Fruits

Benefits of Passion Fruit for Health

The passion fruit , whose fruit is native to the Amazon Basin, is a family of vine of the passion vine and is very well known in Brazil, is the fruit or the flower. The fruit has a thick skin that can be yellowish or red in color. The pulp is composed of black seeds coated with a clear yellow substance, somewhat acidic and with a characteristic aroma. The pulp is so versatile that it can be consumed as juices or as part of the preparation of puddings, ice cream, jellies and liqueurs.

Passion fruit contains alkanoids and flavonoids, substances that act as pain relievers, tranquilizers and muscle relaxants on the central nervous system in an individual’s body. In addition, passion fruit is a source of vitamins A, C and the B complex. Once gathered, they help fight stress and reduce the chances of tumors appearing and prevent premature aging of cells.

Passion fruit ( Passiflora Edulis ) also contains some essential mineral salts for the body, as well as iron, sodium, phosphorus and calcium. In this sense, the fruit helps to prevent anemia, stimulates memory, helps to strengthen bones and teeth, hormonal balance and cell repair.

PASSION FRUIT HARM

Excessive consumption of this fruit is not advisable for individuals who suffer from low blood pressure. Considering that the fruit has a sedative action, consumption can further lower blood pressure and lead to problems. In addition, excess acidity can negatively impact the liver.

There is still the question about the intestinal flora, since the fiber content found in the composition of the food is considerable. It is known that a portion of 18 grams of passion fruit has 2 grams of fiber, most of which correspond to soluble fibers and it is precisely their presence that influences how the passion fruit acts in relation to the intestine.

There is a study done on soluble fibers, where it was shown that they join water in the digestive tract, thus resulting in increased stool volume. From this perspective, when the consumption limit is exceeded, several problems can occur, such as soft stools, frequent bowel movements and diarrhea.

PASSION FRUIT PROPERTIES

Passion fruit has a sedative, calming, refreshing and analgesic action. Contains diuretic and antioxidant properties.

PASSION FRUIT BENEFITS

Find out below some benefits of passion fruit:

  1. Good for eye health;
  2. Fights bad cholesterol and helps with weight loss;
  3. It contains a large amount of mineral salts, including calcium, iron, phosphorus and sodium;
  4. Helps lower sugar levels;
  5. Aids in digestion;
  6. Improves intestinal transit;
  7. Promotes relaxation and better sleep;
  8. Helps fight depression, anxiety, stress and migraine;
  9. Good for cardiovascular health;
  10. Improves mood;
  11. Lower blood glucose and peel helps lower bad cholesterol;
  12. Fights infections;
  13. Relieves respiratory problems, such as asthma and rhinitis, for example;
  14. It helps to fight anemia, as passion fruit is a rich source of iron; and
  15. It acts against premature aging of bones.

It should be added that passion fruit peel is great for diabetics, as it avoids insulin spikes.

PASSION FRUIT TO LOSE WEIGHT

This fruit also helps with weight loss. This is because there is a substance found in the white part of the passion fruit rind, pectin, and once it comes into contact with the stomach, a kind of gel is formed that increases the feeling of satiety. If you want to enjoy this benefit, use fruit flour or include the peel in the preparation of juice, for example.

See below a recipe for passion fruit juice to lose weight:

You will need to book:

– 2 glasses of water;

– 1 large passion fruit;

– 1 teaspoon of passion fruit peel flour.

First, cut the passion fruit in half and remove the pulp. Then, blend in a blender with water. Sweeten according to your preference and add the passion fruit peel flour after it’s ready.

It is important to mention that the flour with passion fruit peel can be made either at home or found in natural food stores. Therefore, it can be added to any drink, soup, smoothie or even yogurt. If you don’t know how to make passion fruit flour, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

  1. Select firm, wrinkle-free passion fruit. Remove the pulp and cut the skin in half and into pieces;
  2. Place in a refractory and place in a medium oven for thirty minutes, stirring constantly;
  3. Remove the container from the oven when the skin is toasted. Beat in a blender and, if lumps remain, sift the flour.

It is recommended to eat a tablespoon of passion fruit peel flour three times a day, before the main meals. Although passion fruit helps with weight loss, it is essential that foods high in fat and sugar are avoided, as well as maintaining a routine of physical activities.

With regard to the leaves, these can be used in the preparation of teas, which also have benefits for diabetics in regulating the glycemic index. As for the seeds, they are widely used in the use of cosmetics and also in the kitchen, given the presence of oil with a large amount of fatty acids.

PASSION FRUIT CULTIVATION

In case you are thinking about how to start planting this vine popularly known as the passion flower, the first step is to obtain the seeds. They can be easily purchased at specialized stores, however, the best option is to go to the supermarket to choose a very large and heavy passion fruit. Remember that good seeds come from fruits in which the inner skin is thin and with a lot of pulp! Once that’s done, open it and remove the pulp. Place in a sieve and separate using only water. Just leave the seeds in the sieve. That said, place the seeds on a paper towel to dry for two days in the shade.

Initially, place in a container. Drill an inch deep hole, place four to six seeds together in each, and cover with a light layer of earth. Irrigate abundantly to moisten the entire substrate.

The container cannot be placed in any location. The ideal is to leave the seeds in environments where there is sun in the morning or late afternoon, preferably protected from rain. Germination takes fifteen to twenty-five days.

Passion fruit should be transplanted when they have a height of 15 to 30 cm. This can happen between 45 to 70 days of germination. At this stage, the plants are developing the so-called “tendrils”, structures that secure the passion fruit tree to its supports.

To be successful in cultivation, there must be a cleanliness of the main branch and considerable space between the plants. It is possible to use the plant to decorate walls, railings, terraces or pergolas, since the passion fruit is a vine that can reach up to nine meters in height. During the winter months, spray water on the plant’s upper organs every fortnight. The passion fruit flower can be used for decorative purposes and the fruits ripen between late summer and early autumn.

PASSION FRUIT EMBRAPA

In December 2017, producers, technicians and students participated in Embrapa Cerrados, in Planaltina/DF, the dissemination of the first cultivar of the genus Passiflora alata Curtis , sweet passion fruit BRS Mel do Cerrado (BRS MC) registered and protected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. This event highlighted the importance of a new option for fruit growers who use greenhouse cultivation, given that this product, in addition to contributing to an increase in producer income, will strengthen the passion fruit production chain.

Embrapa highlighted that efforts were not measured to make technologies available to meet the demand of contemporary society, especially due to the importance that agriculture has for Brazilian society. The main characteristics of the Embrapa passion fruit are its high productivity, physical and chemical quality of the fruits and a higher level of resistance to pests and diseases. In addition, it was explained that, with the objective of developing fruits that are more resistant to diseases such as viruses and bacteriosis, for example, a collection of passion fruit genotypes from the Western Amazon, Cerrados and Atlantic Forest of the Northeast, Southeast and South was set up at Embrapa. .

 

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Robert Asprin, APD is a non-dieting Accredited Practicing Dietitian passionate about inspiring positive changes in eating and lifestyle behaviors to help improve health while nurturing relationships with food and body.

Robert Asprin

Robert Asprin, APD is a non-dieting Accredited Practicing Dietitian passionate about inspiring positive changes in eating and lifestyle behaviors to help improve health while nurturing relationships with food and body.

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