Pitomba’s health benefits
The pitomba is the fruit of the pitombeira, a tree that can reach more than 10 meters in height.
The tree can be found in almost all of the Brazilian territory, mainly in the Caatinga, Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. It can also be found in Bolivia and Paraguay.
Fruiting takes place from 5 to 10 years of age. Your adult plant can produce, in good conditions, approximately 100 bunches, with 10 to 25 units each.
The pitombeiras bear fruit from January to April, but in the Paraíba region, they are well loaded even in May.
Therefore, the pitomba is a fruit found in Amazonian regions.
It is also known as “ox’s eye” and “caruiri”, being widely cultivated in northeastern states, mainly in Pernambuco.
The pulp of this fruit is protected by a hard, brittle brown skin.
Its pulp is whitish, succulent, with a sweet and slightly acidic, but pleasant taste.
This fruit can be eaten in its natural state or as a liqueur, not being widely used in cooking.
Index
PITOMB PROPERTIES
Pitomba is a fruit that has a large amount of mineral salts, including iron and calcium.
It is also rich in vitamins, especially A and C, in addition to proteins: when together, these substances act in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
The pitomba is easily accessible, as it can be found in open markets and supermarkets.
PITOMBA NUTRITIONAL TABLE
For every 100g of fruit, you will find:
- Proteins: 0.4g
- Calcium: 15mg
- Phosphorus: 9mg
- Iron: 0.8mg
- Vitamin A: 30mg
- Vitamin B1: 0.04mg
- Vitamin B2: 0.04mg
- Vitamin C: 33mg
PITOMBA BENEFITS
Regarding the health of our body, the pitomba can act in several areas.
Among them, the main ones are:
- Strengthens the immune system;
- Protects the vascular system;
- It acts on bone development;
- Collaborates in the formation of hemoglobins.
See now more benefits of pitomba in our body:
- Strengthens the immune system
Due to its large amount of vitamin C, pitomba can be consumed to help the body avoid illnesses such as the flu and cold.
The fruit also benefits the vascular system. For example, it prevents health problems like anemia.
Also regarding the vascular system, the pitomba collaborates in the formation of hemoglobin.
This fruit also has antioxidant action, fighting free radicals that cause cell degeneration.
In this way, premature aging of the skin is avoided and wrinkles are reduced.
- Fight intestinal problems
Pitomba contains fiber in its composition, so, in addition to helping food digestion, it can treat severe diarrhea.
- bone protection
As it is rich in calcium, the fruit acts on bone strengthening and development.
Also, diseases such as osteoporosis are avoided.
- Antioxidant property
Pitomba favors glandular function. For example, it can help with wound healing.
It also has an astringent action, which helps to disinfect wounds, which leads to non-infection.
HOW TO CONSUME THE PITOMBA
One of the most common forms of consumption is natural. To do this, remove the husk that surrounds the pulp.
Another very common way to consume pitomba is through the preparation of juice.
Here are some recipes for putting fruit in your food.
PITOMBA RECIPES
PITOMBA JUICE
Ingredients:
- 100ml of filtered water;
- 8 pitombas;
- Sugar or sweetener to taste;
- Ice to taste.
Preparation mode:
- Sanitize the fruits and peel them;
- With a blender, add the pitombas and sugar or sweetener to taste;
- Beat it well, done that, before ingesting the recommendation is to pass the juice through the sieve.
Easy, isn’t it?
Another very simple recipe to make using the pitomba is preparing your sauce, let’s see the recipe:
PITOMBA SAUCE
Ingredients:
- A cup of water tea;
- 20 pitomba units;
- 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise;
- 1 unit of harpsichord;
- 1 teaspoon of cilantro;
- 1 tablespoon of sugar;
- 1 pinch of salt.
Preparation mode:
- Peel the pitomba and put it to cook with the amount of water recommended in the recipe.
- Together, add sugar and cloves;
- Leave it on the fire for about 10 minutes;
- After time, turn off the heat and let it cool for an hour;
- With the help of a sieve, pass the entire mixture, rubbing the stone, to remove as much pulp as possible;
- Add the mayonnaise, salt and chopped cilantro.
The tip is to serve it cold.
PITOMBA CAIPIROSKA
Ingredients:
- 1 can of condensed milk
- 6 to 8 pitombas peeled
- Sugar to taste
- Ice
- Vodka
Preparation mode:
- Place the pitombas and sugar in a shaker
- Beat until you get a homogeneous cream
- Add the vodka and finally the ice.
OTHER USES RELATED TO PITOMBA AND PITOMBEIRA
- Recovery of degraded areas
The pitombeira can be used in the recovery of degraded areas, thanks to the fact that it serves as food for several species of birds.
- Fight against leather rot
Due to the presence of tannin in its composition, pitomba leaves are used to prevent the leather from rotting when tanned.
- Fighting fungi and weevils in plantations
A protein present in the pitomba promises to be efficient to combat fungi and weevils in sugarcane and coffee plantations, as well as bean and soy beans that are stored.
- Afforestation
The pitomba tree can be used in the afforestation of parks and squares.
TIPS ON HOW TO GROW THE PITOMBA
- Its cultivation is easy and resistant to low temperatures (down to – 3ºC) and droughts of up to 3 months or more, without rain after 2 years of age.
- It starts to bear fruit from 2 to 3 years old and can be successfully cultivated in large pots measuring 40cm by 50cm in height.
- The seeds are whitish rounded (they lose germination power in 20 to 30 days).
- They need to be planted as soon as they are harvested in an organo-sandy substrate.
- Germination takes place in 30 to 50 days, and the seedlings reach 50cm after 8 months in the nursery.
- The seedlings develop both in full sun and in the shade.
- The tree planting spacing is 5 x 5m
- Make square holes with 50cm in 3 dimensions and add fertilizer.
- The best planting time is from October to November.
- Irrigation every 15 days for the first 3 months, later only in case of lack of water during the flowering period.
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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.