Does groundnut really cause pimples?

For years upon years myths and legends have been spun around groundnuts. Pimples prone people advocate that groundnuts should be avoided completely to stop pimples from popping up like Christmas lights.

While it is true that oily foods cause inflammation of the skin and what we know as pimples pop out, there is no research definitely linking specific foods to pimple outbreaks. Surprising, right?

Well, you are not alone in this belief but the fact is that the process that causes pimples is quite complex.

Sometimes, pores become blocked and oil which is meant to be drained to the surface of the skin gets trapped and bacteria begin growing and bam!

You have a pimple on your face. Thus, it is not the groundnut that actually causes a pimple; it is the blocked pore that gets inflamed when natural oil can’t get out.

Some studies have revealed though that overall poor diet can create a hormonal imbalance that triggers all sorts of common skin disease, one of each is the appearance of pimples.

You might stay away from groundnuts and still suffer from terrible zits so instead go for diets that help rejuvenate your skin rather than labeling some foods as bad for the skin.

Do more of fruits and water to stay hydrated and keep your skin fresh and healthy.

It might interest you to know that researchers say that groundnut can reduce dark spots on your face but if you are not comfortable eating them, you could apply the butter on your face instead.

Groundnut is actually nutritious with ample proportions of carbohydrate, protein, fats and no cholesterol. Little groundnut daily can lower the risk of heart disease.

However, just as too much of anything is bad; you should watch how much oil you take but not simply because of the fear of pimples. Let’s stop the marginalization of groundnuts!
Credit: Naijaloaded

5 African foods to avoid late at night

If you have had an extremely busy and long day, and you are finally free to eat at about 11pm, maybe, of course, it makes sense that you would want to gulp down a heavy meal to assuage the persisting hunger no matter how late in the day it is. Eating late at night is not a complete no-no as it is important to eat when you are hungry; you just have to be smart about it. 

Contrary to popular belief, eating late at night does not necessarily make you add weight nor does it have any negative health implications. Eating the wrong foods with the wrong number of calories is what brings on all the extra weight and most times disrupts your sleep. Are you visiting or currently living in Nigeria and you have the habit of eating late at night? Rather than just opting for the nearest, tastiest-looking Nigerian food, take a look at a list of 5 Nigerian foods to avoid late at night. Amala and Ewedu A food famous in the western region of the country, Amala and Ewedu is almost a staple on the menu of most Nigerian restaurants. While the soup is made with vegetable and spices, Amala is made with yam powder. They both form an appetizing combo, however, can be unfavorable to your stomach when consumed late in the night. Although the meal digests very easily, compared to other yam-based meals, it is urine inducing and can bring a lot of interruption discomfort to your sleep. 

Pepper soup 
A favorite Nigerian meal usually served with rice or yam as a side, pepper soup seems to be the perfect meal for times you are hungry at night as it is perceived as a light meal, but you may actually want to step away from it when you are craving something to eat late at night. The pepper soup contains certain spices and peppers that may upset your stomach and chemicals that can also stimulate your senses, making it hard to fall asleep.


Bread This would be easy to buy off of the streets if you getting back late and you know you would not have the energy to cook or microwave any major meal when you get home because it would be too late already. While Agege bread would be satisfying when eaten with tea, mayonnaise or butter late in the night, it contains a lot of carbohydrate and sugar that spikes up your blood sugar levels, causing your energy levels to spike and plummet, disrupting your sleep in the process. There is also a chance that you will likely wake up starving a few hours later or in the morning due to the overproduction of insulin the sugar triggers. 

Fries (yam, potatoes, akara) If you have had dinner by 7 pm and you are still awake by 12pm and you are hungry, you may want to indulge in light finger food. The go to would be fried yam, plantain , potatoes or even akara. While this food may seem like a light meal, they actually are not. They are greasy heavy foods! They weigh on your stomach and take a while to digest, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish in the morning. Also, they do more harm to your sleep than good. You may have to deal with stomach pains, cramps, abdominal bloating, heartburn, and acid reflux, resulting in poor sleep quality. Ewa Agoyin A meal made of beans paired with a spicy sauce made with Palm oil and dried crushed chilies, Ewa agoyin is very tasty but a horrible option for late-night snacking or eating.Not only can it trigger heartburn, as well as upset your stomach, it can totally sabotage a day of good eating and actually keep you from going to sleep.