content in it helps in providing relief from this problem.

It helps to relieve Migraine
Migraine occurrence also reduces owing to the magnesium content present in the mustard seed. A little touch of mustard to your fish can boost the constituting omega-3 content.

It prevents Respiration Congestion
Mustard seeds or mustard, in general, are known to relieve any congestion problems in respiration.

It aids in disease Prevention
There are certain nutrients in mustard seeds that prevent diseases from occurring. They are all a part of the basic structure of the Brassica family to which mustard belongs.

It serves as Dietary Fibre
Mustard seeds are a good source of dietary fibres that improve digestion in the body. They make bowel movements better, thus improving the overall metabolism of the body. The fibre content here is mostly very readily soluble making it effective for use.

It lowers cancer risk
Selenium content in mustard seeds provides good resistance to the body against cancer cell formation. It is known to slow down the rate of development of cancer cells and also acts as an anti-oxidant.

It serves as blood pressure and menopausal relief
A number of nutrients present in mustard seeds like copper, iron, magnesium, and selenium also assist in the treatment of blood pressure and menopause relief.

It prevents Asthma
Mustard seeds are also known to be beneficial for Asthma patients. The presence of minerals like copper, magnesium, iron, and selenium in it are responsible for the prevention of Asthma Attacks.

Skin Benefits of Mustard Seeds
Natural scrub: Mustard seeds are a natural scrub. You can add it to either lavender or rose essential oil. Use this mix to scrub your face and exfoliate dead skin.

Hydrates skin: Mustard seeds, used with aloe vera gel, can act as a great combination to hydrate your skin. It removes all impurities from your face and nourishes it from within.

It fights infections: These seeds contain a good amount of sulphur which is known for its anti-fungal properties. They help ward off skin infections.

It slows down aging: Mustard seeds make for a great source of carotene and lutein. It is also a great powerhouse of vitamins A, C, and K. Together these nutrients make for an excellent antioxidant.

Hair Benefits of Mustard Seeds
Hair growth: Mustard oil, extracted from mustard seeds, is a good source of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a great nutrient for hair growth. It is also a great stimulant that leads to faster hair growth.

Strengthens hair: Mustard seeds contain protein, calcium, vitamin A and E, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. All of these together strengthens your hair from within. Strengthened hair means lesser hair fall too.

Conditions: Mustard seeds contain fatty acids. These are known to condition your hair from deep within. It also gives hair a good shine and bounce.

Other uses
Removes odour: If your jars start to smell like the spices or ingredients you store in them, using mustard seeds can help. Warm a little water and add it to the jar. Also, add a little mustard seed paste to the jar and shake it well. Pour it out. You would be surprised how the smell goes away.
Relieves Muscle Pains: Stiff muscles or sore and aching muscles can be treated with mustard seeds too. Just soak yourself in a tub of warm water. Now add some mustard seeds powder to the same to relieve pain.
Treats Cold: Mustard is often used to relieve congestion caused by a bad cough or cold.
Treats Back Pain: The extract of mustard seeds is useful in relieving spasms and back pain.
Treats Fever: Mustard seeds induce heavy sweating, which is used to lower fever. It helps release toxins from the body and has been useful in flu and cold too.

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Volta Agriculture Directorate to train farmers in rice seed production.

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Mr. William Dzamefe, Volta Regional Agriculture Director, has hinted that the Directorate is working on plans to equip some rice farmers in the region with the knowledge to go into rice seed production.

He said that would help them to have access to quality seed. In addition, he said seed is an important input in agriculture, thus the need to make it available to farmers at all times.

Mr. Dzamefe, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview said one key factor in achieving higher yields in rice production was seed quality, so his outfit would ensure that the planting material was of high quality to enable farmers to derive maximum benefits from their sweat.

“Rice is one crop that does well across the region for that matter the potential is huge…it is one crop that holds a lot of prospect for our farmers, but we still have room to expand to make us reap the full benefits in the industry,” he said.

Mr. Dzamefe said the region had produced 4.7 metric tons of rice/hectare as a regional average per annum with the figure not changing over the past three years.

The Director disclosed that the high cost of land preparation is one of the major challenges bedeviling farmers in the region, making most of them unable to develop available fields to upscale production.

He said though the government provided subsidized machinery to support them in preparing the land, those subsidized machineries are still way beyond the reach of individual farmers.

Mr. Dzamefe called on the farmers to form associations to raise money to fund the cost of machinery to undertake their activities to sustain their business and called for proper maintenance of their farm fields, saying “government can come in to do the field for you, but the rest of the intervention to ensure proper yield is purely yours.

“Though it is capital intensive, once you have chosen to be a rice farmer… you have to do what you could to make the best out of it”, he stated.

Mr. Dzamefe said the soil had a lot of money in it, “but you need to dirty your hand to get that money out of the soil”, urging the youth to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the agricultural sector to enhance their lots.

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ADB and more organizations commit financial and technical support towards the 4th AG-STUD Bootcamp.

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Several organizations, including the Agricultural Development Bank, have committed their financial and technical support towards the organization of the 4th annual Agricultural Students career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue & Bootcamp (AG-STUD AFRICA) organized by Agrihouse Foundation, scheduled to hold from April 19 to 23, 2021.

The list of organizations includes OCP, MyBarnes, Holland Akokor, CDF Canada, ADDFRA, Sonal Global, and Nanaam Ventures.

This is the third time running ADB is supporting the 5-day boot camp which seeks to build the capacity of the Ghanaian youth in innovative ways that feed into the country’s agricultural objective of achieving food security while providing them with sustainable employment.

The boot camp, annually brings together agricultural students, beginner agribusinesses, and start-ups to appreciate the pivotal role they are expected to play, in building resilience and preparedness towards sustaining the food security of the nation through creative and innovative agriculture.

The boot camp employs Military disciplinary drills, Mentorship sessions, coaching, educational tours, dialogues, role play, strategic competency-based capacity building, and leadership sessions, to contribute to the mindset change, whiles attracting campers to appreciate the entire value chain cycle, the roles, and career path, they can create and ultimately, assisting them to develop their business ideas and ensuring implementation of their business.

The Head of Marketing and Communications at ADB, Mr. Selorm Amevor reiterated ADB’s desire to contribute to the future building of the Agri-Youth, through the AG-STUD Bootcamp initiative. We are going to lead two major Training sessions during the boot camp; “Financial Modelling, Planning and Securing Financing and, “Developing or securing infrastructure, for a new farm enterprise. We are hoping that at the end of the day, we shall work closely with Agrihouse Foundation and the campers to support and enable them to establish and grow their business.

In their respective statements, CDF Canada and Holland Akokor both reiterated the need for corporate entities to support Agrihouse to lead the charge, in scaling up the boot camp initiative, which has over the last four (4) years, trained and equipped about six hundred students directly, across the country.

CDF Canada will be leading the campers through the 4R’s of Farming Practices, during the 5-day boot camp, whiles Holland Arkokor will be sharing the, “An entrepreneurs’ journey”, with the campers.

In a brief statement, Sonal Global, who will equally be leading the coaching session on Quality Food Production systems and standards, commended Agrihouse Foundation for creating a platform that continues to make an impact positively on the agri-youth.

OCP noted they are keenly looking forward to the main event while praising Agrihouse for being consistent with its efforts to increase young agripreneurs in the country.

Nanaam ventures noted that the food security of the nation depends greatly on its youthful population, and therefore urged the student’s and beginner agribusinesses who will be part of the Bootcamp to take advantage of the learning opportunity to build their capacity.

Schools and institutions participating in the 5-day boot camp include Ejura Agric College, Kwadaso, Damango, Animal Health, Fair River, Asuanzi, Wenchi, Animal Health, All Nations, UCC, Christian College, UDS, Legon, KNUST, Central, and the University of Energy and Ohaw Agric College respectively.

Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, said, the 5- day boot camp will be a scale-up of the last 3 events, employing more practical, action-oriented, creative, and innovative structures, that will drive and engineer speed for growth, amongst the campers.

This year’s Bootcamp is on the theme, “We have Enabled and Established the Agri-youth! Time to Scale-Up them-Up to Feed Ghana,” is a call on corporate institutions, development partners, Government, and stakeholders to join hands with Agrihouse Foundation, to support in scaling-up the Agri-businesses that has already been established, whiles supporting other promising youth to identify and build career paths within the value chain.

The Agricultural student’s career guidance and mentorship dialogue boot camp, (AG-STUD Africa), started in 2018, with nine institutions, and has steadily grown to be camping sixteen institutions (4 students from each school), “Our growing list of schools is a clear indication of the positive socio-economic impacts the program is having on participants and this year, we are committed to ensuring that our youth are equipped to feed the nation going forward,” Alberta noted

She said, this year’s Bootcamp will engage campers in activities such as Military Disciplinary Drills; Agri-Ted Mentorship Talks with industry leaders who will be present to share impactful stories of their life and professional experiences; An Ag-Voyage experience, which is an educational and tour to a number of agribusinesses and factories; Business Ideas Presentations; Brainstorming sessions with coaches; Competence-Based Training Sessions, with a focus on planning the economic sustainability of the new a new farm enterprise, Going digital; role-plays and other learning modules by the coaches and mentors who will be present with the campers.

Highlighting impacts of the Bootcamp, Alberta said, over the years, AG-STUD AFRICA, has introduced participating students and groups to several opportunities within the agricultural value chain; the platform continues to educate them with relevant knowledge and skills on how to harness such opportunities. As a result, over 600 students from 30 different schools who have participated in previous editions of AG-STUD have been taught to be self-reliant and supported with start-up capital to help them start their own agri-businesses.

Indirectly, the boot camp has benefitted over 1000 agri-business students and beginner agribusinesses enabling them to develop strong and bankable business plans. About 43 successful businesses are present, being run by students who have participated in AG-STUD.

According to Alberta, the primary objective of AG-STUD is to “Grow Futures,” by helping the students and beginner Agribusinesses, to appreciate the key roles they play in the growth and future of the entire agribusiness sector. In the 2nd year, the goal was to establish the Agri-youth, thus the theme, ‘Growing futures; establishing the Agri-youth. In the 3rd year, the Bootcamp sought to “ENABLE”, and therefore chose the theme, “Growing futures, Enabling the Agri-youth.”

“In this 4th year, our objective is to support start-up agribusinesses to survive and sustain, to help our young agripreneurs, to be more resilient to feed their household, community, and the nation,” she stressed.

She said, students are going to leave this year’s Bootcamp with practical knowledge in the production process; that will guarantee maximum efficacy; develop businesses, and be able to sustain them.

“We intend to assist our business clubs with opening bank accounts, seed capital to commence the Agribusiness idea/ initiative; a start-up input pack for farming and a business plan to direct their business idea. We will keep checking upon them as a way of monitoring, to help them establish themselves,” she added.

Ms. Akosa described AG-STUD Bootcamp as an innovative vehicle by which the passion and capacity of Ghanaian youth for agriculture can be ignited and developed and therefore used to the opportunity to call for corporate support towards the annual event.

AG-STUD AFRICA is in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA); National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association of Ghana (NFFAWAG).

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