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The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tigernuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.): A Potential Astronaut Food

Published in Frontiers (Volume 3, Issue 1)
Received: 18 May 2023    Accepted: 15 June 2023    Published: 27 June 2023
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Abstract

As space exploration progresses, the need for nutrient rich and functional foods for astronauts becomes increasingly crucial. Nigerian superfoods have gained recognition for their remarkable health and nutritional benefits. Astronauts face physiological and physical problems as a result of long exposure to radiation in the space environment that includes, oxidative damage, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, flatulence, bone resorption (osteoporosis), and muscular atrophy. To address these issues, scientists advise the use of dietary and food supplements. Tigernut is a nutritious indigenous nigerian superfood that either grows naturally or is cultivated for its edible tubers, it can be used whole as a snack, in milk, flour or oil form to produce a variety of meals, snacks and beverages. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, Essential amino acids, digestive enzymes, minerals, fiber and other important food constituents, which play an important role in combating some of the physiological changes and conditions experienced by the astronaut. This paper reviews the nutritional composition, functional benefits of tigernut (an indigenous Nigerian superfood) and its potential positive effects on astronauts’ wellbeing. Evaluating its potentials through this study will provide a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and health benefits of tigernut for Nigerian Astronauts. The result of the review carried out on the three cultivars of tigernut tubers (yellow, brown, and black) shows that they contain significant levels of macro and micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants that play a significant role in preventing and maintaining some of the health and physiological changes astronauts are exposed to as a result of microgravity and space flight.

Published in Frontiers (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11
Page(s) 1-5
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tigernuts, Nutritional, Health, Physiology, Astronaut, Microgravity

References
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[3] Airaodion AI, Ogbuagu EO. Effect of Cyperus esculentus L. (tiger nut) milk on hepatic and renal indices of Wistar rat. Asian Journal of Research in Nephrology. 2020; 3 (2): 10-6.
[4] Musa AA, Hamza A. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LOCALLY PREPARED ‘KUNUN AYA’ (TIGER-NUT MILK) CONSUMED BY STUDENTS OF KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY, KADUNA-NIGERIA. Science World Journal. 2013; 8 (2): 13-8.
[5] Maduka N, Ire FS. Tigernut plant and useful application of tigernut tubers (Cyperus esculentus)—A review. Curr. J. Appl. Sci. Technol. 2018; 29 (3): 1-23.
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[7] Oladele AK, Aina JO. Chemical composition and functional properties of flour produced from two varieties of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus). African Journal of Biotechnology. 2007; 6 (21).
[8] Adgidzi EA, Ingbian EK, Abu JO. Effects of storage on the quality of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) products. Production Agriculture Tech. 2011 Jun; 7 (1): 131-47.
[9] Suleiman MS, Olajide JE, Omale JA, Abbah OC, Ejembi DO. Proximate composition, mineral and some vitamin contents of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus). Clinical Investigation. 2018; 8 (4): 161-5.
[10] Igwebuike JI, Barber LI, Obinna-Echem PC. Quality Characteristics of Probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) Beverage from Hydrolyzed Tigernut Milk Supplemented with Beetroot Juice. American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2022; 10 (3): 95-102.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Hadiza Haruna Abdulrasheed, Solomon Jonathan Hussaini, Zainab Ibrahim Suleiman, Sofia Hussein Suleiman, Farida Mohammed Shehu, et al. (2023). The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tigernuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.): A Potential Astronaut Food. Frontiers, 3(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11

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    ACS Style

    Hadiza Haruna Abdulrasheed; Solomon Jonathan Hussaini; Zainab Ibrahim Suleiman; Sofia Hussein Suleiman; Farida Mohammed Shehu, et al. The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tigernuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.): A Potential Astronaut Food. Frontiers. 2023, 3(1), 1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11

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    AMA Style

    Hadiza Haruna Abdulrasheed, Solomon Jonathan Hussaini, Zainab Ibrahim Suleiman, Sofia Hussein Suleiman, Farida Mohammed Shehu, et al. The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tigernuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.): A Potential Astronaut Food. Frontiers. 2023;3(1):1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11,
      author = {Hadiza Haruna Abdulrasheed and Solomon Jonathan Hussaini and Zainab Ibrahim Suleiman and Sofia Hussein Suleiman and Farida Mohammed Shehu and Joel Oluwamurewa Olayemi},
      title = {The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tigernuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.): A Potential Astronaut Food},
      journal = {Frontiers},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-5},
      doi = {10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.frontiers.20230301.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.frontiers.20230301.11},
      abstract = {As space exploration progresses, the need for nutrient rich and functional foods for astronauts becomes increasingly crucial. Nigerian superfoods have gained recognition for their remarkable health and nutritional benefits. Astronauts face physiological and physical problems as a result of long exposure to radiation in the space environment that includes, oxidative damage, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, flatulence, bone resorption (osteoporosis), and muscular atrophy. To address these issues, scientists advise the use of dietary and food supplements. Tigernut is a nutritious indigenous nigerian superfood that either grows naturally or is cultivated for its edible tubers, it can be used whole as a snack, in milk, flour or oil form to produce a variety of meals, snacks and beverages. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, Essential amino acids, digestive enzymes, minerals, fiber and other important food constituents, which play an important role in combating some of the physiological changes and conditions experienced by the astronaut. This paper reviews the nutritional composition, functional benefits of tigernut (an indigenous Nigerian superfood) and its potential positive effects on astronauts’ wellbeing. Evaluating its potentials through this study will provide a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and health benefits of tigernut for Nigerian Astronauts. The result of the review carried out on the three cultivars of tigernut tubers (yellow, brown, and black) shows that they contain significant levels of macro and micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants that play a significant role in preventing and maintaining some of the health and physiological changes astronauts are exposed to as a result of microgravity and space flight.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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    AB  - As space exploration progresses, the need for nutrient rich and functional foods for astronauts becomes increasingly crucial. Nigerian superfoods have gained recognition for their remarkable health and nutritional benefits. Astronauts face physiological and physical problems as a result of long exposure to radiation in the space environment that includes, oxidative damage, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, flatulence, bone resorption (osteoporosis), and muscular atrophy. To address these issues, scientists advise the use of dietary and food supplements. Tigernut is a nutritious indigenous nigerian superfood that either grows naturally or is cultivated for its edible tubers, it can be used whole as a snack, in milk, flour or oil form to produce a variety of meals, snacks and beverages. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, Essential amino acids, digestive enzymes, minerals, fiber and other important food constituents, which play an important role in combating some of the physiological changes and conditions experienced by the astronaut. This paper reviews the nutritional composition, functional benefits of tigernut (an indigenous Nigerian superfood) and its potential positive effects on astronauts’ wellbeing. Evaluating its potentials through this study will provide a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and health benefits of tigernut for Nigerian Astronauts. The result of the review carried out on the three cultivars of tigernut tubers (yellow, brown, and black) shows that they contain significant levels of macro and micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants that play a significant role in preventing and maintaining some of the health and physiological changes astronauts are exposed to as a result of microgravity and space flight.
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Author Information
  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Physical and Life Sciences Department, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, Nigeria

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