Saturday, March 28

Food For Thoughts Matching Funds

An African proverb says that it takes a whole village to raise a child. And it is this premise, that children are everyone’s responsibility that is the driving force behind the Food For Thought Matching Funds Project.


All parents want their children to be healthy. As school aged children go through remarkable physical changes of all kinds, their food intake becomes a critical aspect of this growth and development. Recent research shows that nourishing food not only makes a child healthier, it makes him emotionally more stable, and it improves school performance. It appears then that paying attention to our children's diets pays high dividends.

To give kids a smart start in life, we have started the Food For Thought Matching Funds Project to provide a healthy vitamin enriched baobab drink to as many school children in The Gambia as our donors permit.

Matching Funds
We are a small company but how do you eat an elephant? Thats right, one bite at a time.Through partnership with Wild Harvest Pharma Food For Thought, your donation can touch more lives! 


If you are interested in working with us to bring about lasting change in schools around the Gambia, contact us for further details.

Disclaimer
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.

Sunday, March 15

Wild Harvest Mojoba Cranberry Nut Pie

Wild Harvest Mojoba Cranberry Nut Pie
1 1/4 cups Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
5 Tbsp Wild Harvest Mojoba Health supplement
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 large egg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
Vanilla ice cream, optional


Preheat oven to 325ºF. Grease a 9-inch pie plate. 
Layer cranberries on bottom of pie plate. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts. Beat egg in a medium mixing bowl until thick. Gradually add sugar and Mojoba Mix, beating until thoroughly blended. Stir in flour and melted butter; blend well. Pour over cranberries. 
Bake 45 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve with ice cream, if desired.

Wild Harvest Pharma

Disclaimer
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

Thursday, March 12

Wild Harvest Pharma's Baobab Approved By FDA

 The magnificent baobab tree, with its sturdy trunk and broad, root-like crown, is one of Southern Africa’s icons and a well-known sight in photographs and travel brochures. Not as well-known is the fact that the tree’s fruit and leaves are both edible, and the baobab fruit is particularly nourishing and rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Now, the benefits of baobab (Adansonia spp.) are to be experienced by millions of overseas consumers, with the September 2009 announcement that the US Food and Drink Administration (FDA) has approved the importation of baobab powder, made from the pulp of the fruit, into the US. This is significant for the hundreds of African farmers who derive a living from the massive trees.

Harare-based Phyto Trade Africa is the driving force behind the application for export. The announcement follows PhytoTrade’s successful application to the European Commission, which gave its approval for export to Europe in July 2008

PhytoTrade, a trade association, helps rural farmers in Southern Africa get their natural products to market. It represents thousands of producers across eight nations in the region and states its purpose as poverty alleviation and the protection of biodiversity by promoting sustainable, ethical and economically viable enterprises.

In October 2008 PhytoTrade prepared its submission to the FDA under the “generally recognised as safe” (Gras) classification. The Gras food additive classification indicates that the additive has been deemed safe for its intended use. The evaluation is performed by suitably qualified experts. Gras-certified additives are exempt from the usual full FDA pre-market review.

Now that Gras status has been conferred on locally produced baobab powder, PhytoTrade and its commercial partner, plant extract specialist Afriplex, will look at launching products in the US as soon as the beginning of November 2009.

PhytoTrade communications director Dr Lucy Welford, based in Cape Town, said the application has been put together with a view to capitalising on the current popularity of African food in overseas markets such as the US.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is another useful platform which will assist in the marketing of baobab products, by creating greater awareness of Africa and African foodstuffs. PhytoTrade hopes that products will be available locally in time for football's biggest tournament, which kicks off in June 2010.

Billion-dollar industry
PhytoTrade believes that baobab powder has the potential to spawn a billion-dollar industry, with health-conscious consumers showing increasing interest in exotic flavours and products that offer extra benefits, and adhere to Fairtrade standards to boot.

Farmers are paid fairly for their produce and, said Afriplex, the big buyers also return a portion of their sales profits to the villages to fund community projects.

According to PhytoTrade’s CE, Gus Le Breton, there is already strong interest in the powdery substance. “Dozens of companies have shown interest in baobab since we submitted the application,” he said, “and many have already conducted initial research. Now that approval has been given, they can progress to full-scale product development.”

Health benefits
Baobab’s vitamin C content is up to three times that of an orange. In addition to its high levels of antioxidants, it contains natural fibre, calcium and iron. The fruit is also a source of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid), as well as pectin and citric, malic and succinic acids. Baobab oil contains vitamins A, D and E.

Both fruit and leaves can be eaten, while the bark is used to make rope.
Outside Africa the fruit and leaves of the baobab are not eaten directly – the fruit is generally processed first to the fine white powder and then added to food and drink products.

Baobab powder is particularly suited as a nutritious additive for thicker drinks such as smoothies, and can also be used in jams, cereals and cereal bars, and biscuits. The healthy drinks and snacks market is a top priority for PhytoTrade.

The Tree of life
In Africa, the baobab grows primarily in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, where it is the national tree. Baobabs can grow as old as 5000 years.

According to a 2007 study written by marketing economist Ben Bennett of Britain’s Natural Resources Institute, the sustainable harvesting of baobabs has the potential to bring in an extra US$1-billion (R7.35-billion) into Africa annually. Up to 2.5-million poor households stand to gain work and income through this.

Wild harvesting of baobabs and collecting fruit from the trees or the ground will ensure the sustainability of the process. And as a source of income, baobabs will act as a deforestation deterrent because people will be more eager to protect them and less willing to chop them down to clear space for other crops.

Disclaimer
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.