The beans used in preparing tubaani (tubani/tumbaani) offers important nutrients needed for the body.
Tubaani (tumbaani/tubani) is made from steamed beans paste and is very popular in Northern Ghana and throughout the zongo communities. It is usually taken with palm oil ground and chilli pepper and enjoyed as a snack or lunch.
Benefits of tubaani.
As it it is made from beans it contains proteins, folate, iron and soluble fibre. These have varying health benefits to the consumer.
Soluble fibre.
Fibre is the indigestible part of plant foods that travels through our digestive system, absorbing water along the way and easing bowel movements. Beans contain soluble fibre which helps in this way, aiding in digestion and giving you easy bowel movement.
Soluble fibre also lowers your blood cholesterol levels, thereby protecting you against heart diseases.
Iron.
The main ingredients in tubaani are beans. Beans contain iron which is essential in helping hemoglobin to carry oxygen in our blood. Iron helps in maintaining general energy and focus, improving gastrointestinal processes, boosting the immune system, and the proper regulation of body temperature. Insufficient iron in the diet can affect the efficiency with which the body uses energy. Iron is crucial for both mental and physical performance.
Folate.
Folate, also known as vitamin B9 is found in beans. Folate is one of the B-vitamins and is needed to make red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, convert carbohydrates into energy, and produce DNA and RNA. Low folate intake has been attributed to increased heart disease. Folate is beneficial as part of a wide-ranging, varied, and nutritious diet.
Proteins.
Tubaani is rick in proteins. Proteins are large molecules that our cells need to function optimally; they consists of amino acids. Proteins help in the regulation of the body’s cells, tissues and organs. Eating more protein may boost muscle strength and encourage a lean, fat-burning physique. Low protein intake can lead to problems of malnutrition, such as kwashiorkor and marasmus (undernourishment) in children, which can be life-threatening.
Tubaani is no doubt a real life-saver. Not only is it delicious, tubaani comes packed with wholesome nutrients needed for the optimal performance of the human body. Since tubaani normally goes with palm oil, one can also derive vitamin A and lower cholesterol levels among other benefits. Include tubaani in your lifestyle, even if it means eating it once a week.
Source: zongorepublic.com