TURKEY BERRY-(KWAHO NSUSUA)

                                                 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURKEY BERRY

(KWAHO NSUSUA)

Article written by Dr Kutin
Agona Duakwa, Central, Region.
Ghana.
What is Turkey Berry ?
Turkey Berry is a type of spiny, flowering shrub that produces large cluster of yellow-green pea-packed berries .The scientific name of Turkey Berry is Solanum torvum, it belongs to nightshade family of plant. Other common name in Akan language is 'Kwahu Nsusua' or Abeduero. It is believed to have originated from Central and South America, but they spread easily much like weeds and can be found all over the world, including Asia, pacific Island, America and Africa. Turkey berry [Kwahu Nsusua] is used as both a food and herbal remedy for countless physical ailment. 
Science Behind Turkey Berry.
.Research done on 8th February, 2022. by University of Cape Coast on the nutritional value in the Turkey Berry indicate that Protein-2.32g, Iron-7.6mg, Calcium 22mg, Vitamin A-70ng, Vitamin C 2.68mg, Dietary fiber 3.9g, carbohydrates 7.03g etc. Also used for their medicinal properties such as aiding in the production of new red blood cell, and boosting overall immunity against common cold and fly.
 Why should you eat Turkey Berry? Turkey Berry contain a lot of room and so very good for treating anemia, treat diabetes, protect  against cancer, treat kidney disease, prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke, regulate menstruation, weight gain, treatment of phlegm and mucus, treat indigestion and diarrhea, prevent intestinal worm, may protect Against Heavy metal Toxicity. 
Turkey Berry mixed with milk. Research conducted by Opera News company Ltd in 2021, on "turkey berry mix with milk". Both Turkey berry and milk join their forces together to help produce ample red blood cell and as well as aid in effective blood circulation in the body which does not put pressure in the heart. Both collaborate to eradicate Anemia the prevent any disease associated with the blood and the cardiovascular system. It is very efficacious and effective.


Safety, and Precaution and Possible Side of the Turkey Berry
All the parts of the Turkey Berry plant including its root, leave, stem and fruits are used for medicinal, horticultural and homemade culinary purposes throughout the world. Like other nightshades, turkey berry contain a class of compound called glycoalkaloids, When consumed in large dose can cause adverse digestive and neurological symptoms such as nausea, stomach ache, diarrheas, and confusion. There isn't robust scientific evidence regarding the safety of turkey berry among pregnancy and breastfeeding women.
Conclusion
This indigenous plant has saved the lives of the people in the world. To live long life is to clean the blood vessels which put less pressure on the heart. Turkey Berry has spiritual benefits as well. The title of this review refers to the popular phrase 'Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food', often ascribed to Hippocrates (400 BC), and used to emphasize the importance of nutrition to prevent or cure disease.
Reference;
Opera News CO. Ltd news published in 15/08/2021 on Turkey Berry mixed with milk.
University of Cape Coast, researched on Nutritional Value on Turkey Berry published on 08/02/2022.
WHO, Nutritional Value on Plant of nightshades.
  
 

Pure water Safety

Pure water safety                                       Sachet Water Syndrome 

                                             (Pure water)

Article written by: Dr. Francis Cash Kutin, 
Agona Duakwa.

What is sachet water ?
Sachet water is packaged sealed water in 500mL polyethylene plastic bags which heat-sealed on either end. The sachet water has become the primary source of drinking water in part of global south and popularly in Africa.

Source of the water for production of sachet water
Most of the Sachet Water Companies source water from the well, borehole, pipes, ocean, rivers and stored water in poly-tanks for production. Different water sources have different purity levels. Hygienic factors and environmental pollution turn to affect purity of the source of water. Prior to packaging, the water goes through a number of treatment processes, mainly filtration in an attempt to make it cleaner and safer for consumption.

Is it good to drink sachet water (pure water)?
A person can survive for about a month without food, about a week without water and less than five minutes without air, constitute the three main necessities of life. 
Many studies have been done since sachet water was discovered in 1994 by Brattleboro Vermont, for the world works in remote and undeserved regions of the developing countries that lack sustainable clean safe drinking water. Most pure water is not safe for drinking. Sachet water have been reported to contain bacteria such as Bacillus sp.,pseudomonas sp and oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. The quality packaged of water assessed in Ghana showed some level of microbial contamination. The results of the study indicated that bottled water has lower microbial load than sachet water. E. Coli, clostridium perfringens spore and fecal streptococcus were the most common isolated microbe from the package water.
Microbial Research done and published online 2019 by National Library of Medicine

   “(https://www.idexx.com/pdf/en.us./water/qt97mpntable.pdf).

Does drinking pure water causes Typhoid ?
Typhoid is a bacteria infection that can spread throughout the body, affecting many organs, it can cause serious complications and can be fatal. People who drink contaminated water or eat food washed in contaminated water can develop typhoid fever. Coalition Against Typhoid in Ghana estimated that Ghana is a typhoid-endemic country. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that in 2017, there were at least: 69506 typhoid cases, 973 typhoid deaths and 88,981 disability-adjusted life-years lost to typhoid. The findings of this investigation showed that a large percentage of the popular sachet-packed water is microbiological unsafe for human consumption, constituting potential health risk, and this can be linked to the increasing incidence of typhoid fever among other food and water-borne infections

Conclusion:

Government must be determined to increase resource allocations to relevant regulatory agencies to ensure adequate monitoring and enforcement of production, transportation and storage of sachet water in Ghana.

 Reference: 

1. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development

Microbiology Department, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P.M.B 2240.

Pure water syndrome: Bacteriological Quality of Sachet Packed drinking Water Sold in Nigeria.

2.WHO. Toxicological Evaluation of Certain Food Contaminants. 28th Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1984: WHO Food  Additives Series No. 19. World Health Organization, Geneva.