Adequate nutrition can help with several health problems; not only to curb chronic illnesses but also to promote healthier general well-being. Fruits are a source of countless vital nutrients that are generally under-consumed in most of our diets. Therefore, we should focus more on them and consume them daily. Below is a list of exotic Latin American fruits that you’ll want to check out and experience their health-boosting benefits!
Badea (a.k.a Grenadine)
Badea belongs to the passionflower family, which is made up of flowers and edible fruits. It has 525 species and it is the most diverse in Central and South America. They contain a lot of calcium, phosphorus, and niacin. These fruits may help you relax and sleep better by lowering your brain activity.
Borojo (a.k.a Alibertia patino)
Borojo is a superfruit believed to boost energy due to its high levels of vitamin B. It is also high in phosphorus, as well as protein. Badea keeps you hydrated, which enhances the functioning of the heart, nervous system, and digestive system. It also contains calcium, a key mineral that refines many biological functions, such as strengthening bones, teeth, and gums. It also improves cardiovascular and nervous system regulation.
Carambolo (a.k.a Star Fruit)
This Star fruit is anti-inflammatory and heart-friendly since it’s rich in sodium and potassium. It also promotes weight loss due to its fiber content that helps speed up your metabolism. It is diabetic-friendly, low in calories, high in vitamin C, it regulates the blood pressure, helps reduce cholesterol levels, and stimulates digestion.
Cherimoya (a.k.a Custard apple)
The Cherimoya, also known as custard apple, has several properties that significantly increase our overall health. On the one hand, it is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C & potassium. It helps invigorate your mood, benefits eye health, prevents high blood pressure, promotes good digestion, and contains anti-cancer properties. Keep in mind that the seeds are a bit toxic and, therefore, you must remove them before consuming this Latin American fruit.
Chontaduro (a.k.a Peach palm)
Chontoduro, also known as peach palm, contains a lot of protein, liposoluble vitamin C & A, zinc, copper, calcium, and iron. It helps lower cholesterol levels due to its high content of omega-3s. It also improves vision, skincare, boosts energy, aids digestion, and encourages growth & development. Carotenes are essential for vision health, as they act as antioxidants to reduce or eliminate cataracts, while also preventing macular degeneration in the ocular cells. Its vitamins upgrade the growth of new skin cells while ensuring an adequate water balance in the body, which soothes the exchange of fluids from cell to cell.
Curuba (a.k.a Banana passion fruit)
Curuba also known as the Banana passion fruit and belongs to the passionflower family. It is known for having a tranquilizing effect that particularly helps with insomnia and the nervous system issues. They also have high pectin and water content. It is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and C. It is used to relieve spasms of involuntary muscle, lower blood pressure, and for its diuretic properties. Its consumption is also suggested for individuals with intestinal and stomach disorders.
Feijoa (a.k.a Acca sellowiana)
Feijoa is also known as the fruit of Acca sellowiana. It provides us with vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, C, and E as well as minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, and Zinc. It helps prevent the flu, it is very rich in antioxidants, it also helps improve our mood. Additionally, it helps improve our energy and helps prevent some mental health issues such as depression. It meliorates kidney functions and prevents anemia by increasing the red blood cell count in our blood, consequently decreasing the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
Granadilla (a.k.a Genus passiflora)
Granadilla is a species of genus Passiflora which is high in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, and K, as well as phosphorus, iron, and calcium. It also contains healthy carbohydrates and protein. You can use them as a natural sedative, a digestive stimulant that also focuses on controlling acidity. When consumed whole, including its seeds and everything, it greatly benefits our health due to its high fiber content. Its excellent properties help eliminate cholesterol in the blood, as well as prevent anemia. It regulates heart rate and blood pressure, hence reducing the possibility of cardiovascular diseases. It helps in the formation of red and white blood cells, which are very important for the body.
Guama (a.k.a Inga edulis)
Guama or Inga edulis is reportedly anti-inflammatory and helps to lower blood pressure. It improves digestion, contains low calories, helps with weight loss, reduces cholesterol, prevents hair loss, assists with migraines, and may help prevent cancer and bronchial diseases. A part of this fruit called pacay helps prevent hair loss and contains major minerals, such as magnesium, selenium, and zinc. The high content of antioxidants and substances such as gallic acid, quercetin, flavonol, and epicatechin also help prevent cancer.
Guanabana (a.k.a Brazilian paw paw)
This exotic fruit is also known as the Brazilian paw paw. People use this Latin American fruit to prevent aging; this is thanks to its antioxidant properties, which include iron, riboflavin, phosphorus, thiamine, calcium, niacin, vitamin C, carbohydrates, and fiber. This especially plays a big role in lowering the risk of numerous illnesses, such as heart disease. It also mitigates tumors, reduces inflammation, treats asthma, diabetes, and liver disorders. It may also help fight bacteria, stabilize blood sugar levels, and kill cancer cells.
Higo (a.k.a Fig)
Figs helps reduce high blood pressure, contributes to weight loss, increases energy levels, provides antioxidants, reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems, protects against macular degeneration, helps prevent diabetes, acts as a natural laxative, prevents anemia, and reduces inflammation.
Figs also provide a certain amount of antioxidants, which not only help prevent premature aging but also help maintain the health of all organs and systems. The figs contain omega 3 and 6 which, together with calcium and potassium, maintain the health of the cardiovascular system and prevent macular degeneration and other eye disorders.
Lulo (a.k.a Solanum quitoense)
Also known as Solanum quitoense are fruits that look similar to little oranges. In traditional medicine, people use lulo juice as a diuretic, causing increased passing of urine. It also increases quantity and quality of hair and nail formation, strengthens bones, lowers bad cholesterol, facilitates uric acid removal, strengthens defenses, and helps to improve nervous system diseases. Lulo is a very good source of iron, phosphorus, vitamin A, B & C, calcium, potassium, fiber, and protein. It not only has nutritional but also curative properties, as it can be used to help treat localized gum diseases, toothaches, scurvy, and many others.
Mangosteen
The Mangosteen contains a class of naturally occurring polyphenol compounds known as xanthones, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants have been shown to have several benefits, including being used as an anti-inflammatory. Different parts of the fruit and plant are used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Mangosteens are rich in vitamin C and are also low in calories.
Tomate de Arbol (a.k.a Tomato tree)
The tomato tree fruit are rich in vitamins A, B6, C, and fiber; its consumption helps regulate the intestinal tract, keeping the digestive system healthy. They are also rich in minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium. Mangosteens have a high antioxidant content, from which our immune system and our vision benefit. They are also low in calories and lower blood pressure, which is due to the gamma-aminobutyric acid. This means that it is the best fruit for hypertension as well. It reduces cholesterol since it contains vitamin F and helps take care of the cardiovascular system.
Uchuva (a.k.a Cape gooseberry)
Also known as Physalis or Cape gooseberry has vitamin A & C intervenes in the developmental and metabolic process as in the growth, reproduction, formation of cells, tissues, and organs. Its seeds contain phytosterols, which help to balance cholesterol levels and reduce the agents that increase cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory responses.
It also helps stimulate the immune system thanks to its antioxidant properties as well as decreases the chances of developing cancer and cellular deterioration. It strengthens the immune response, and is a natural weapon against diabetes, helping to regulate blood glucose.
