It seems that 2015 has gone passed in a blink of an eye with it only seems like yesterday that we were enjoying the sunshine and now the cold weather is upon us, with the Met office predictions that it is going to be a freezing Winter, it’s important to boost your immune system and have your cabinet full of healthy remedies to keep colds, flu and fevers at bay.
Baobab
The Baobab tree is a truly amazing sight to see. Found in Africa, this amazing new Superfood is on its way up.
Most of the potential health benefits of Baobab fruit powder and its fresh counterpart have been largely attributed to the unusually high levels of vitamin C this exotic superfood contains.
A 100 gram serving of baobab fruit pulp has been reported to contain up to 500 milligrams of vitamin C, that’s nearly 10 times the amount of vitamin C found in an equivalent serving of fresh oranges. In fact, baobab is considered one of the very best food sources of vitamin C in the world.
1. Baobab Fruit’s Benefits for the Skin
Foods rich in vitamin C are a cornerstone for a strong immune system and healthy, young looking skin. Vitamin C helps your body form collagen and elastin, two structural proteins that give your skin support and elasticity. In addition to being a completely natural Vitamin C source, the baobab fruit has been shown to possess strong antioxidant properties which neutralize free radicals, unstable atoms and molecules that can cause damage to your body increasing the risk of degenerative diseases and other signs of aging.
2. Baobab to Support Your Weight Loss Efforts
Adding vitamin C rich foods to your diet might also enhance your body’s fat burning capabilities during a workout. The potential weight loss effects of vitamin C may be linked to the fact that it is needed for the production of carnitine, a compound that encourages your body to turn fat into fuel.
What’s more, the baobab fruit may also help overweight or obese people promote weight loss by reducing appetite and cravings, and by keeping the fat-storing hormone insulin under control.
3. Baobab to Support Heart Health & Circulation
Foods that supply your body with plenty of vitamin C may also help keep your heart and overall cardiovascular system healthy.
Vitamin C is needed for the manufacturing of collagen and elastic which help keep veins strong and toned, plus it can help boost circulation within the body. The positive effects of vitamin C on veins are believed to be stronger when vitamin C is consumed together with vitamin E, so next time you blend yourself a smoothie make sure you add Baobab powder, be sure to add a healthy source of vitamin E (such as walnuts) to the mix as well.
4. Baobab to Support the Detoxification Process
If your liver is not healthy, it will not be effective at detoxifying toxic substances and excreting them from your body. A high exposure to toxins such as chemicals, alcohol and many other substances can cause damage to the liver and limit its detoxifying capabilities, but luckily the water-based baobab extract was found to have significant protective effects against liver damage.
5. Baobab is a Powerhouse of Minerals
If you’re still not impressed by the health benefits of the baobab fruit, then consider this; using fresh baobab pulp in cooking or adding baobab powder to your favorite dishes can also supply your body with a boost of beneficial minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Minerals act both individually and synergistically to perform hundreds of tasks in the human body.
The following nutritional facts below, shows the approximate concentrations of the most important minerals found in 100 grams (3.5 oz) of fresh baobab pulp:
Calcium: 295 mg (or 30% of the Daily Value)
Copper: 1.6 mg (or 80% of the Daily Value)
Iron: 9.3 mg (or 52% of the Daily Value
Magnesium: 90 mg (or 23% of the Daily Value)
Potassium: 1240 mg (or 35% of the Daily Value)
Sodium: 27.9 (or 1% of the Daily Value)
Zinc: 1.8 mg (or 12% of the Daily Value)
