A former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Bayelsa, Daniel Iworiso-Markson on Thursday called on Governor Douye Diri to increase the flood relief funds allocated to communities affected by the disaster in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the funds were grossly inadequate to cater for the feeding, medical support and general welfare of victims of the flood, particularly those around the Ayama axis like the Otuokpoti community and other riverine communities
Iworiso-Markson who is candidate of the Social Democratic Party for Ogbia Federal Constituency in the 2023 election, made the plea in a statement in which he lamented that by the sharing formula, most households cannot sustain themselves with the funds beyond a day or two, insisting that more money should be made available to the victims.
He said that it would be justifiable if the governor approach the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to request special funds to be spent on the flood issue, especially the welfare of the victims.
Iworiso-Markson expressed worry over the looming health crisis that may be caused by waterborne and other communicable diseases, which may result in the outbreak of an epidemic in the state.
While acknowledging the efforts of the state government in the current situation, he also urged the Federal Government to consider Bayelsa as a special case and step in to complement the efforts of the Diri administration to cushion the effect of the flood disaster.
Iworiso-Markson also called on other agencies of the Federal Government, multinational companies operating in the state, privileged individuals as well as organizations to see the current issue as a great humanitarian crisis and show support.
He said, “No one is in doubt about the kind of crisis we have now as a result of the flood. This is the time the governor needs to approach the State House of Assembly and ask for their permission to raise and spend more money on the victims.
“This has become inevitable because the affected communities need more money; we urge the governor to step up the flood relief funds because the one released recently is grossly inadequate. It is barley enough to sustain a family for more than two days and our people are suffering. They are devastated!
“The government should also focus on the health needs of the people. I am afraid that the flood may lead to serious health crises and this can be avoided if tackled now. I am also appealing to donor agencies, the federal government, and individuals who have the capacity to complement the efforts of the state government”, he said.
The Cedi slumped to a new record low against the dollar, shooting past the 11 level to trade at 11.74, and taking losses for the year to more the 45% as the worst performing currency globally.
Foreign holdings of domestic government and corporate bonds fell to 12.3% in August, the lowest proportion on record, down from 17.3% in April, as international investors exit amid rising external borrowing costs that have forced Ghana to seek a financial lifeline from the IMF.
Domestic unrest continues, with Ghanaian shop owners this week closing their businesses for three days to protest surging inflation, which hit 37.2% in September. Given these strains, we expect the Cedi to weaken beyond the 12 level in the near term.
IMF financing North Africa as Chad loan in doubt
Tunisia is set to finalise an agreement with the IMF to access a $1.9bn loan to help ease the impact of food and fuel shortages in the country. Morocco is also considering tapping around $1bn through its credit line with the IMF, scrapping earlier plans to issue bonds.
Tunisia’s Dinar has depreciated 15% against the dollar this year as the Moroccan Dirham has plunged 22%, adding to the strain of repaying foreign denominated debt.
We expect Morocco’s IMF line to help strengthen the Dirham, while a sluggish pace of economic reform in Tunisia, particularly in the agriculture sector, may hamper recovery for the Dinar. Meantime, debt relief for Chad has been thrown into doubt by international creditors arguing that rising oil prices have benefited the central African country.
The IMF called on the Paris Club of official creditors not to use higher oil prices as an excuse to abandon commitments to the country.
The Fund approved a $570m three-year loan programme for Chad last year, though this could be at risk if the money is being used to repay unsustainable debt in the absence of a deal with creditors.
While higher oil prices will provide some support to Chad, recovery depends on the IMF’s ability to convince the Paris Club to fulfil its debt relief promise. The Central African CFA Franc has dropped 19% against the dollar this year.
Naira
Record low Naira faces more losses
The Naira edged to a fresh record low against the dollar, trading at 748 from 745 at last week’s close as annual inflation climbed to a 17-year high of 20.8% in September, from 20.5% a month earlier.
Rising food prices together with higher natural gas, diesel and transport costs were behind the increase. Nigerian senators called on the aviation ministry, the central bank and other stakeholders to find a way to curb surging air fares.
Flight costs have rocketed due to airlines’ inability to repatriate around $500m of funds trapped in the country via the central bank-managed FX windows. Around $265m of blocked funds had previously been released by the central bank following threats by some airlines to halt Nigerian routes.
Heavy demand for imports and dwindling FX reserves continue to pile pressure on the Naira, which we expect will translate to further losses against the dollar in the near term.
Rand
Rand steady as Transnet halts strike
The Rand strengthened marginally against the dollar, trading at 18.34 from 18.36 at last week’s close.
Adding to ongoing concerns about energy supplies, a strike by Transnet workers over wages has dragged coal exports to the lowest level in more than a year, with just 600,000 tons exported in the second week in October.
Transnet said recovery plans are in place and most of its employees have returned to work following the signing of a new wage deal. We expect the Rand to trade at similar levels this week given the continued risk off sentiment in the markets and lack of positive economic events affecting the currency.
Egypt
IMF deal won’t save Egypt Pound from falling further
The Pound continued to trade around its record low, with one dollar fetching 19.68, a slight depreciation from the 19.66 level at last week’s close and just short of the record 19.69 reached earlier this month.
Egypt is expected to finalise a new loan agreement with the IMF when the two parties meet this weekend, following progress on monetary and exchange rate policies aimed at helping the outlook for inflation, monetary policy and functioning of the FX market.
Even with an IMF deal, we expect the Pound to depreciate further in the months ahead as the central bank cuts back on market interventions.
Kenya
Record low Kenya Shilling faces rising loan rate pressure
The Shilling fell to a fresh low against the dollar, trading at 121.05/121.25 from 120.80/121 at last week’s close, as FX demand for energy and manufacturing imports continued to outpace inflows.
Following last month’s 75 basis point interest rate hike to 8.25%, Kenyan banks have started to increase loan rates, making it more expensive for households and businesses to borrow and potentially stifling economic growth.
With the new government complaining that loan servicing costs are choking the economy, Kenya this week called on China to extend the payment period for $5bn in loans the African country borrowed to finance a railway project.
We expect the Shilling to remain under pressure in the near term, particularly given that FX inflows from agricultural exports are low due to unfavourable weather conditions.
Uganda
Ugandan Shilling buoyed by six-quarter growth streak
The Shilling strengthened against the dollar, trading at 3810 from 3834 at last week’s close as Uganda clocked up a sixth consecutive quarter of economic growth, advancing 4.9% in the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago. That was driven by improved momentum in agricultural activity and faster industrial output, notably in mining and quarrying.
Improved economic sentiment is punctured by the continued Ebola outbreak, with Uganda imposing a three-week lockdown in two districts. We expect the Shilling to continue strengthening in the near term due to the country’s growth performance.
Tanza
Tanzanian Shilling to gain on agricultural inflows
The Shilling was broadly unchanged against the dollar, trading at 2332, in line with last week’s close. Trading activity on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange fell over the past two weeks as investors wait on listed companies to release their third-quarter financial results next week.
Credit to the agricultural sector rose by 42.6% in the year ending August compared to a decline of 14% during the same period a year earlier, according to the Bank of Tanzania.
We expect the Shilling to strengthen in the week ahead driven by an increase in stock trading activity and inflows from export crops including cashew, tobacco, coffee and cotton.
Recently, I wrote about kokonte and why it has the potential to reduce colon cancer. The article further highlights the numerous significance of eating kokonte and its impacts on our health such as reducing blood sugar, high blood pressure, and many others.
In this article, I will explain to you why kokonte is a super food in the Ghanaian jurisdiction. Besides, any food that takes a longer time to break down the glucose and fructose to be absorbed by the blood is truly healthy.
Yeboah et al.(2019) study found that locally made kokonte has a glycemic index of 7, and groundnut soup has 4. This means that eating kokonte and groundnut is a superior food
While light food such as white rice takes less than an hour to break down, kokonte takes longer hours as propagated. Rice only takes 45 minutes to be absorbed by the blood, thus increasing the risk of diabetes.
Many nutritionists even claim that the longer it takes for the local food to digest is unhealthy. This is purely a wrong nutritional doctrine. It is also nothing but a food conspiracy by the industries that want to sell their foreign products with the healthy label.
The problem lies in the staples, not the accompaniments. For decades, we have been eating the wrong staples. It is high time people see that and eat their local healthy foods like kokonte.
Kokonte: a superfood?
Before we delve into the article, let’s examine what the glycemic index is all about. The Glycemic index (GI) quantifies and measures the blood glucose-raising effect of a food containing a specific amount of carbohydrate.
Due to these, concerns have been raised about the quality of carbohydrates and the indices that influence their metabolism. Remember that not all carbohydrates are created the same. Let’s tackle the studies to justify why kokonte is a superfood.
Supporting literature
One recent study which makes Kokonte a superior diet was conducted by Yeboah et al.(2019).
Yeboah and colleagues aim to investigate the effect of processing on the glycemic index of five Ghanaian corn and cassava staples. In this study, ten healthy subjects consisting of five males and five females were included.
Study subjects were served 50g of pure glucose containing 50g of available carbohydrates and 200ml of pure water. Glucose, which served as the reference food was given to subjects on two different occasions.
The subjects were also served specific 50g of abolo, akple, kafa, local kokonte,and processed kokonte on specific days. The glycemic index figures were assessed by using official methods and reported as the mean for the ten study subjects.
The study found that locally made kokonte had the least GI of 7 followed by processed kokonte which had a GI of 18 whiles kafa had a low GI of 29. Abolo had a medium GI value of 58 and akple also had a medium glycemic index value of 69.
There was no significant difference between the GI of locally made kokonte and processed kokonte indicating processing had no significant effect on the GI of kokonte.
Locally and Processed Konkote
Yeboah et al. (2019) also found that the nutrient content of cassava differs depending on the cooking method.
Locally made kokonte , as well as processed kokonte, were prepared using cassava through the process of boiling. Even though both cassava staples had lower glycemic index values of 7 and 18, respectively, their total dietary fiber content per 100g as well as their specific quantities that contained 50g of available carbohydrates differed.
Locally made kokonte had a total dietary fiber content of 1.1g per 100g and 0.66g per its specific quantity that contained 50g of available carbohydrate (60g). Processed kokonte had no amount of dietary fiber per 100g as well as its specific quantity that contained 50g of available carbohydrate (60g).
The same quantity of 60g was measured for both locally made and processed kokonte so that their variations and the glycemic index could be measured and compared weight for weight.
This can account for the reason why processed kokonte had a high glycemic index figure of 18 whiles locally made kokonte had a glycemic index of 7 even though both staples had low glycemic index values.
This explains the function of dietary fiber in controlling the way food is broken down (digested) and absorbed into the bloodstream and also delaying gastric emptying.
Since processed kokonte had no dietary fiber, it was rapidly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a rapid increase in the blood glucose level than locally made kokonte.
Corn foods
Among the corn staples, kafa had the lowest GI whereas abolo and akple had medium glycemic figures 29,58, and 69. In Yeboah et al.(2019) study, they found that corn-related diets have high GI as compared to cassava-related diets.
This disparity was explained: Just like the other corn staples, cassava went through some series of processing methods and then finally boiled it before consumption.
These series of processing methods include peeling, washing, cutting into specific sizes, sun drying/fermentation, pounding, milling,and sieving/shifting.
Two studies(Ascheri et al. 1995; Cereda et al. 1985) explained that the process of sun drying and fermentation occurred and this introduced some amount of acetic acid into the cassava.
Two other studies (Demiate et al. 2000; Pereira et al. 1999) found that some microorganisms such as amylolytic enzymes and organic acids such as acetic acids are formed during cassava fermentation.
This could be a contributing factor to the reason why both processed and locally made kokonte had lower glycemic index values.
Brand et al.(1985) further cement that sun drying and cooling affect starch breakdown and in turn affect glycemic response and glycemic index figures.
The hot temperature treatment and cooling cycles which occurred during the cassava flour production could have some amounts of retrograded starches.
The presence of these starches in flour makes it less susceptible to being digested by digestive enzymes. These, however, reduce the glycemic response and in turn reduce the GI value.
This could also account for the reason why both locally made and processed kokonte had low GI values. It has been established that during the preparation of both processed and locally made kokonte, the cassava flour was added to boiling water and kneaded.
As time went on, more flour was added to the mixture and kneaded to prevent the formation of lumps and achieve the desired thickness. As time went on the fire was reduced to prevent food from burning.
This in turn reduced the amount of heat that was applied to the food. The final product was taken from the fire and allowed to cool for a few minutes.
The reduction of heat during the process of preparation and cooling, which occurred at the end of cooking could have resulted in retrogradation and this could have introduced some amounts of resistant starches which are not normally susceptible to digestion by the digestive enzymes.
This factor could also account for the reason both processed and locally made kokonte had low glycemic index values.
Fiber effects on cassava and Corn related diets
Yeboah et al.(2019) study further found that the fiber content of both cassava and maize in their raw states per 100 g is 1.8g and 7.3g, respectively, however in their processed states per 100g of each test food, abolo had a fiber content of 0.6g, kafa 0.3g, akple 0.3g, locally made kokonte 1.1g while processed kokonte recorded fiber.
In their specific quantities that contain the 50g of available carbohydrates, abolo had a fiber content of 1.04g, kafa 1.07g, akple 0.71g, locally made kokonte 0.66g and processed kokonte had no fiber.
Kafa had the highest dietary fiber content among the test foods and had a lower glycemic index figure as well. Even though processed kokonte had the lowest dietary fiber content, it still had a lower glycemic index value.
This goes a long way to buttress the point that the glycemic response of foods is affected by other indices that will include but not limit the total quantity of fiber in the food item(Eli-Cophie et al. 2017).
Effects of Soup, Meat, and Fish Eaten Together with Test Food
Because our local diets are not eaten alone, but with several other combinations. Yeboah et al,(2019) further examined the impact of our local soups and what they found appears interesting.
For instance, Abolo was served with 30g of anchovies, whereas akple, kafa, kokonte (local and processed) were served with groundnut soup and beef. The glycemic index of a particular meal is usually based on and influenced by the content of that particular food.
Yeboah et al. (2019) further opined that when a particular food is consumed with other accompaniments, the glucose response to this meal is normally different than consuming that particular food alone without any accompaniment.
This support the position by Wolever et al. (1996) that fat, carbohydrate, protein, and other nutrients when consumed together with other test food affect both glucose and insulin responses.
Wolever et al. (1996) further note that for fat and protein to affect the glycemic index of a meal, it must have total quantities of about 30g of protein and about 50g of fat.
Further studies were made on the groundnut soup with beef, and anchovies to find out if it had an impact on the glycemic index of the test foods it was eaten with. At the end of the study, it was discovered that groundnut soup had a low GI value of 4 whereas anchovies also had a low GI of 0.9. For instance, Yeboah et al. (2019) found the following:
Test Foods GI with accompaniments GI without
Abolo 59 58
Akple 73 69
Kafa 33 29
Locally made Konkonte 11 7
Processed Konkonte 22 18
Conclusion
A glycemic index diet is an eating plan based on how foods affect your blood sugar level. The glycemic index is a system of assigning a number to carbohydrate-containing foods according to how much each food increases blood sugar.
The purpose of a glycemic index (GI) diet is to eat carbohydrate-containing foods that are less likely to cause large increases in blood sugar levels. The diet could be a means to lose weight and prevent chronic diseases related to obesity, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
To avert the rising cases of hypertension, diabetes, and many others in Ghana, there is a need to eat local foods. Kokonte is one of the superfoods we have for health enthusiasts. Studies suggest that a GI diet can help achieve these goals.
The GI principle was first developed as a strategy for guiding food choices for people with diabetes. An international GI database is maintained by Sydney University Glycemic Index Research Services in Sydney, Australia. The database contains the results of studies conducted there and at other research facilities around the world.
Carbohydrates, or carbs, are a type of nutrient in foods. The three basic forms are sugars, starches, and fiber. Mayo Clinic explained that when you eat or drink something with carbs, your body breaks down the sugars and starches into a type of sugar called glucose, the main source of energy for cells in your body. Fiber passes through your body undigested.
Two main hormones from your pancreas help regulate glucose in your bloodstream. The hormone insulin moves glucose from your blood into your cells. The hormone glucagon helps release glucose stored in your liver when your blood sugar (blood glucose) level is low.
This process helps keep your body fueled and ensures a natural balance in blood glucose.Different types of carbohydrate foods have properties that affect how quickly your body digests them and how quickly glucose enters your bloodstream.
Understanding GI values
There are various research methods for assigning a GI value to food. In general, the number is based on how much a food item raises blood glucose levels compared with how much pure glucose raises blood glucose. GI values are generally divided into three categories:
Low GI: 1 to 55
Medium GI: 56 to 69
High GI: 70 and higher
Comparing these values, therefore, can help guide healthier food choices. Looking at this, locally-made konkonte has a value of 7 which is very low on GI. Eli-Cophie et al.(2017) explained that Carbohydrate foods that are speedily broken down into glucose after eating are classified as having a high glycemic index, whereas those that take a long time to convert into glucose are also classified as having a low glycemic index.
In Yeboah et al. (2019), Akple recorded a medium glycemic index value due to the fact, among all the three corn staples studied, it had the lowest amount of dietary fiber of 0.3 g per 100 g and even with its specific amount that contained the 50 g of available carbohydrate, it still had the lowest dietary fiber content of 0.71 g.
In the processing of corn to make akple, it was grounded, milled into a fine powder, and sieved to remove all unwanted particles.
These processing methods could be contributing factors to the reason why it had the lowest quantity of dietary fiber, both per 100 g and its specific quantity which contained 50 g of available carbohydrates. The presence of a low amount of dietary could be a reason why akple had a medium glycemic index figure.
In the preparation of akple, the corn flour was mixed with some amount of cold water and added to boiling water on fire. This mixture was divided into two parts and the rest was left on fire to boil again. The other half was left to cool for a few minutes.
Corn flour was added to the boiling mixture on fire and mixed very well to prevent the formation of lumps. The remaining mixture that was left to cool was added to the mixture on fire and kneaded. Gelatinization of starch occurred when the heat was applied to the mixture on fire in the process of boiling.
When the mixture was divided into two and the second part was left to cool for a few minutes, retrogradation occurred. Since the mixture was not allowed to cool completely, few amounts of resistant starches were introduced and are very difficult to be broken down by digestive enzymes since they are less susceptible to them. This could account for the reason why akple had a medium glycemic index.
One limitation of GI values is that they don’t reflect the likely quantity you would eat of a particular food.For example, watermelon has a GI value of 80, which would put it in the category of food to avoid.
But watermelon has relatively fewer digestible carbohydrates in a typical serving. In other words, you have to eat a lot of watermelons to significantly raise your blood glucose level.
To address this problem, researchers have developed the idea of glycemic load (GL), a numerical value that indicates the change in blood glucose levels when you eat a typical serving of food. For example, a 4.2-ounce (120-gram, or 3/4-cup) serving of watermelon has a GL value of 5, which would identify it as a healthy food choice. For comparison, a 2.8-ounce (80-gram, or 2/3-cup) serving of raw carrots has a GL value of 2.
Sydney University’s table of GI values also includes GL values. The values are generally grouped in the following manner:
Low GL: 1 to 10
Medium GL: 11 to 19
High GL: 20 or more
To take home, it is advisable, we eat our local diets such as kokonte which has a GI of 7 for those with diabetics and those interested in preventing diabetes, hypertension, etc.
The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, President,of Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation.E-mail: collegeofholisticmedicine@gmail.com.
References
Ascheri D.P.R. & Vilela, E.R. (1995). Changes in cassava flour by fermentation in the manufacture of cookies. Pesq. Agropec. Bras.,30, 269–279.
Demiate, I.M., Dupuy, N., Huvenne, J.P., Cereda, M.P. & Wosiaki, G. (2000). Relationship between banking behavior of modified cassava starches and starch chemical structure determined by FTIR spectroscopy. Carbohydr. Polym., 42, 149-158.
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[35] Pereira, J., Ciacco, C.F., Vilela, E.R. Q & Texeira, L.S. (1999). Fermented starch in cookie making: study of alternative sources. Food Sci. Technol., 19, 287-293.
Brand, J. C., Nicholson, P. L., Thorburn, A. W., & Truswell, A. S. (1985). Food Processing and Glycemic index. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 42, 1192-1196.
Eli-Cophie D., Agbenorhevi, J.K. and Annan, R.A. (2017). Glycemic Index of Some Local Staples in Ghana, Food Sciences & Nutrition, 5(1):131-138.
Cereda, M.P. & Bonassi, I.A.(1985). Quality evaluation of commercial fermented cassava starch: Organic acids and water absorption. Rev. Bras. Manioc, 3, 21-30.
Eunice Serwaa Yeboah, Jacob K. Agbenorhevi , Gilbert Owiah Sampson(2019) Glycemic Index of Five Ghanaian Corn and Cassava Staples. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2019, 7(9), 624-631.
Legendary Ghanaian actor, Adjetey Anang has said that he never thought he would be a superstar
One of the movie legendaries who graced television in the 90s and contributed to the movie industry is Adjetey Anang.
Speaking about how he began his career in an interview with Rev Erskine on Y Leaderboard segment of Y107.9 FM’s ‘My d Morning Radio Show”, Adjetey Anang his father wanted him to take the same path he took in the career of science.
“I knew that Dad would drop hints of me toeing the line in the sciences because he was a biochemist. I however looked at his life and thought that look, I don’t want to position myself in that situation. He wasn’t a social person per se, and for him, unfortunately, I was exposed to father and fatherhood on the screen.
“I see fathers come home and they are kind of with the kids going for this fun place and I think that was exciting. That’s the kind of father I want to be. I look at my dad and he wants me to follow the sciences and I’m like that’s boring because this is work-home-work-home,” he stressed.
“So for a long time I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he added.
“Growing up, I certainly had a thing for movies but I never saw myself as being in front of the camera. I just loved it and was excited about how people transformed characters that they’re not even in real life into reality and that was it,” he concluded.
AdjeteyAnang highlighting his interests furthered, “Otherwise then, I think that partly because my uncles had a thing for tennis for example so, I tilted more into tennis. Football not really but tennis and Boxing more.”
Beat producer and chief executive officer of Drum Lyne Music facility Justice Oteng well known as Wei Ye Oteng says sensational artist Black Sherif isn’t that special.
According to the best producer, the songs of Black Sherif tops music charts because people rush to listen out of curiosity but not because he does anything extraordinary.
Wei Ye Oteng however emphasized that Black Sherif despite the fact that Black Sherif is good and produces good music, is not doing anything new in regard to his music career.
Wei Ye Oteng made this comment in regard to the comment Reggie Rockstone made asking Blacko to curve a name for his music genre.
Oteng said: “Black Sherif is good. I mean, the likes of Kwadee were unique just like Black Sherif is, but whichever sound they had, or playing around with, was already in there. So we appreciate that. Now, if you have an affiliation with Burna Boy just upon releasing two songs into the mainstream, the whole world would want to listen to you”.
“The whole world would want to know what is under your sleeve, not because they believe that you are extremely the “ish” (good), but they know that you are positive and you are on the path to greatness and that you need support. So, everything that you do, based on the type of affiliation and have, they troop in to come and listen and then to make their own judgment”.
Wei Ye Oteng however admitted that Black Sherif is doing well and producing good music.
“For the truth, I think this guy is doing very well, but let’s not lift him beyond where he is supposed to be. If we do that and complacency sets in, we will kill him before his time”.
“He has a good album, but trust me, a lot of these streams are out of curiosity and affiliation with the choice of brands that he has associated himself with. And we shouldn’t forget, he is on one of the biggest labels that are well endowed to reach out to any place in the world that they want to,” Wei Ye Oteng insisted.
Stephanie Benson is a breast cancer survivor and she is opening up about her battle in this year’s pink October awareness.
The Ghanaian singer has disclosed that her fight against breast cancer has left her with scars. According to her, due to the severity of her case, she has lost her nipples, but she is happy to be alive.
Stephanie Benson, a mother of five children, disclosed this in an empowering video she has shared on social media.
“Women, we are the most complicated human beings on this earth. We always want what somebody else has that we don’t have. When we look in the mirror all we see is our imperfections, we never truly look at ourselves as we are unique,” she said.
She continued that “everybody has scars inside and out. I have many scars, I have scars from having children on my stomach“. Talking about her scars, Stephanie added that she also has scars from hormonal injections so that she can function like everybody else.
Showing off her scars including one from a motorbike accident, she added that “ I have a scar right here and another here from a double mastectomy. Again from trying to survive cancer, I will show you my nipples but I don’t have any“.
Captioning the video below, the singer wrote “scars we all wish to hide. The effects of the outer scars can still be felt within us. None of us are perfect. Live your Truth”. The post has since attracted encouraging comments from her fans and friends on social media.
Shatta Wale says Sarkodie hasn’t reached where he is supposed to be despite all the investments he has been investing into his craft.
According to Shatta Wale, the Ghanaian rapper should have been bigger than Nigeria’s Wizkid but he is not there. Shatta Wale was speaking on Joy FM about the Ghanaian music industry.
“You see someone like Sarkodie, Sarkodie should have been bigger than Wizkid,” he said. Baba Sadiq, who was a panelist on the show replied to him that “so is you, you should have also been bigger than Burna Boy“.
Shatta Wale in his defence said, “but for me, I see that Sarkodie invests a lot of money into his craft in terms of videos and everything to make it perfectly right but he is still not there“.
Asked if he means he doesn’t invest much finance into his craft as well, Shatta Wale said ” no because I watch Sarkodie do it and he is still not making it … what he is doing, he is alone and using his money to do that”.
In the interview, Shatta Wale added that Sarkodie failed to capitalise on the opportunity Akon once gave him. “When Akon even mentioned Sarkodie, Sarkodie should have been there but I could even say he didn’t take advantage of it,” Shatta Wale added.
From soaring mortgage costs to a sterling slump, the fiscal event set off a chain of chaos that led to PM’s downfall.
Britain has been through the wringer since September’s mini-budget.
Not only was Kwasi Kwarteng’s not-so-mini plan the trigger for a domestic financial crisis and raising mortgage costs for millions, it lit the blue touchpaper for his political downfall and that of his close friend, Liz Truss.
It was all supposed to be so different.
Truss had spent the summer promising to cancel the rise in national insurance and corporation tax in the Conservative leadership race.
Those pledges, plus the popular energy price freeze, would have been plenty for the new government to announce in the supposedly stripped-back tax and spending event.
Instead, it was a bumper, ideologically driven occasion that left Truss’s defeated political rival, Rishi Sunak, vindicated.
As he had warned, there was indeed a run on sterling, gilt market freefall and spooked global investors. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) intervened with a stunning public rebuke.
Rarely has a budget caused such political and economic damage. Not even George Osborne’s “omnishambles” budget, when he was forced in 2012 to back down from the pasty tax, comes close.
Initially hailed by her supporters as “at last, a real, Tory budget”, the “mini” fiscal event announced the biggest tax cuts since 1972, funded by a vast expansion in borrowing, and with only a vague attempt to argue it could be paid for by an unlikely economic boom.
Economists balked at the idea that £45bn of unfunded tax cuts for the rich could ever catalyse economic growth and pay for itself in the way the government argued.
Not just critics from a supposed “anti-growth coalition” but from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and the IMF. With inflation at a 40-year high, rising recession risks and higher borrowing costs across advanced economies it was a big gamble at the wrong moment.
The international reaction was swift and damning.
The pound fell to its lowest-ever level against the dollar, while gilt prices collapsed. Over four days, long-dated government bond yields – which move inversely to prices – rose by more than the annual increase in 23 of the past 27 years.
After decades with a reputation for sound economic management – though severely tested by Brexit – former close allies compared Britain to an “emerging market turning itself into a submerging market” amid the financial market implosion. Some have likened the meltdown to the Suez Crisis of 1956, after which Britain’s power on the world stage was permanently diminished.
The Bank of England intervened with a promise to buy up to £65bn of government bonds to save funds responsible for managing money on behalf of UK pensioners from collapse. Andrew Bailey, the Bank’s governor, was not immune to criticism for the choppy market conditions.
The central bank was blamed in some quarters for a small rise in interest rates the day before the mini-budget, disappointing investors who had bet on a bigger move.
But despite Team Truss reaching for comparisons to other countries suffering the same global economic shocks unleashed by Russia’s war in Ukraine, City economists spoke of a “moron premium” for Britain. Bond yields were rising in other G7 countries but not by anywhere near as much as in the UK.
It has come with a heavy price. More than 5 million families could face an average rise in annual mortgage payments of £5,100 between now and the end of 2024, according to the Resolution Foundation thinktank.
Though partly caused by global problems, almost a quarter of the sum – £1,200 – is thought to be a result of the moron premium. City economists reckon this would have far outweighed any benefit from Kwarteng’s tax cuts.
For Truss there has been a steep political price.
The market turmoil has proven a powerful narrative for the mass of critics in her party who never wanted her as leader. On contact with free markets, the reputation of her free-market brand of libertarian economics has been trashed.
It took just six minutes on Monday for Kwarteng’s replacement, Jeremy Hunt, to announce the most stunning U-turn in modern British political history.
Almost every policy Truss campaigned on was unpicked. After ditching Trussonomics, it was only going to be a matter of time before the Tories got rid of its architect too. Credit: theguardian.com
Here’s the full statement Liz Truss delivered outside Downing Street confirming her resignation as prime minister.
I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability. Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.
Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. And our country has been held back for too long by low economic growth.
I was elected by the Conservative party with a mandate to change this. We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance. And we set out a vision for a low tax high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.
I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.
This morning I met the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady. We’ve agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week.
This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security.
I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen.
Green tea with lemon juice is a soothing beverage you can enjoy at any time of day.
It’s full of flavor, delicious, and easy to prepare.
It’s also highly nutritious, and research has found that it’s associated with a long list of potential health benefits.
Here are 10 of the top health benefits of green tea with lemon.
Lydia Cazorla/Stocksy United
Rich in antioxidants
Green tea and lemons are both high in antioxidants, compounds that help protect against inflammation and cell damage due to oxidation.
Green tea, in particular, is rich in antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and theogallin.
Lemons are a good source of the antioxidants ascorbic acid, hesperidin, naringin, and ferulic acid.
Research suggests antioxidants play a key role in health and disease and may protect against chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
Green tea and lemons are high in antioxidants, which can help protect against inflammation and chronic conditions.
Promotes weight loss
Green tea with lemon can be a great addition to a healthy weight loss diet.
In fact, multiple studies have suggested that green tea can support weight loss and boost fat burning.
According to one review of 15 studies, drinking green tea with higher amounts of EGCG for at least 12 weeks was linked to decreases in body weight and body fat.
One study in 115 women also found that taking green tea extract for 12 weeks led to significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, and belly fat.
Although scientists need to do more research in humans, some studies suggest that lemons could also promote weight loss.
One animal study found that when mice were treated with citrus flavonoids, the size of their fat cells decreased. The citrus flavonoids also increased metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet.
Another animal study from 2008 found that feeding lemon polyphenols to mice on a high fat diet helped prevent them from gaining weight and accumulating fat.
Studies suggest that drinking green tea may help decrease body weight and body fat. Some animal studies have found that certain compounds in lemons could also help prevent weight gain.
Protects against diabetes
Interestingly, some research suggests that green tea could help improve blood sugar control and protect against type 2 diabetes.
According to one review, drinking tea is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
Drinking tea regularly may also reduce inflammation and enhance the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Insulin is the hormone that moves sugar from the bloodstream into the cells.
One study in 92 people with type 2 diabetes also found that taking green tea extract for 16 weeks reduced insulin resistance. This may help support better blood sugar control.
However, other studies have found mixed results, and scientists need to do more research on green tea and diabetes.
Some studies have linked drinking green tea to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
May enhance heart health
Research has found that both green tea and lemons are associated with several benefits for heart health.
In fact, one review reported that citrus flavonoids, including those found in lemons, may suppress inflammation, improve the function of the blood vessels, and support healthy cholesterol levels.
Another study found that people who consumed lemons daily had decreased blood pressure levels, especially when they also walked regularly.
Similarly, an analysis of nine studies showed that people who regularly consumed green tea had a lower risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke than those who didn’t drink green tea.
What’s more, a recent review of 24 studies also found that drinking green tea could help lower high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.
Studies have found that consuming both green tea and lemons is associated with improved heart health and reductions in several risk factors for heart disease.
Supports brain health
Although further research in humans is needed, some studies suggest that green tea and lemon may offer several potential benefits for brain health.
For instance, one review of eight studies found that drinking green tea was associated in some studies with a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.
Another study found that consuming green tea frequently could improve the metabolism of certain proteins involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Some test-tube and animal studies have also found that certain compounds in citrus fruits may reduce inflammation, protect brain function, and prevent the buildup of plaque in the brain, which could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
Drinking green tea is linked to a lower risk of dementia, impaired brain function, and Alzheimer’s disease. Test-tube and animal studies also suggest that compounds found in lemons may improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
May boost immunity
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, a water-soluble micronutrient with powerful antioxidant properties.
Vitamin C plays a central role in the immune system by decreasing inflammation and enhancing the function of immune cells.
Increasing your intake of vitamin C may also help treat and prevent many types of respiratory and systemic infections.
What’s more, some animal studies have found that certain compounds in green tea, such as EGCG, could improve immune function and protect against autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis.
Both green tea and lemons are also rich in antioxidants, which help support a healthy immune system.
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which can reduce inflammation and help treat and prevent infections. Certain compounds in green tea, such as EGCG, may improve immune function as well.
Increases energy levels
Green tea is a natural source of caffeine, which is a central nervous system stimulant that people often use to increase their energy levels.
Studies suggest that in addition to fighting fatigue, caffeine can enhance alertness and improve cognitive and physical functioning.
Some studies have also shown that caffeine may improve athletic performance and increase endurance.
Because green tea with lemon contains less caffeine than coffee or energy drinks, it may be a good option for those who are sensitive to the effects of high doses of caffeine.
Green tea contains caffeine, which can decrease fatigue, enhance alertness, and improve cognitive and physical functioning.
May help prevent kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that can form in the kidneys and cause symptoms such as pain, nausea, and frequent urination (30Trusted Source).
Drinking green tea with lemon is a great way to help prevent kidney stones from forming.
In fact, one large study found that drinking green tea was linked to a lower risk of developing kidney stones, especially among men.
The citric acid found in lemons may also help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and binding to calcium oxalate. This prevents the accumulation of crystals that leads to kidney stone formation.
According to one review, consuming just 4 ounces (118 mL) of lemon juice per day could be beneficial for treating kidney stones.
Drinking green tea may be linked to a lower risk of kidney stones. Lemon juice also contains citric acid, which could help prevent kidney stones as well.
May help protect against cancer
Green tea and lemons may both possess powerful cancer-fighting properties.
Several test-tube studies suggest that certain compounds extracted from lemons could help prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Some studies have also found that eating more citrus fruits may be associated with a lower risk of several types of cancer, including lung, stomach, esophageal, and breast cancers.
Research has also linked green tea to a reduced risk of cancer. In particular, studies suggest that green tea may help protect against bladder, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer cells.
Keeps you hydrated
Drinking green tea with lemon can be a great way to stay hydrated.
Hydration is essential for nearly every aspect of health. In particular, it’s essential for skin health, weight management, brain function, digestive health, and kidney function.
Drinking enough fluids each day may even help prevent a range of conditions, including kidney stones, headaches, and constipation.
Drinking green tea with lemon can help you stay hydrated, which could help support many aspects of health.
How to make it
Making green tea with lemon at home is very simple.
To get started, bring about 1 cup (237 mL) of water to a boil, remove it from the heat, and let it cool for 2–3 minutes before pouring it into a cup.
Next, add a green tea bag and let it steep for 1–3 minutes. If you’re using loose-leaf tea instead, add about 1 tablespoon (2 grams) using a tea ball or infuser.
Finally, add some fresh lemon juice by squeezing up to half of a lemon directly into your tea.
You can enhance the flavor even more with ingredients such as honey, cinnamon, ginger, or fresh mint.
Enjoy 3–5 cups per day to stay hydrated and maximize the potential health benefits of green tea with lemon.
Locally made kokonte , as well as processed kokonte, were prepared using cassava through the process of boiling. Even though both cassava staples had lower glycemic index values of 7 and 18, respectively, their total dietary fiber content per 100g as well as their specific quantities that contained 50g of available carbohydrates differed.
