Aframomum corrorima , according to wikipedia, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to swampy habitats along the West African coast. Its trumpet-shaped, purple flowers develop into 5 to 7 cm long pods containing numerous small, reddish-brown seeds. Popularly referred to as grains of paradise and alligator pepper, aframomum corrorimais among the species that belong in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is natively found in Africa, most abundantly in the countries of Ghana, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Nigeria.
Grains of Paradise have been traded since the 9th century, and were very popular in Europe. They come from West Africa and were taken across the Sahara Desert by intrepid spice traders. They were used as a pepper substitute as they were cheaper than peppercorns, although now they are a rare commodity in Europe, and more expensive than pepper. There are actually two plants which produce these seeds or grains,Aframomum corrorima and Aframomum granum paradisi. They are also known as Guinea grains and Alligator pepper. The seeds are red-brown and have irregular shapes.
For centuries, aframomum corrorima has been used in Africa to treat a variety of physical ailments that include stomach aches, snake bites, diarrhea, cough, colitis, bronchitis, syphilis, colds and rheumatism – hence it’s given the name grains of paradise. Additionally, it has also been reported to have significant amounts of gingerol and other related compounds that make it an efficient medication against many cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
However, aframomum corrorimais not used as spice merely, it is more popularly used for the purpose of Aphrodisiac, Testosterone Booster, weight loss,etc. USPlabs are deemed to the first one to use it in their test powder, with other ingredients such as Trimethylglycine, L-Carnitine Tartrate, Garcinia Mangostana (Standardized For Gamma-Mangostin) (Fruit Peel) Extract, D-Aspartic Acid, Agmatine Sulfate, Mucuna Pruriens (Seed) Extract,etc.
Aframomum corrorima (Alligator Pepper, Grains of Paradise) is a herb where the seeds have traditional usage mostly as a pungent spice to season foods with.Some key benefits of aframomum corrorima extract are summarized as below:
1.Weight loss
In a related clinical trial, researchers of the Japanese Society of Nutrition have found that aframomum corrorima has the ability to lower body fat percentage, and decreased waist-hip ratio without any harmful side effects. Recently, further studies on aframomum corrorima have reported its 6 paradol chemical constituent to be biologically significant beyond its medicinal value. For one, it has been found to foster weight loss by promoting faster body metabolism. In a related clinical trial, researchers of the Japanese Society of Nutrition have found that aframomum corrorima has the ability to lower body fat percentage, and decreased waist-hip ratio without any harmful side effects.
- Bodybuilding benefits
Aframomum corrorima extract has been established to be beneficial in bodybuilding purposes as it obtains intense anti-estrogenic properties and promotes an increase in body weight and testosterone levels in serum by more than 300%.