Benefits of Passion Fruit
June 4, 2009
Passion fruits are native of Latin America. These fruits were a popular ingredient in natural medicines made by the Aztecs. In the Latin American countries, passion fruit is widely known as maracuya. The Caribbeans call them parcha. The Spanish missionaries renamed the fruit as passion, since the flowers of the plant, according to them, resembled the Passion of Christ.
Passion fruit has an egg like shape. It has yellow or purple colored wrinkly peel. Both the jelly like pulp and the black seeds of the fruit are edible. The pulp is used in desserts, beverages, jellies and juices. Passion fruit is popular for not only its guava-like aroma and delicious taste, but its immense health benefits, make it the preferred fruit on your breakfast plate. It has many nutritional values:
Fiber
Passion fruit seeds are rich source of fibers. Fibers are needed for bowel movement, digestion and lowering of cholesterol. The detoxicating power of fibers prevents colon cancer. By flashing the excess fat from the body, fibers lower the blood cholesterol level, helping to prevent heart ailments and strokes. From a cup of passion fruit seeds you can get around 25 grams of fibers.
Vitamins A and C
Passion fruit is packed with adequate amounts of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes. For healthy bones, tissues and heart we need Vitamin C.
Antioxidant
Passion fruits are also a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants present in this fruit acts as an antihistamine. It is capable of reducing the symptoms of asthma, by reducing allergy and respiratory tract inflammations. Passion fruit extracts can also cure coughs, whooping coughs and bronchitis.
Sedative
Amazonian tribes use the leaves of passion fruit plants as sedatives. They are used for reducing pains. This fruit is also used to treat depression and anxiety in traditional medicines.
Other Benefits
Besides the above proven health benefits of passion fruit, in traditional Latin American medicines, this fruit is even used for curing mild urinary tract infections and increasing libido.
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