What is Kola Nut? History, Health Benefits, and Why It’s in Our Patches

OnMi is a company built on the idea that people deserve clear answers to things as important and pivotal as their health. Therefore, we want to spend time educating you on the ingredients in our patches and how they benefit you. 

Being as informed as possible when making decisions about your health is incredibly important and beneficial, and since kola nut is an ingredient that OnMi uses, we wanted to provide you with an educational resource to help you make healthy choices that are clear and work best for you.

Kola nut extract is an ingredient in OnMi’s energy patch. But why is it one of the four ingredients that make up our lethargy panacea? Read on to find out!

What is kola nut?

Kola nut is found in the fruit of the kola tree, which is a plant species indigenous to West Africa. The trees produce a fruit shaped like a cocoa pod, and each fruit contains anywhere from two to five kola nuts. While assumed for a long time to be a member of the same family as cocoa beans, they are now recognized as being a member of the mallow family, alongside crops like okra. 

In West African countries, the kola nut is prized for its effects as a nervous system stimulant. Kola nut has been used for ceremonial purposes and presented to chiefs or guests, as well as for medicinal purposes as a digestive aid alongside honey.

Since kola nut contains caffeine and is therefore a stimulant, kola nut stands in West African countries are like hot dog stands in New York; there’s one at every bus stop and street corner. This nut is actually somewhat of a cash crop for poor rural farmers, as members of these West African countries chew on and consume these nuts much in the same way that the French smoke cigarettes or Italians drink coffee.

And it is popular as a nervous system stimulus for a good reason! Kola nuts contain around 2-4% of caffeine and a small amount of something called theobromine, a chemical compound that partially composes caffeine and is also found in chocolate and green tea. But besides these stimulants, kola nuts also contain micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These are all essential daily nutrients required for proper body function.

What is kola nut extract?

Kola nut extract is a common food flavoring in many kinds of energy drinks. It has been FDA approved and is classified as a natural food flavoring. It is made by boiling the nut in water to extract the kola. 

There is some evidence to support the idea that kola nut extract could help aid digestion by promoting the production of gastric acid, which increases the efficacy of digestive enzymes in the stomach.

Is kola nut used in Coca-Cola?

Back in the 1880s, a pharmacist named John Pemberton took kola nut extract and extracts from coca leaves and mixed them with sugar, carbonated water, and other flavoring ingredients to make the first-ever Coca-Cola! The official Coke recipe contained kola nut extract to boost the caffeine content of the drink up until 2016.

What is kola nut good for?

Kola nut has been shown to be beneficial in many different ways. First and foremost, kola nut is used most frequently for its effects as a stimulant. Many people consume kola nut because its stimulating effect can boost metabolism, aid digestion, increase circulation, and boost energy levels. Kola nut could also provide relief for people suffering from migraines, as the caffeine contained in the kola nut can dilate or widen blood vessels in the brain, leading to a decrease in migraine-related pain.

A 2018 study found that bitter kola can help fight coughs, bacterial, and viral infections. If one starts consuming kola nut when an infection starts, it can help one recover more quickly. Kola nuts might also be useful for people with breathing problems like asthma, with the caffeine helping to open one’s airways.

Kola nut has also been shown to help inflammation. A 2008 study showed that patients with osteoarthritis in their knees showed a significant reduction in inflammatory symptoms after consuming bitter kola nut. Experts think this could be due to the high levels of potassium in kola nut.

Furthermore, kola nut could also help people with diabetes. Some studies have shown that the chemical kolaviron, which is found in bitter kola nut, helps protect against hypoglycemia in people with Type 2 Diabetes.

Where can I buy kola nut extract?

We’re glad you asked! Get the health benefits of the kola nut in OnMi’s energy patch. Our patch contains 17mg of caffeine and acts as a stimulant and helps keep you alert and ready for the day. Alongside panax ginseng, guarana, and vitamin B12, the stimulative powers of the kola nut can work wonders for you in our patch. Get your own energy patch and benefit from the kola nut now!

FAQ’s

What does the kola nut symbolize? What is the significance of the kola nut?

For the Ndigbo people of South East Nigeria, the kola nut symbolizes peace, unity, reconciliation, integrity, life, fraternity, hospitality, goodwill, and kindness.

Igbo communities in Nigeria give the kola nut to guests to show that they are welcomed in peace, and is sometimes given alongside a small sum of money or some white chalk.

Does bitter kola help sexually?

It is a widely-held belief in Nigerian societal circles that bitter kola can aid sexual troubles, but this has not been scientifically proven to be true.

Where is kola nut grown?

Kola nut trees need a hot and humid climate as it is a lowland tropical rainforest tree. Nigeria produces 52.4% of the world’s production of kola nuts, with Ivory Coast and Cameroon behind.

If you’re wondering how to preserve kola nut, just keep them in a cool, dry place and they can last a long time!