Kamande: Bogus food but good for libido

The establishment of uji-selling kiosks and food joints with messages of how they would improve sexual experience is the latest attraction for most men in Mt Kenya region.

The rapidly increasing uji (porridge) kiosks have attractive banners hanging in the walls explaining how men will perform better in bed after drinking uji power while also extolling other health benefits that come in handy.

Men flock to the joints to improve their sex drive and to emerge victorious after performing the act.

But forget about the uji and the kiosks, at home women try their level best to compliment the performance of their hubbies by preparing traditional foods such as cassava, sweet potato and arrow roots.

Black beans (njahi), peas, and lentils (kamande) are the latest entrants to Mt Kenya region's favourite meal which is regularly included in the diet.

For a very long time, njahi has been touted as the main dish that helps improve your libido but with the entry of kamande, Kikuyu women seem to be diverting their attention to the legumes which regularly grow in dry areas.

The two legumes' fame has gone out from the frames of plates to stir a simmering war on social media, with some defending the legumes and praising them for their nutritional value while others, mainly men, expressing their dislike for the legumes.

Last year, njahi was the talk of Twittersphere after they featured in the best of lists on Huffpost, Cosmo and CNN a move that attracted backlash on Twitter with detractors claiming there was a well-choreographed move to play PR gimmicks to the legumes.

They (detractors) claimed njahi is a negative adjective in the book and that it was disgusting, atrocious and terrible and hardly deserves to be called food while to others, it was the best food to increase libido and to ensure consumers are healthy and strong.

Fertility and spiritualism

This was despite the fact that njahi has remained Kikuyu's staple food and has strong ties with fertility and Gikuyu spiritualism.

Nursing mothers were told "ninguka kuria njahi" ("I will come eat njahi"), which meant that the person saying the phrase would come to see the new baby soon.

But last month, kamande seems to have overtaken njahi and has become the talk of town. It has many people praising it while others hate it in equal measure.

As usual, women are the main protagonists while men remain the main antagonists save for the few who are easily influenced by their better halves.

The discussion about Facebook, just like njahi, centered on its ability to increase libido and its health benefits to consumers.

"I hate it to death, my wife has a tendency of preparing it for me on pretext that it shall boost my libido but my dislike for legumes is on another level," a Facebook user vented.

Lentils (kamande) are annually grown and belong to the Fabaceae plant family. The pods contain edible seeds, each pod producing at least two seeds that can be split if desired. The vine itself is quite slender with hairy, erect, branching stems.

In Kenya it is popularly known as kamande, best grown in hot areas with sandy loamy soils that drain water fast.

Due to its tolerance to drought conditions, areas of Ukambani, Garissa, Wajir, Siaya, Kisumu, Narok South, Kajiado and the entire coastal region would be ideal. Linah Judy, a farmer from Kitui county shares insights on planting kamande.

Libido issues

But are they really attributed to improving one's sex drive? Nutritionists partially agrees to the narrative but maintain that first cautions that before venturing for foods for sex, anyone struggling with libido issues must first see the doctor.

Sharon Ndeda, a Clinical Nutrition Officer at Iguhu Sub County hospital in Kakamega County avers that for one to have a good sex life, you should exercise frequently, be stress free and increase intake of fluids in order to increase blood volume in the body.

"Men should eat foods rich in zinc which increases sense of smell that has a positive effect on the arousal and maintaining of an erection. The foods are legumes, meat products, whole grains, nuts and eggs," said Ms. Ndeda.

She added: "Amino acids (L-arginine) helps in penile blood vessels to relax by eating foods like legumes, meat and nuts. Avocados supercharge the libido in men, as it is rich in potassium, vitamins and oils. Bananas also play the same role as they are rich in potassium. Apples peels and carrots prevent prostate cancer hence promoting penis health," she adds.

Ms. Ndeda advises that people should also take spinach, which increases testosterone levels in the body with tomatoes helping in sperm concentration.

She warned that men should avoid chocolate and quinine as it has methylxantines that makes them lethargic and sleepy thus lowering sex drive.