Mojoba7 Skin Rejuvenation System

       Mojoba7 Facial Masque                              Intelligent Nutrisi

Mojoba7 Skin Rejuvenation System®
The antioxidants and the nutrients present in our cosmeceutical skin rejuvenation system can help to curb the activity of free radicals on the skin. The free radicals are the agents that cause damage to the skin tissues and pave way for skin wrinkles.

Vitamin C is a skin care vitamin that helps stimulate the growth of collagen, L– ascorbic acid serves as a skin tightening agent, vitamin C keeps skin and other tissues healthy, essential for the production of collagen which gives skin its tone, structure and can assist in helping repairing sun damaged skin. Potassium helps in muscle control and with new skin cells, leading to a more vibrant complexion.

 
Calcium  is the most abundant mineral in the human body, it plays a crucial role in the production of some antioxidants and the skin’s calcium content regulates cell differentiation (and cell division) and controls the thickness of the epidermis. 

Calcium  regulates normal skin colour and helps maintain continual and efficient barrier functions of the upper epidermis against air pollutants and winter weather.

About 20 percent of the Zinc in our bodies is in the skin, and it is vital element for any natural skin care routine, it helps speed up the healing of your skin cells,  prevent premature aging of the skin and is useful
for dry skin, acne, dermatitis, rashes, cuts, and eczema.

Linoleic acid is an essential acid the skin must have that helps control the level of oils or sebum in the skin, this essential acid can only be derived from food or from skincare enriched with this skin food. Mojoba7 Skin Rejuvenation System® increases the linoleic acid levels in the skin to help normalise oily skin, clear pimples and combat acne breakouts.

Amino acids are molecules that are crucial in providing every cell in your body with cellular repair maintenance. When applied onto your skin, the amino acids combine with the epidermal cells to fill up creases, and thus provide the surface of your skin with a smoother appearance. The absorption of essential amino acids contained
in our botanical masque helps in the production of collagen for improved resilience, firmer skin and regenerates hydro-proteins for increased density.

Discover the beauty secret of our innovative Mojoba7 botanical masque, a magic African recipe of amino acids, phyto-chemicals, vitamins and trace minerals.
Intelligent Skincare From Nature
Wildharvest Mojoba Health Mix

Wild Harvest Pharma

Kairaba Spa Resort

Gambia W.Africa

Antioxidant Baobab Baobab Africa Baobab Diet Baobab probiotic Baobab Health Benefits Baobab Facts  Baobab Nutritional Baobab Powder Mix Baobab Tree Baobab Beauty  Cosmeceutical Baobab Buy Baobab Nutriceutical Baobab Phytochemical Baobab Prebiotic Baobab Probiotic Baobab The Baobab Tree Mojoba Health Supplement Baobab Botanical Facial Masque..........

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Information obtained from this web site is for general health information only. This information is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.

This web site makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, comparative or controversial nature, or usefulness of any information contained or referenced on this web site. Statements made about the products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Use of this web site does not create an expressed or implied physician-patient relationship.

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Mojoba Healthy Diet

The Mystical Baobab Tree                        Інтелектуальні харчування

The Healthy Diet

For centuries, people across Africa have enjoyed the baobab fruit's refreshing vitamin-filled diet. Naturally dehydrated, it is credited with medicinal properties, ranging from a cure for fever or diarrhoea to a calcium-rich pick-me-up. The tree normally lives for about 500 years. But it is believed some are up to 5,000 years old and they enjoy the veneration and respect traditionally accorded to age in Africa.

Wild Harvest Pharma's mission is to make a significant impact on the livelihoods of harvesters, women's fair-trade co-operatives and rural communities in Africa in the years to come. You can support Wild Harvest Pharma's ongoing work in Africa by useing our range of organic wild harvested baobab nurtrional products.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Mojoba Diet Plans
The Baobab Tree Regional Names  
Baobab Superfruit Diet 
How To Grow Baobab Seeds 

Baobab May Help Relieve PMS 

The Penang Baobab Tree

Wild Harvest Pharma’s nutraceutical Baobab powder is native to the tropical lands of Africa. The elongated oval shaped baobab fruit (like a potato) has a hard shell covered with soft yellowish-gray fur. The literature is abundant for its traditional use as a food. The most edible and frequently consumed part of this popular African fruit is the inner pulp.
MORE.......

Health Benefits

A woman who has lived with chronic kidney failure for 15 years claims her condition has been dramatically eased by eating a bizarre African "wonder" fruit. MORE.......

Support Wild Harvest

Discover the beauty secret of Wild Harvest Pharma’s Baobab cosmeceutical face mask, a part ofAfrican skin care for centuries. Our innovative Baobab Botanical phyto-chemical organic formula feeds your skin with protective antioxidants, protects from ageing free radicals, andthe renewing strength of pure, wild harvested vitamin enriched African Baobab will leave your skin silky-smooth.MORE.......



Baobab Recipes

Without any doubt, health is the most important asset in our life. Recipes for nutritious baobab energy bars are a great way to ensure that you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Using baobab energy bars bought from the shop are healthy, but using your own recipe will eliminate the addition of any unnecessary fats, sugars, and preservatives. MORE....... 

Wild Harvest Baobab Diet

Everyone knows what's in it for them when they go on a diet. Dull and tasteless foods, lack of energy to do anything, a hungry stomach—the kind that grumbles all the time. But dieting brings about so much benefits for the brief span of discomfort they require. For anyone with a sweet tooth looking to go on a diet there is this alternative called the Mojoba jflush diet. Thinking of dieting? With baobab juice, there's no reason not to. MORE.......

Baobab Legends

The Baobabs are full of mystery and wonder in Africa, tales have been brought down verbally from generation to generation. We have tried to compile as much as possible regarding this great tree of life.  MORE.......

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA or any other governing body. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Wild Harvest Pharma

Kairaba Spa Resort

Gambia W.Africa

Antioxidant Baobab Baobab Africa Baobab Diet Baobab probiotic Baobab Health Benefits Baobab Facts  Baobab Nutritional Baobab Powder Mix Baobab Tree Baobab Beauty  Cosmeceutical Baobab Buy Baobab Nutriceutical Baobab Phytochemical Baobab Prebiotic Baobab Probiotic Baobab The Baobab Tree Mojoba Health Supplement Baobab Botanical Facial Masque...........

The Baobab Tree or the Tree of Life

A Canadian based company BaobabTek has recently been appointed to manage and develop the North American market for Baobab Fruit Company of Senegal (BFCS) in Africa. In 1999 BFCS began by designing specific equipment capable of extracting raw materials from the Baobab Tree. They are now the single largest harvester and producer of Baobab ingredients in the world.


The Baobab Tree is also known as the “Tree of Life”, “The Chemist Tree” and “The Monkey Bread Tree”. The scientific name is Adansonia Digitata. It is a deciduous tree that can reach 30 meters or 90 feet in height and 15 meters or 45 feet in diameter. The swollen, short, bottle shaped trunk can store up to 30,000 gallons of water during the dry season, which serves as water storage for the villages. The Baobab Tree can live up to 5000 years and is protected from fire due to its spongy wood.


Viewed by the native population as their symbol of the Continent and as their Protector, the Baobab is of high importance for humans and animals as it provides them with food and medicine. In traditional African medicine, the Baobab is used to help treat fever, diarrhea, dysentery, malaria, smallpox, and inflammation.


The tree bears fruit once a year, which is harvested by the local population. The fruit contains naturally dehydrated fruit pulp, which is then mechanically separated from the fiber and seeds. The leaves and seeds provide botanical extracts used in a variety of industries. The seed endocarp has naturally occurring Omega 3, 6 and 9.


Dietary fibers (up to 45grams per 100g) soluble fibers (22 grams per 100 grams) make it also a very effective, ingredient as it can help regulate the functions of the colon and intestines. Essential amino acids present in the pulp are a great source of energy. Naturally high in vitamin C (six times that of an orange) the pulp also contains vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6 and PP). Minerals included are (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium, zinc and magnesium).


The Baobab pulp can be used as a natural and functional ingredient in the food industry to make juices, energy drinks, smoothies, ice creams, fruit powders, chewable tablets and cereal bars. In the nutraceutical industries the pulp is used as a natural source of fiber and vitamin C. The seed oil, leaves and bark can serve well in the cosmetic industry to make creams, masks, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and exfoliants. Overall the wide range of usage of the Baobab produce makes it a highly valuable natural resource.


Numerous studies have been conducted and released on the benefits of the Baobab during the last 6 years in Universities and Laboratories.


BaobabTek's mission is to provide the cosmetic, food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries with 100% natural raw materials that can help contribute to personal health and well being. As a by-product we also help enhance the economic development of several villages in Africa.


Finished products are already in circulation in Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Canada and the USA.


NaturalNews, citizen journalist

Our Journey to the Baobab Weavers

After several years of trying, finally it will happen. With a rented van, traveling companions and our Baobab Bag finisher we are off to the ladies who harvest, prepare and weave Baobab bags.   Traveling the first day on what we once thought were rough roads, potholes and speed bump ridden wide dirt roads, our journey began. What we didn’t know was that the next day we would learn what “rough road” really means.

The map showed our route on a secondary and tertiary road. As we began driving the dusty secondary road, baobab trees appeared. Huge, towering, and spreading with a trunk that would take a dozen people to stretch hands around, the baobab commands attention. Climbing pins, barely visible in the folded and scarred trunk provide access to the multiple beehives hung in the massive limbs. Moving on, the herds boys, cows, goats, sheep and donkeys common to most of Kenya stroll the road and roadsides, as few vehicles travel here. 

Every small fork in the road finds us asking, “Where is Tsheikuru?” Why is the way they choose always the,” One less traveled by?” But off we go. Now driving becomes an act of dodging rocks, ruts at least 2 feet deep and passing through the dry ditch where there once was a culvert, long since washed down with the seasonal torrent.

Huge volcanic peaks rise creating a beautiful driving distraction. The passengers become a bit nervous as the road drops sharply and curves around the mountainside. No guardrail on this small one lane road. As the vehicle moves slowly through small villages and past traditional homesteads, work stops to watch as the vehicle slowly picks its way through the rocks, holes and ditches, two wheels on the road, two wheels on the bushy angled roadside. That was the end of the secondary road.

 Now we find the tertiary road. Scraping the sides of the van on the acacia, occasionally hitting the errant rock as we straddle a ditch deep enough to hide a large dog, we slowly make progress. “Are we there yet?” Not yet, as we approach a broad river bed with just a trickle in the middle. There are the remains of a double lane bridge high off the riverbed. The pieces of the bridge that remain hint at the glorious celebration when the bridge was new. But now only piles of stone show a long forgotten attempt at repair. In the riverbed the cows slowly meander searching for a deep enough pool to drink.

No way I can maneuver the rocks, the riverbed and the long climb up the other side. But maneuver I must. We have come too far now to quit.  Walk the course, identify immovable rocks, and mud holes. Move the moveable, eye measure the ditches and then trust. Slowly, ever so slowly straddle the ditch but don’t slip, a little left, a little right into the riverbed. Search for enough traction to spin up the other side. WOW! Wonderful!! Oops, A shiver of fear, I have to go back later.

 I am picking the way through the rocky, ditches seems easy. A little later, not another river!! This one is impossible, impassable. Have we come so far only to turn back? No, park the van and walk.

Down the bank, a hot, very hot, sandy riverbed burned holes through the soles of shoes. Relentless sun beating unmercilessly, I am truly glad I bothered to bring my hat. Does this river really fill up in the rains? The river’s banks loudly answer that question, as tall acacias lie tumbled into the river, more tell the story with their exposed roots.

Eventually our guide leads us up out of the searing riverbed onto a winding path. The path leads to a small mud hut in the bush. There, outside sitting on chairs, stumps and ground cloths are several Kamba ladies calmly chewing, making cordage and weaving. We have arrived!!

 Taking our seats, the ladies begin to serve us warm soda and beans with rice, and show us how the process from Baobab tree to beautiful basket occurs. First the bark is cut from the tree in large rectangles. It is carried back to the shade at home where small strips are peeled off the tough exterior bark. The bark is then chewed. At first it is as dry as the dust, absorbing every drop of saliva. 

Persevering through dry mouth, the saliva begins to respond and soon the hard dry bark is dripping and separating into fibers. Next the fibers are pulled and lengthened to prepare for the cordage process. Holding the fibers tightly in one hand against the flat of the thigh, the fibers are rolled against each other to form a thin firm thread. Fibers are added to the end to be twisted in until long strips of cordage are rolled into balls.  Often the cream colored fibers are dyed with soot from the fire, roots, barks or berries. Once enough Baobab bark has been prepared the weaving begins.

 The baskets are woven in several ways but most often using a spiral weave. Finally after about 5 weeks, the baskets are finished off and our order will be ready. 

You can find these bags at the Aina Moja Shop in Belfast, Maine or on line at www.ainamoja.com.

But the ladies will not let us leave quite yet. A song begins to roll, one of the women stands to dance. Such great laughter as we try to learn the hip thrusting, leg throwing dance of the Kamba.

 Time is fleeting and we must leave. A bit more dehydrated, the long walk back to the van was slow and laborious. Never were we so glad to see the dusty vehicle and its cargo of bottled water.

 Proceeds from the Artisan Support Project support the non-profit organization, Expanding Opportunities, which has the greater mission of increasing self-sufficiency through educational and charitable projects for people nationally and internationally. One of the major projects of the organization is the Street Children Project.  This project manages a Feeding Program and Children's Home in  Kenya, Africa.

Fruit Company dominate Global Baobab Market

An Italian company, the Baobab Fruit Company Senegal (BFCS), has been producing a range of baobab products in Senegal for several years - including fruit pulp, seeds and oil - for sale in Europe as dietary supplements and cosmetic products.


For six months each year during the December-June harvest, it employs more than 950 collectors in the southwest Tambacounda region and operates a small processing plant with around 100 workers in the city of Thies.


The company produces between 150 to 200 tonnes of baobab raw material products a year. Like PhytoTrade, its representatives say they are excited about the EU novel foods approval, which has triggered increased commercial enquiries.


'For us, it's a fruit of the future, it will have a huge impact on Africa,' said Laudana Zorzella, the production and commercial representative in Dakar of BFCS, which has been studying the baobab's potential for over a decade. But she cautions it could take time for the product pipeline to be able to benefit African farmers: 'It's not just around the corner.'


In the baobab forests around Tandene village in Senegal, local farmers said they looked forward to earning much more from the trees. Prices for a kilo of baobab fruit varied between 175 to 500 CFA francs (€.26-.76), they said.


'If people know (that European consumers will buy the product) then they'll look after the trees better and feed them less to their animals,' said farmer Alassane Sy. Soon we hope to present to our readers an exclusive interview with one of the three founders of this dynamic company.

How To Make Baobab Fruit Drink

Ingredients:
600g baobab fruit pulp
1.2l warm water
1 tbsp sugar


Method:
Add the baobab fruit pulp to a large bowl and add the warm water and sugar. Leave to sit for at least four hours. During this time the very dry fruit pulp will hydrate and will come away from the seeds and the fibrous matter of the fruit. Stir the mixture vigourously until the water becomes an opaque, tan, liquid. Strain the resulting juice through cheesecloth or muslin into a jug. Refrigerate the liquid and serve chilled.

Baobab Flower Remedy

The signature of the Baobab Flower Remedy is that it will assist in the spiritual transformation in the exciting times we live in at the beginning of the Age of Aquarius.


The flower is a large, white waxyflower with 5 petals. The flower has a prehistoric feel to it, and is pollinated by fruit bats. The Baobab has 5 petals and 5 leaves, and the number 5 in numerology represents the emotional plane (the heart).
The flower essence relates specifically to the heart and crown chakras, opening our hearts and minds to the higher forces of the Universe.


The essence will help people to see how spiritually we are all ONE on the same journey home, and our journey home is to return to this state of being, oneness with other human beings and nature. The new millennium also marks a time for a new beginning of man and woman, as the consciousness of Oneness continues to expand and
grow across the globe. It is a time where people are increasingly taking responsibility for their own lives, health and the environment rather than relying on governments or other institutions.


The success of this journey will mean an end to all forms of war, oppression and
ecological destruction as our respect for all life becomes central to our way of thinking. The Baobab Flower Essence is a gift from nature to help humanity on this journey. The ascending astrological sign of the Baobab Essence is Aries, which is the start of the zodiac and indicates the start of a new cycle.


The Essence is able to heal wounds from lifetimes in the Age of Pisces as well as the Age of Aries. The Age of Aries started when Moses led the Jews out of bondage, according to the bible. It is also reputed that the Archangel Raphael gave Moses the book of all herbs to heal maladies.


The astrological birthchart of the essence also indicates that it can heal very deep wounds, particularly emotional and spiritual wounds. Chiron (the Wounded Healer Archetype), Vulcan (a hypothetical transneptunian planet who helps to put our dismembered and fragmented bits back together), Pluto (the unconscious and dark side) and the Sun (the heart) are all found in the 9th House of the Chart, the house of long distance travel. In one case the Baobab Essence healed a flesh wound virtually overnight.


The Baobab Essence has been very useful for pain, for example back pain or pain caused by arthritis, again having almost instantaneous results.

Baobab Bonsai Grower

Here's my little baobab, having just started this year's growth a few weeks ago. It is a deciduous tree and it is critically important that it receive no water during the dormant season. That starts in the fall when the leaves start to yellow and fall off. Don't think your tree is dying when that happens, because that is normal. I think it's dead every winter and then it starts growing again every spring. I never cease to be amazed. At some point in October or November, I put the tree in the basement and completely neglect it. It's fine to put it on a shelf (does not need any light) and let it sit in dry dormancy for the winter; when you see green shoots in the spring, bring it back to a sunny place and water it regularly. One winter, it was stored under the pool table in the basement while we did renovations!

I started this tree from seed 4 years ago. Germination is not hard. You should soak the seed for 24 hours before sowing it, to help germination.

I cut the main stem last year to promote new growth, which worked very well. It triggered new shoots from the stem below the cut and around the circumference of the cut itself. I sealed the cut with Japanese cut paste, which can be purchased from bonsai dealers. I don't know what my plan is for future shaping of my tree, but I will figure that out as I go. It will probably be with me for many years!

Please leave a comment (and link, if you have one) if you have a baobab bonsai. There's not too many of them out there and I'd like to see what other ones look like.

Baobab oil for skincare and anti-ageing

Baobab oil has been part of African skin care for centuries; it is widely viewed as the ultimate beauty product. It has a high content of vitamins A, D, E and F (essential fatty acids). Baobab oil is said to provide impressive moisturizing benefits to the skin and hair.


It absorbs quickly, improves elasticity, encourages regeneration of skin cells and does not clog the pores. It is an excellent ingredient in formulations effective in cases of acne, furunculosis, psoriasis, wounds and inflammations.


As such, the extract can be used in dermocosmetic formulations. It is also recommended in cases of sunburn or accident-related burns as it provides immediate relief of pain and/or rashes. This rich, golden oil has a slightly nutty smell and is extremely stable against rancidity.

Baobab goes for GRAS ahead of 2010 World Cup

A trade association has prepared a GRAS notification dossier for its baobab fruit pulp powder in the hope that products could become available in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.


PhytoTrade Africa is already promoting the potential of baobab fruit pulp for applications in the beverage and healthy snack markets after baobab fruit pulp obtained novel foods approval in Europe in June.


Now Cyril Lombard, of PhytoTrade, said the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) dossier for the US market would be submitted “shortly”. They are also considering additional dossiers for derivatives of the baobab fruit - a common food and flavor in Africa that has been heralded as a new superfruit.


Baobab is tipped to become a billion dollar industry as there is increasing interest in more exotic flavors and fruits with added benefits. In the US in particular, analysts have also identified a trend for African cuisines.


Dr Lucy Welford, spokeswoman for PhytoTrade, said baobab was a good flavor enhancer and described the taste as tart, very citrusy and similar to grapefruit.


She told FoodNavigator-USA.com: “If GRAS status comes through, we could be looking at products launches in the US in 2009.”


Dr Welfod added: “The World Cup is a huge opportunity to market this as a new kind of African beverage ingredient in particular.


“It brings an interesting and exotic flavor to food or beverage products and at the same time it does have interesting nutritional properties.


“It has a high pectin and fiber content so it is useful in slightly thicker drinks such as smoothies, as well as in cereals, jams, biscuits and other applications.


“Now that we’ve had a lot of interest in Europe, I think there might be a knock-on effect in the US.”


She said the plan is to submit the GRAS dossier first, then follow this up with an application for NDI (new dietary ingredient) status.


Health benefits


Baobab is the large green or brown fruit of the Adansonia digitata, (or 'upside-down') tree, which grows primarily in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Different parts of the fruit are a traditional food in these countries.


The fruit pulp of the baobab is said to have an antioxidant activity about four times that of kiwi or apple pulp. The main nutrients include vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, pectin and citric, malic and succinic acids, while the oil also contains the vitamins A, D and E.


The pulp is also reported to be prebiotic and stimulate the intestinal microflora.


The maximum sustainable harvesting potential of baobab could about $1bn, according to a report by Ben Bennett from the UK's Natural Resources Institute (NRI) for the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP).


PhytoTrade, which represents companies wishing to export their dried baobab fruit, worked with the South African company Afriplex to ensure the ingredient's acceptance within the European ingredients market. Now PhytoTrade Africa is researching the regulatory requirements in Japan.


African inspiration


A recent Packaged Facts report called Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2008 predicted that the cuisines of several African nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt were particularly likely to gain in popularity in the US.


An example of this is the influence of North African cuisine which includes ras el hanout spice blends and harissa, a chile-caraway seed condiment.


In some areas, such as Washington, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago, the African trend is helped by large immigrant communities of Ethiopians and Somalians, according to Elaine Tecklenburg who authored the report.


This year Bell Flavors & Fragrances paired the Moroccan spice ras el hanout with apricot on toasted pine nuts. It also used spicy African ginger for use in a sorbet with the Aisan citrus fruit yuzu.


Similarly Symrise is offering an African theme to the alcoholic beverage market with the launch of its “African Inspirations” such as cacao liqueur which uses a blend of cacao from the Ivory Coast and typical African spices such as cardamom. Also there is a cider which has a rooibos flavor note. Rooibos, or red bush, is a plant commonly used in tea in South Africa.


However, the beverage concepts have mainly been developed for the EAME region (Europe, Africa, Middle East).

Baobab Anti-Ageing Cream

Baobab Anti-Ageing
Ultra-moisturising anti-ageing gel-cream: to delay the effects of ageing. +115% more hydration 2 hours after application.

Virgin baobab oil, grapefruit essential oil, moringa, beech bud phytostimulines, imperata cylindrica and Yon-Ka Quintessence.
Fine texture and anti-pollution action.
Use in the morning after cleansing and shaving.

The Mythical Baobab

Many cultures claim to remember a time when great and ancient trees cloaked vast areas of the earth. The enchanting original forests and foreboding gigantic trees were of mythical dimensions and proportions.


The African baobab is a living embodiment of timeless affinities with nature common to many peoples throughout the continent. It serves as a metaphoric window into Africa's real or imagined past, through which we may view practices said to be of great antiquity.


Visitors to Sukur are warned not to approach a certain ancient baobab tree because, villagers say, it turns people into hermaphrodites.


Several myths that use the baobab as a backdrop for teaching moral lessons are told by the Bushmen or Hausa people of Northern Nigeria. One tale involving the baobab which is used to explain a phenomenon of nature as well as teach a moral lesson is the myth "The Tale of the Superman" In this story a husband boasts to his wife that he is the strongest man alive. He learns of another man who claims to be "superman", and goes to seek him out.


This second "superman" is actually an extremely powerful superhuman who kicks up wind wherever he goes and eats men for dinner. While trying to escape from "superman", the husband comes across the "Giant-of-the-Forest" sitting under a baobab tree. The giant offers to help the husband, and enters into a terrible fight with "superman". In their struggle to free themselves from each other's grasp, they leap to such a height they disappear into the heavens. As a result, their struggle can be heard as thunder.


The moral of the story is summed up by the wife who says, "Never boast about your achievements again. However strong or clever or rich or powerful you are, there is always somebody more so."

Baobab Exciting New Super Food

Baobab is an exciting new Super Food/Functional Food additive in a receptive and steadily growing market segment - the specialty health foods/ nutraceuticals business.


A Super Food refers to a food or beverage that contains exceptional nutrient richness and antioxidants, molecules that fight free radicals.


These cell-damaging chemicals emerge from nearly everything our bodies’ do that involves oxygen, including digesting and breathing.

Europe Recognizes Health Benefits of Baobab Fruit

In Senegal, villagers have always known about the health benefits of baobab fruit, which only now have been discovered by Europe in what could spell magic for localities like Fandene.


The ancient, hardy species also known as the "tree of life" is scattered across the African savannah, some said to date back to the time of Christ.


Locals use and benefit from nearly every part of the tree, whose processed fruit was approved for European import last month.




"You use the monkey bread fruit if you have a belly ache," said farmer Aloyse Tine, using the local name for baobab fruit. "If you're tired you eat the leaves, they are good for you."


The seeds can be pressed to extract oil used for cooking and the bark can be used to make ropes. In the past, the hollow bark was also used to bury "griots", a special West African cast of poets, musicians and sorcerers.


Farmer Tine, like others, used to lug his fruit to sell in the market in the nearby town of Thies.


Three years ago, he started selling instead to the Baobab Fruit Company, a Senegalese firm run by three Italians. It is the country's only industrialised producer of dried baobab fruit pulp, which it exports for use in cosmetics and certain dietary supplements.


The new income has already made changes. It "allows me to send my kids to school," he said.
Enter PhytoTrade Africa, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on developing fair trade and environmentally sustainable natural products which benefits the community..


Sensing potential, it launched in 2006 the process that would open European Union markets to this nutritious African oddity. Under EU rules, any "novel" food -- one not commonly consumed in Europe before 1997 -- requires special approval for use in the 27-member bloc.
"Approval for the baobab is fantastic news for Africa," said PhytoTrade's Cyril Lombard after the EU decision.


"Opening the European market to the  benefits of  this product will make a real difference to poor rural communities there, offering them a potentially life-changing source of income."


One of these is Thiawe Thiawe, where 41-year-old Delphine farms some 20 baobab trees scattered outside her house.


"I've collected the fruits since I was a little girl with my grandmother," she told AFP. Like Tine, her life is a little easier since she started selling to the Baobab Fruit company rather than hawking her own goods.


"It's better to sell here than there, you don't have to wear yourself out going to Thies."


The Baobab Fruit Company says it already sees a spike in interest from Europe, where the pulp will likely be used in cereal bars and health drinks.


"Now we collect 150 to 200 tonnes of baobab fruit each harvest. In the last weeks there has been an explosion in demand," Laudana Zorzella told AFP at the factory in Thies.


"We are thinking we will need a much bigger harvest next time," she said. "In Senegal alone we estimate we could collect 13 thousand tonnes of fruit."


But what can baobab fruit, also known as monkey's bread, bring in the way of benefits to health-conscious Europe?


According to the International Centre for Underutilized Crops at the University of Southhampton, the baobab is "a fruit of the future", rich in vitamin C, B1, B2 and calcium and chock-full of anti-oxidants.


In Senegal, its pulp is mostly used to make Bouye, a milky, tart juice made by boiling the pulp and seeds with water and sugar.


Some scientists calculate the fruit has three times as much vitamin C as oranges and has more calcium than a glass of milk.


And the tree is well adapted to arid conditions, tolerating both drought and poorly drained soil, and is fire resistant. Also known as the "upside down tree" for its bulbous trunk and spindly branches that look like roots, it can grow to be hundreds if not thousands of years old.


A study for PhytoTrade Africa conducted by the Natural Resources Institute in Britain suggested that wild harvesting of baobab fruit could generate trade of up to one billion dollars (640 million euros) a year for African producers.


Some environmentalists fear such commercial exploitation could lead to extinction of the iconic tree.


But Zorzella dismissed this, stressing that her company uses only the fruit and leaves the tree intact. "And if it becomes an important revenue the farmers will know that they have to protect the tree," she said.


In Fandene, Aloyse said this lesson has already been learned. As new baobabs sprout spontaneously, they are protected and allowed to grow.


"There are cattle herders that cut the leaves (to feed their animals) but we are starting to stop them now. That's not good because we need the trees to produce fruit," he said.


After the EU's approval, "everybody is asking for our products so they can test the health and nutrition benefits of the baobab," Zorzella said.


She estimated Europe's major food companies would need up to eight months for research and development before consumers there can actually get their own sip of a baobab smoothie or health bar.


Source-AFP