Often times, people who prepare herbal alternative medicine recommend that you use Omi Ogi (pap water) in preparing it.
There is a wide belief that Omi Ogi is medicinal and powers up the herbs to work better.
How true this is, not many of the persons who drink it know.
Basically, when dry corn ferments, there comes with it some bacteria and other compounds.
But what are these compounds in Omi Ogi that make it medicinal?
Interestingly, we found that there are different benefits and antinutrients that may also be in Omi Ogi (pap water).
It is said to contain some compounds that lower the ability of your body to absorb iron and when you take it.
Indeed, Omi Ogi is the fermented water that people who prepare pap throw away after sieving the fibre of the corn out.
It is amazing, therefore, that this fermentation changes a lot about the antinutrient tendency of corn.
Health Benefits Of Omi Ogi (Pap Water)
Pap water contains different nutrients that are found in corn and more and those make it amazing solution for herbs preparation. Apart from taking it with herbs, you can drink it the way it is.
1. Rich In Nutrients
In the first place, corn is high in vitamins A and B. Also, it contains vitamins B1, B5, B3, riboflavin, panthothenic acid and thiamine.
It is rich in different antioxidants that are great for warding off free radicals that cause chronic diseases.
Corn is also high in folic acid which results from fermentation. It contains potassium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, chromium and phosphorous.
Another study says corn contains nutrients and phytochemicals – vitamins (A, B, E, and K), minerals (Mg, P, and K), phenolic acids (ferulic acid, coumaric acid, and syringic acid), carotenoids and flavonoids (anthocyanins), and dietary fiber (1).
2. Omi Ogi Is Rich In Healthy Bacteria
A 2011 study on the benefits of Omi Ogi, by students of the Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Enugu State University of Science And Technology, evaluated fermented corn water as a potential source of probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB).
The study found that the water from the sieved wet-milled 72-hour fermented corn mash contains LAB.
The most common of LAB in Omi Ogi are Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum.
These gut-friendly bacteria were identified by morphological and physiological tests.
According to the study, the presence of these friendly bacteria in pap water helps in regulating the bacterial load in your system.
The researchers report that Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis and Pediococcus acidilacti have slight antibacterial effect on the test pathogens.
Pathogens are organisms that can cause diseases – viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
The researchers concluded that the fermented water from pap is a potential source of probiotics that can be utilised for the prevention of diseases-causing susceptible pathogens.
Another study also found that fermentation also makes Omi Ogi contain an amount of folacin (colic acid).
Folic acid helps your body produce and maintain new cells. Also, it helps in preventions of changes to DNA that may lead to cancer.
3. Improves Eye Health
According to studies, Omi Ogi is beneficial for your eyes.
Fermented pap water contains carotenoids – lutein and zeaxanthin.
A large body of evidence shows that lutein, which is an antioxidant, has several beneficial effects, especially on eye health (2).
It helps protect your eyes from free radicals that may damage the eyes.
4. Helps Prevent Anemia
Your body needs iron and folate to form new red blood cells and corn is a very good source of iron. In a 100-gram serving, corn provides an impressive 2.7 mg of iron.
As a result, Omi Ogi is able to help correct iron deficiencies in your body since it contains folate and a range of vitamins.
This also makes it good for a woman who is looking to conceive or pregnant.
Basically, profound deficiency of vitamins and minerals such as iron in your body results in development of symptoms of anemia.
5. Prevents Certain Forms Of Cancer
Because Omi Ogi is fermented, there is improved level of antioxidants in it that are able to help ward off free radicals that cause cancer.
For instance, when cooked, sweet corn contains more antioxidants than when it is not cooked (3).
The presence of flavonoid and vitamin E in Omi Ogi make it a good anti-cancer remedy (4).
It helps prevent development of colon cancer.
A study says coloured corn contains anthocyanins that are helpful in reducing the risk of colon cancer by increasing fecal butyric acid content.
6. Improves Heart Health
Also, a study says the antioxidants in corn which are also present in pap water help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Anti-bodies have been linked to chronic diseases, including heart diseases.
According to a study, flavonoid can lower risk of heart disease and improve health (5).
Potassium is also another mineral that is beneficial to the heart. It helps in circulation of fluid through the body and reduces risk of heart disease and stroke (6).
7. Lowers Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Also, Omi Ogi is able to lower risk of type-2 diabetes. Corn contains fibre and it is also rich in a kind of carbohydrate that helps lower blood sugar level.
Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, corn and sweet corn provide a wide variety of vitamins (carotenoids, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folate, ascorbic acid, vitamin E and vitamin K), minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc) and resistant starches (7).
Magnesium and the probiotics in Omi Ogi make it a good drink for diabetics.
8. Promotes Weight Loss
Also, flavonoids are good antioxidants that help fight obesity.
According to a study, people who are higher than their ideal weight will find flavonoids helpful.
It says natural flavonoids have anti-inflammatory actions and autophagic flux in their molecular mechanisms that help prevent and/or treat obesity (8).
However, there is also the need for portion control even when an individual is taking Omi Ogi for weight loss.
Remember that the basic reason people gain weight is imbalance of calories taking in and the one used up each day.
9. Improves Digestive Health
Because of the presence of friendly bacteria (probiotics) in Omi Ogi, it improves your digestive health.
Antioxidants in pap water fight free radicals that also cause digestive disorders.
There is the need for the presence of good bacteria in your digestive system to have a good gut health.
When the bad bacteria are more than the good ones in your gut, digestive issues occur.
Omi Ogi contains Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum which are probiotics that help improve digestive health (9).
How To Use Omi Ogi
First, we will begin with talking about how to prepare your pap to get this medicinal water.
Soak the amount of corn you intend to use in water for two days or maximum 72 hours.
Filter it out and take it to the mill.
After grinding it, filter the water out by pouring the pap in a kind of bag that can only sieve the water.
People Also Read: Avocado Seed: 8 Amazing Health Benefits You Should Know
Often we recommend that you do not sieve out the fibre so that you can also get the fibre benefit.
But if you want to have a smooth ogi, you have to use a sieve that is made for sieving ogi to sieve out the fibre.
Pour the one you have sieved (not the fibre) into a bad that can only allow water out.
The water that comes out, is the Omi Ogi that you should take.
How To Take Pap Water
Basically, if you intend to take it with herbs, do not boil it with the herb. Instead, add some quantity of the pap water in the warm herbs’ water and take it.
This way, you will preserve the nutrients and friendly bacteria in the pap water.
In Nigeria, dry corn is always available for you to buy and make your own Omi Ogi, if you would love to take it.
We hope that this is helpful. Kindly leave a comment and share with your friends. Also, be kind enough to tell us other things you use Omi Ogi for.
Great article. Thanks.
I have found the article very interesting and educative. Thanks.
Very helpful
Nice article and thank you for the information.
Very informative. Few know the benefits of Omi Ogi. Keep it up.
Thank you so much. We really appreciate these kind words.
Thank you! Very helpful