Tiger nuts & their not-so-secret health benefits

It’s hard to bring up tiger nuts without imagining ancient folktales and myths. However, the benefits of these small bundles are neither a myth, nor a secret, and it should be an essential part of every diet.

Also known as chufa or by its latin name Cyperus esculentus, tiger nuts are small, round tubers that are among the oldest cultivated foods in human history. Archeologists have found traces of tiger nuts dating back to 16,000 BC and in ancient Egyptian tombs from 3,000BC. It is widely believed that the ancient Egyptians ate them boiled in beer, roasted, or ground with honey, as well as used them medicinally as an ointment, enema or perfume.

Today, they are making a comeback, but the reason is not folktales or myth, but proven science that suggests that these small bundles of protein and nutrients are a superfood that should be eaten more regularly. Research shows that tiger nuts can boost the immune system, improve heart health, fight infections, boost sexual stamina and libio, and also help people with IBS by acting as constipation relief.

As a food & uses

Before going into the details of their nutritional and health benefits, it’s important to highlight the different ways tiger nuts can be eaten. Naturally, you can eat them by themselves - as snacks, with milk or yogurt, or as part of a salad or dish -, but they can also be ground into flour and provide a gluten-free alternative for baking, used to make tiger nut milk, a sweet and lactose-free drink, or even pressed into tiger nut oil.

Although drying makes them a bit harder, they are generally chewy and sweet, and taste similar to almonds. They were originally native to the Middle East before migrating to the Americas and Africa, and are in fact not nuts at all, which makes them safe to eat for people with nut allergies. They are what is called tubers, somewhat like potatoes, and serve as pockets of nutrients for plants.

Health & nutrition

One of the most common dietary uses of tiger nuts today is to relieve stomach and digestive problems, especially for people with IBS. Just one ounce of tiger nuts contains as much as 10 grams of fibres, which is about 40% of the daily recommended intake. What they make up for in terms of fibre, they lack in r fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs), which are short chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small and are found in barely, rye and most common fruits. Because of these characteristics, people who suffer from chronic digestion problems or gastrointestinal disorder like IBS find it to be the ultimate food, by being both a tasty food and an efficient remedy.

Another popular use of tiger nuts is as a natural viagra alternative, yes, viagra. It has been used to cure erectile dysfunction, promote sperm count, and help maintain bigger erections that last longer. This is mainly due to their high content of arginine and omega3, which help stimulate a better blood flow to the penis, as well as zinc, which helps your body produce more testosterone.

In one study one conducted by researchers at the Jordan University of Science & Technology, male mice who were fed tiger nuts in quantities for 30 days had higher testosterone levels, increased sexual activity, and took shorter rests between mating sessions.

When it comes to the overall health benefits of eating tiger nuts, they can assist your immune system by providing protection from several common infectious bacteria. Studies have shown that they are effective against E. coli, Staphylococcus and Salmonella, as well as other antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Needless to say, the list of health benefits goes on and on. Generally, tiger nuts are rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and hearth healthy fats, which are essential to healthy heart, brain and organ function and should be part of your everyday diet. If you haven’t tried tiger nuts yet, go ahead and check out Got Guts Tiger Nuts or Get Real Tiger Meal from This is Nuts, they are organic, without additives, and made using a special technique that maintains their natural sweetness and softness.