By Yunus S Saliu
Kabba is one fruits that cannot overlooked in Gambia and Senegal whenever it is available in the markets, especially by women and children.
Nutritionists disclosed that kabba contains lots of health “but with the mixtures of salt, sugar, lemon, pepper and other ingredients that we ignore, we note dangers that weaken health, such as the reduction of minerals.”
According to a publication in Leral.Net, Assane Niang, a nutritionist, indicates that Saba senegalensis better known as madd (in Senegal) and kabba (in Gambia) grows the most in flooded areas and is rich in vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Very rich in fiber, it aids digestion, but constitutions and mixtures can cause irritation, gastric problems and stomach complications. Thus, he advised the consumer to decrease the doses, if possible to eat it without sugar to further strengthen the minerals.
The seasoning can sometimes be dangerous for health, warns Djibril Samb, nutritionist of his condition, who “indicates that the high temperature cooker, with the addition of salt, sugar or pepper is not recommended to preserve vitamins and minerals. If the added sugar is not limited, the fruit will have a high glycemic index and will become problematic for people who are gastric, overweight and/or diabetic,” he warned.
Nutritionist Djibril Samb explained and recommended that Kabba is a fruit with many virtues, as it is very rich in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, which helps strengthen the immune system and relieve osteoarticular problems. And for that, it must be consumed naturally without or with moderate sugar and between meals as a snack.
However, in The Gambia many people especially women and young children even some men buy it every day while most have become addicted that their eyes cannot go off it in a day without tasting it during it season.
Few people in The Gambia are with the believe that there is need for better enlightenment for the consumption for health purposes taking into consideration the mixing of it with different items such as salt, sugar, jumbo, pepper, essence among other seasoning.