Okro or okra is known in many English- speaking countries as ladies' fingers because the pods are long and shaped like a lady's finger. Its scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants. As a vegetable, okra may be prepared like asparagus, sauteed or pickled. A large amount of mucilage it contains makes it useful as a thickener for soups. Okra flowers usually bloom for less than a day before it drops off the plant. As much as there are benefits to eating this crop, too much isn't so good because there are side effects. Let's start with the side effects; Okra contains fructans, a type of carbohydrate. This can cause diarrhoea, gas, cramping and bloating especially to those with bowel problems. It can also cause gout and kidney stones because okra is high in oxalates which prevent your body from absorbing beneficial nutrients in your digestive tract. Benefits of Okra Okra helps control obesity or fat. Eating ...

If you are not African, you might not know ogbono soup. Permit me to explain this to my non-African readers what ogbono is then we can proceed to the essence of this article. Ogbono soup is a Nigerian dish made with dry ground ogbono seeds.  It originated from the eastern part of Nigeria where the Igbos come from. The seed is sometimes known as wild mango, African mango or bush mango. Ogbono soup is easy to prepare and it is slimy in texture, similar to a soup called okra. The soup is called draw soup in English.  How to remove lumps in Ogbono soup; This soup is easy to make but if you don't start right, you will end up getting it wrong. If you ever find lumps while making this soup then something went wrong. I experienced this recently for the very first time and decided to share how I was able to get rid of the lumps. Usually, there are two methods in making this soup, you can either fry or boil the ground seeds. Well, the frying method is my style. When frying, you put the ...

Communication is speaking, listening, understanding and responding. It means exchanging information by speaking, writing or using other methods. It includes a sender, a message and a recipient. When you communicate properly, you express love, you build others up, you will grow and be better. Good communication helps to remove burden, anger and misunderstanding. If you are communicating and it promotes anger, then you are not communicating properly. Like I mentioned earlier, when one is communicating, there should be a speaker, a message and a receiver. When the recipient is not listening, responding or understanding your message, then you are not saying anything reasonable at all. If you're not communicating in a healthy way, disaster will arise. When there is no open communication, the simple talks will become arguments then it becomes aggressive communication and later, it becomes toxic. No one can have a relationship when there's no communication. There are a number of reaso...

AFFORDABLE MAKEUP PRODUCTS TO SHOP DURING BLACK FRIDAY It's that time of the year! BLACK FRIDAY!!! Excited much? I call it the shopping holiday, so get ready because it's on Friday, 27 November 2020. Listed below are 10 products to shop during this time. They are all affordable and definitely a must-have. All were selected by me because I can't do without them. Oh, and mind you - the products are in stock as of the time of publication. 1. TARA PRO CONCEALER - For highlighting your face which comes in 7 shades and 1 orange corrector. There are shades for all skin tone - dark, medium and light skin tone.  It is water-based, easy to apply with a brush-like tip and blends effortlessly. It does not crease and it hides dark circles or dark spots. Since I have been using this product, I've had no regrets whatsoever compared to other brands. It works perfectly and definitely one to look out for on Black Friday if you are looking for the best pro concealer ever. 2. TARA QUAD BRO...

OVULATION Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary. After the egg is released, it then moves down to the fallopian tube where fertilization by sperm can take place.   A woman is most fertile during  ovulation and this occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period. Ovulation is part of your menstrual cycle, meaning it happens every month. Signs of Ovulation Discharge Lower Abdominal pain Breast pain Cervix changes - The Cervix acts as the door to the uterus which sperm can travel through to fertilize eggs. Increased sexual desire Ovulation spotting MENOPAUSE Menopause simply means the end of your menstrual cycle. It is a natural biological process and can happen between the age of 40 or 50. It doesn't occur overnight but a gradual process. It is a time when the function of the ovaries ceases.  Signs of Menopause Irregular menstruation Insomnia (A sleep disorder) Hair dryness and loss Low libido and vaginal dryness Fatigue, moodiness, dry skin and sweating H...

What is odour? It is a particularly unpleasant smell. Bad breath is also called halitosis and can be really embarrassing. There are several reasons why people have bad mouth odour and below are tips on how to eliminate it. If you fall under this category, then read carefully because the truth is, no one likes to be around bad mouth odour. First of all, let's highlight the possible causes. Causes of bad mouth odour There are certain foods, habits and health conditions that cause mouth odour. 1. Smoking and Alcohol - Smokers and those who take alcohol frequently are more likely to have gum disease which is also called periodontitis ,  a bad breath trigger. Gum disease damages the soft tissue and the bone that supports your teeth. According to research, alcohol can trigger acid reflux, a digestive disease, in which the stomach acid irritates the throat, and this acid has an odour. Smoking damages the gum tissue leading to gum disease. 2. Food - Eating certain foods like onions, spic...