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Baobab oil for skincare and anti-ageing
Baobab oil has been part of African skin care for centuries; it is widely viewed as the ultimate beauty product. It has a high content of vitamins A, D, E and F (essential fatty acids). Baobab oil is said to provide impressive moisturizing benefits to the skin and hair.
It absorbs quickly, improves elasticity, encourages regeneration of skin cells and does not clog the pores. It is an excellent ingredient in formulations effective in cases of acne, furunculosis, psoriasis, wounds and inflammations.
As such, the extract can be used in dermocosmetic formulations. It is also recommended in cases of sunburn or accident-related burns as it provides immediate relief of pain and/or rashes. This rich, golden oil has a slightly nutty smell and is extremely stable against rancidity.
Mini-Facelift Treatment
Baobab And Botanical Remedies
Baobab has been traditionally used against diarrhea, scurvy, cough, dysentery, small pox and measles. Several scientific studies have been performed such as on its anti-diarrheic properties demonstrating its anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain killing) and anti-pyretic (temperature reducing) properties its effect against sickle cell anemia.
World-wide, the total turnover of botanical remedies and dietary supplements increased sharply, especially in the 90s, and almost doubled, from U.S. $12.4 billion in 1994 to U.S. $20.3 billion in 2003.
Gambia Conference Services
Conferences
Gambia and Senegal has played host to many conferences and meetings and boasts some fine venues for events from 8 to 800 delegates. West African Tours offer a professional, efficient and personal service in the provision of conference services.
What the Senegambia Offers
A potent mix of African culture and hospitality, sun-drenched beaches and first-class accommodation within a few hours flying time of Europe.
Venues
Our selected venues offer a wide choice of accommodation and are designed with the business delegate in mind, with air-conditioning and up-to-date presentation equipment as well as translation, secetarial and other business services.
•Bungalow Beach Hotel
•Coconut Residence
•Kairaba Beach Hotel
•Senegambia Beach Hotel
•Meridien Hotel
•Teranga Sofitel
•Novotel Hotel
West African Tours We show you the very best that Gambia has to offer in adventure, cultural, bird watching, fishing, roots, sports fishing, four wheel drive, safari and day tours. We also offer Senegal, Ghana and Mali tours.
Enjoy Your Gambia Experience With Us!
220 449 5258
watours@qanet.gm
watours@gamtel.gm
watours@gmail.com
www.westafricantours.com/
The Baobab tree is possibly older than the Giza Pyramids
Carbon dating has been used to estimate the Big Baobab’s age at ± 6000 years. To put this in perspective the tree is possibly older than the Giza Pyramids and was certainly here thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. When the first leaves sprouted the Sahara Desert was still lush and green and our Iron Age ancestors were roaming the land.
Baobab superfruit ruling in Brussels spells sweet news for African growers
Fruit from the baobab tree can be used in food products in Britain for the first time after a decision by the European Commission. The fruit will be used in cereal bars and smoothie drinks.
The pulp of baobab fruit is said to contain up to three times more vitamin C than oranges. PhytoTrade Africa, a not-for-profit organisation, which submitted the application to the EU, believes that the ruling will provide a new source of income for 2.5 million of the poorest families in southern Africa, who will be paid to harvest wild baobab (Adansonia digitata).
Baobab Leaf Extract
Baobab goes for GRAS ahead of 2010 World Cup
A trade association has prepared a GRAS notification dossier for its baobab fruit pulp powder in the hope that products could become available in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.
PhytoTrade Africa is already promoting the potential of baobab fruit pulp for applications in the beverage and healthy snack markets after baobab fruit pulp obtained novel foods approval in Europe in June.
Now Cyril Lombard, of PhytoTrade, said the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) dossier for the US market would be submitted “shortly”. They are also considering additional dossiers for derivatives of the baobab fruit – a common food and flavor in Africa that has been heralded as a new superfruit.
Baobab is tipped to become a billion dollar industry as there is increasing interest in more exotic flavors and fruits with added benefits. In the US in particular, analysts have also identified a trend for African cuisines.
Dr Lucy Welford, spokeswoman for PhytoTrade, said baobab was a good flavor enhancer and described the taste as tart, very citrusy and similar to grapefruit.
She told FoodNavigator-USA.com: “If GRAS status comes through, we could be looking at products launches in the US in 2009.”
Dr Welfod added: “The World Cup is a huge opportunity to market this as a new kind of African beverage ingredient in particular.
“It brings an interesting and exotic flavor to food or beverage products and at the same time it does have interesting nutritional properties.
“It has a high pectin and fiber content so it is useful in slightly thicker drinks such as smoothies, as well as in cereals, jams, biscuits and other applications.
“Now that we’ve had a lot of interest in Europe, I think there might be a knock-on effect in the US.”
She said the plan is to submit the GRAS dossier first, then follow this up with an application for NDI (new dietary ingredient) status.
Health benefits
Baobab is the large green or brown fruit of the Adansonia digitata, (or ‘upside-down’) tree, which grows primarily in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Different parts of the fruit are a traditional food in these countries.
The fruit pulp of the baobab is said to have an antioxidant activity about four times that of kiwi or apple pulp. The main nutrients include vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, pectin and citric, malic and succinic acids, while the oil also contains the vitamins A, D and E.
The pulp is also reported to be prebiotic and stimulate the intestinal microflora.
The maximum sustainable harvesting potential of baobab could about $1bn, according to a report by Ben Bennett from the UK’s Natural Resources Institute (NRI) for the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP).
PhytoTrade, which represents companies wishing to export their dried baobab fruit, worked with the South African company Afriplex to ensure the ingredient’s acceptance within the European ingredients market. Now PhytoTrade Africa is researching the regulatory requirements in Japan.
African inspiration
A recent Packaged Facts report called Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2008 predicted that the cuisines of several African nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt were particularly likely to gain in popularity in the US.
An example of this is the influence of North African cuisine which includes ras el hanout spice blends and harissa, a chile-caraway seed condiment.
In some areas, such as Washington, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago, the African trend is helped by large immigrant communities of Ethiopians and Somalians, according to Elaine Tecklenburg who authored the report.
This year Bell Flavors & Fragrances paired the Moroccan spice ras el hanout with apricot on toasted pine nuts. It also used spicy African ginger for use in a sorbet with the Aisan citrus fruit yuzu.
Similarly Symrise is offering an African theme to the alcoholic beverage market with the launch of its “African Inspirations” such as cacao liqueur which uses a blend of cacao from the Ivory Coast and typical African spices such as cardamom. Also there is a cider which has a rooibos flavor note. Rooibos, or red bush, is a plant commonly used in tea in South Africa.
However, the beverage concepts have mainly been developed for the EAME region (Europe, Africa, Middle East).
Wildlife Photography in The Gambia
The Gambia is an excellent location for people, landscape and especially bird photography. There is plenty of light, there are many locations where the scenery is simply stunning and most the people are friendly and as long as you ask most are more than happy for you to take a photo of them.
African Wildlife photography in the Gambia is obviously limited to what wildlife is on display, but you can get photographs of Chimpanzees, Hippos and even dolphins and much more!.
Bird Photography in The Gambia
This is what most photographers come to the Gambia for, there is a massive variety of birds in The Gambia.
West African Tours We show you the very best that Gambia has to offer in adventure, cultural, bird watching, fishing, roots, sports fishing, four wheel drive, safari and day tours. We also offer Senegal, Ghana and Mali tours.
Enjoy Your Gambia Experience With Us!
220 449 5258
watours@qanet.gm
watours@gamtel.gm
watours@gmail.com
www.westafricantours.com/
Gambia Healthcare
The Gambia prides itself in its integrated health care system. Its philosophy is that its health care is available, accessible, and affordable.
The primary system is focused on disease prevention and includes the services of midwives and traditional birth attendants in each village and a community health nurse who serves a cluster of villages. These nurses are trained by the government and supplied with motorbike transportation to monitor their group of villages.
Bakau: Ndebaan Medical Centre, Dr Jack Faal, tel 4496426
Kololi: Kololi Clinic, Dr Ceesay, tel 4463434
Senegambia: Lamtorro Clinic, tel 4460934
Enjoy your Gambia Holidays!
Our members are involved in Gambian restaurants, tours, excursions, eco-tourism, car rentals, and shops within the vibrant Gambia Tourism Industry.
Please visit our website www.ttag.gm
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