The lucuma benefits For health they are numerous: it prevents cardiovascular diseases and cancer, it is a natural sweetener, it reduces anemia, it is anti-inflammatory and healing, it prevents constipation and others that we will explain below..
We speak of the lucuma to refer to the fruit from the lucumo - Pouteria lucuma - a tree from areas of Peru, Chile and Ecuador. It is a fruit destined for the world of confectionery, being used in a great variety of sweets, smoothies, desserts or even ice cream..
This large tree can grow up to 15 meters high. Presents a light-colored wood along with dark green elliptical leaves.
Lucuma has a rounded shape with a green hue. It can measure up to 15 cm in diameter and, on average, it usually weighs around 200 grams. The pulp is yellow and orange, being similar to that of a peach. It can have one bone, or sometimes two, in its nucleus.
Its flavor is sugary and intense, leaving a strange and curious taste in the mouth after ingesting it. This makes it difficult to eat it as is, and that is why it is to work it in various ways.
Now, how is this fruit worked? Once it is in full maturity, we will extract it from its tree and later we will wrap it in straw. If we do not need this wrap we can use some similar material.
Normally, we find niacin in meats, but surprisingly, the lucumo fruit contains high levels of this nutrient. You can find a total of 1.96 grams per 100 of this fruit in its composition.
Also called vitamin B3, it helps improve neuronal functioning, especially in relation to short-term memory and chronic fatigue. In addition, it helps the regulation of hormones related to depressive states, stress and sex.
For vegetarians, lucuma is a perfect food to add vitamin B3 to their diets without having to use supplements.
Its amount of niacin helps to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and therefore avoid obesity-related and cardiovascular problems.
In 2009, the scientific journal Journal of Medicinal Food Public affirmed that the consumption of this fruit helps to treat arterial hypertension.
Its color, between yellowish and orange, reveals the presence of beta-carotene, a component that produces this type of coloration. This substance enhances the appearance of antioxidants that protect us against cancer of the esophagus, liver, pancreas, colon, rectum, prostate, ovaries and cervix.
In addition, beta-carotene is a great source of vitamin A, thus causing effective cell growth and a great help to improve our vision. In this way, dysfunctions such as cataracts or even loss of vision from retinal degeneration are avoided..
This fruit is used for a myriad of culinary uses, all of them for baking.
Its widespread use is due to its function as a powerful natural sweetener, sweetening foods without having to use sugar. To get an idea, two medium tablespoons of lucuma is equal to one of sugar.
Also, thanks to its low glycemic index, it can be used as a remedy to regulate blood sugar, and therefore type 2 diabetes..
The lucuma fruit stands out for being an important source of minerals such as zinc or calcium (it is stipulated that a lucuma fruit is equivalent to a glass of cow's milk). But without a doubt, it is iron that takes the cake with a total of 0.4 grams per 100.
With large doses in its composition, iron improves oxygen transport between cells. It also improves the quality of life of pregnant women and prevents the appearance of anemia in the blood.
It is common to see supplements composed of lucuma for pregnant women who are in a weak state of health.
Our digestive system will benefit due to the large amount of fiber it has - 1.3 grams per 100 - lucuma.
Constipation and bloating will reduce their effects due to the flushing of toxins that fiber produces in the body.
A study conducted by Rutgers University, New Jersey, concluded that lucuma has anti-inflammatory and healing effects on different pains and wounds.
It is advisable to eat a shake that mixes cinnamon, ginger and lucuma, since it is the perfect combination to help reduce inflammation suffered.
On the other hand, the latex of lucumo is used against herpes, warts and skin irritations.
Being an antibacterial fruit, it helps prevent countless viral diseases such as the flu or colds. This protection is due to the large amount of minerals and vitamins available.
On many occasions, lucuma can work as a natural substitute for antibiotics.
- Lucuma is a symbol of longevity and fertility for the Peruvian people.
- This fruit has been consumed for millennia. It is known that in pre-Hispanic times it was used as a crop by the ancient Mayans and, especially, the Incas. Precisely, the latter called it "edible gold" due to the appreciation they had for it..
- The consumption of fresh lucuma has been restricted in Spain for years, due to the European application regulation on the consumption of new foods. This affected foods that had not been consumed by Europeans before May 15, 1997.
- In its most natural form, it is difficult to obtain, since it grows at altitudes between 1,300 and 3,000 meters. On the contrary, its powdered state is much easier to obtain.
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