A US-based advocate of consumption of local foods, especially spices, effective for weight loss and metabolic health has promised to do all it takes to expose the nutritional benefits of Cameroon's Dichostachys glomerata popularly known as ‘Spice fruit’ to the global market.
The American entrepreneur and researcher who doubles as New York Times Best-selling author told reporters that she was amazed by the results of the research findings recently carried out and published by Pr. Julius Oben and the J&A Oben Foundation where he is cofounder.
Whittel said she only got to learn about the ‘Spice fruit’ through the Gate Way – an American company that supplies ingredients while researching on ingredients that can support the metabolism.
Marvelled by the research, she then decided to brave all the odds to visit Cameroon despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the security challenges to see for herself how the product is grown and see possibilities of giving it international visibility by organising a programme to showcase the plant at the international come 13 November 2020.
“We are going to share the video and the Cameroonian tradition of using the spices as well as the true story of the metabolism health in Cameroon,” Whittel told reporters, adding that it will help project positive image of Cameroonian researchers, expose their findings globally and paint a good image of the country.
She further stated that the showcase will not only give farmers the opportunity to supply the food spices globally but assured that she will go a step further to lobby the US department of agriculture to support the farmers in growing of the spice.
“Cameroon can benefit in that, we are taking Dr Oben’s research and putting it on a very large platform. So Dr Oben, his work and foundation, will have massive exposure which will put him to get more funding, so that he has more PhD students that can bring more science to the world to help more people become healthier,” she said.
She enjoined all and sundry to learn more about the spice and include it on their daily meals to live healthier during this pandemic period, adding that the habits of people determine the bacteria that they host, as well as the functioning of their immune system and ability to manage certain infections.
She said the research has proven that it is more important than ever before to pay more attention to what goes into individuals’ gastrointestinal tract, with the knowledge that foods should be the most important medication.
Whittel said after visiting Foumban in the West region were the spice is grown and living the daily realities of the farmers, she hopes to help put the spice in the international market and get others see its importance.
She promised collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to create a fair deals with the farmers as well as get links with the Ministry of Trade in order to get the spice sell in global markets.
She said the research prowess of Dr. Oben and the J&A Foundation has to be supported for it to be able to go beyond and increase collaboration with the foundation
She said the spice contains powerful antioxidants that helps support metabolism, manage weight, blood glucose amongst other health benefits. She added that the plant is worth introducing in America especially as their metabolism is not as strong as that of an Africans.
Prof Oben told reporters that the research on the Dichrostachys glomerata was done about ten years ago and the publications were out about six years ago.
He said the visibility to be given to the product by Whittel is a feat for Cameroonian researchers and will not only help put them on the fore but give a positive image of the country to the outside world.
Whittel promised to collaborate with the J&A foundation that operates a professional school of dietetics and functional foods, a nutrition and dietetics research center and a wellness center to guide people towards a healthier lifestyle in expanding giving exposure to the plant which sees as a national treasure for Cameroon.
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