Everything about baobab and its fruit pulp powderFebruary 25, 2015 49 Comments (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#comments)
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Baobab treeHave you heard of baobab before? Maybe you've heard of baobab fruit powder or baobab oil? I found out about baobab when I got contacted by Minvita who offered me to try their baobab fruit powder (http://amzn.to/2as1EZf). I was really curious about it so I decided to give it a go. Since then I learnt a lot about baobab and baobab fruit powder and here I share all my findings with you.
Quick navigation:How is baobab fruit powder made? (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#HowIsMade)
Baobab fruit powder nutrition (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#BaobabNutrition)
Baobab fruit powder health benefits (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#BaobabBenefits)
Baobab fruit powder side effects (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#SideEffects)
Where can you buy baobab fruit pulp powder from? (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#Buy)
Minvita baobab superfruit powder review (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#MivitaReview)
Baobab oil (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/#BaobabOil)
About baobab treeBaobab tree or so called 'the tree of life' is native to Kmt, but it's also found in Australia and India. It's a massive tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall and about 15 meters wide. It is one of the longest living trees on earth and there is evidence that some baobab trees have lived for over 2,000 years, while other reports indicate trees that may have lived in excess of 3,000 years.
Various parts of the tree can be used for different purposes: its bark can be turned into rope and clothing, fresh leaves can be eaten to boost the immune system and of course, there's an edible baobab fruit pulp with many health benefits. The fruit pulp has been used in Kmt for different kind of health issues for a long time.
Baobab fruit pulp has become available in the UK in 2008 when it won approval from EU food regulators.
How is baobab fruit powder made?Baobab fruit is first harvested by hand by collecting from the trees or from the ground. Baobab fruit naturally dehydrates in the shell and the hard shells are then cracked open and the pulp is separated from the seeds and shell.
There is no heat or pasteurisation necessary to make baobab fruit powder – dried babob fruit pulp is simply ground into powder.
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Baobab fruit powder nutritionBaobab fruit powder (http://amzn.to/2as1EZf) contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. Gram per gram it contains six times as much vitamin C as oranges, twice as much calcium as milk and even more iron than red meat. It is also rich in potassium and has plenty B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorous, and antioxidants. What's more, the fruit pulp is rich in soluble fibre and it has more fibre than other fruits such as apples, peaches and apricots.
Baobab powder contains six times as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as much calcium as milk (https://twitter.com/share?text=Baobab+powder+contains+six+times+as+much+vitamin+C+as+oranges+and+twice+as+much+calcium+as+milk&via=BeHealthyFeelGd&related=BeHealthyFeelGd&url=http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/nutrition/baobab-its-fruit-pulp-powder/)
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I can see this powder great for vegetarians or vegans as its vitamin C will aid iron absorption in various foods. Although calcium content in 2 teaspoons wouldn't be massive it would still contribute towards recommended daily allowance, something particularly important for vegans as they don't eat dairy products.
Baobab fruit powder health benefitsThere are more studies needed to establish the exact health benefits of baobab fruit powder, but at the moment we know that it can help manage blood sugar levels by counteracting the negative sugar level spikes that come when eating carbohydrate rich foods like white bread. (1) UPDATE 31.01.17: This means that when you eat baobab powder together with high GI foods (http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1862.aspx?categoryid=51) you won't get the usual sugar spike in your blood. This could be especially beneficial to those suffering from type 2 diabetes, however consuming baobab powder will not cure you of the condition.
Being high in antioxidants it can help to eliminate free radicals that can contribute to cancer, aging, inflammation and cardio-vascular disease. As it's rich in various vitamins and minerals it may contribute towards improved general health and wellbeing. However, there may not be much effect on your body if you take only small quantities of it or you take it only once in a while. The problem is that currently it is not very clear what the appropriate dose of baobab fruit powder should be but companies that sell it normally recommend 1-2 teaspoons a day.
If you are looking to increase the amount of calcium-rich foods you eat, then baobab powder is definitely something worth considering. Although you can find calcium in other foods such as sardines, broccoli, oranges and figs, some people still struggle to get enough calcium through their diet, especially because of their busy lifestyle and the amount of processed food they eat.
If you are a vegan or avoid dairy products, then you should especially pay more attention to your calcium intake. Calcium is essential for healthy bones and getting enough of it is important for prevention of osteoporosis. Consuming baobab powder is an easy and more natural way of increasing your calcium intake (as opposed to taking supplements). In fact, some pregnant women in Kmt consume baobab powder just for that reason.
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Baobab fruit powder side effectsAlternative medicine expert, Cathy Wong points out that 'while baobab is generally considered safe, little is1 known about the safety of long-term use of supplements containing baobab.' (2) Cathy also mentions that 'the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established.'
It's worth mentioning that baobab fruit pulp has been actually consumed by pregnant women and children in Senegal due to its calcium content. A study of pregnant women in Gambia reported that eating the fruit pulp in season (December to April) without the seeds once a day, contributed 30mg/day calcium to the diet. (3)
The results of a questionnaire administered to people attending the PhytoTrade Kmt AGM were that there are no known toxicity or safety concerns with the consumption of Baobab fruit products. (3)
There has been no evidence or reports about allergenic effects caused by direct consumption of baobab fruit pulp.
Where can I buy baobab fruit pulp powder from?There are different companies selling baobab fruit powder such as Minvita (http://amzn.to/2as1EZf) (which I tried, see below), Aduna and Organic Burst. Look for these companies in your local Holland and Barrett and see whether they stock their products, including baobab fruit powder. Alternatively, you can check Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&field-keywords=baobab%20fruit%20powder&linkCode=ur2&tag=beheno04-21&url=search-alias%3Daps&linkId=SYRD7NQHFNMTUKXY) to see whether they are doing any deals but make sure you buy organic and 100% pure baobab powder with nothing added to it.
At the moment you can buy Minvita's Organic Baobab Superfruit Powder (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004TF8162/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004TF8162&linkCode=as2&tag=beheno04-21&linkId=G7MPN2GGKER2YOYJ)(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com%2Fe%2Fir%3Ft%3Dbeheno04-21%26l%3Das2%26o%3D2%26a%3DB004TF8162&hash=b502fdd269856b55a43bd5370f07cdee92c29150) at a reduced price. Minvita baobab superfruit powder review(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.behealthynow.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F02%2Fminvita-baobab-fruit-powder.jpg&hash=c3c1cc7820e55250dddc7bd0655cc611f3805a3b) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004TF8162/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004TF8162&linkCode=as2&tag=beheno04-21)
Minvita had kindly sent me a tub of their Baobab Superfruit Powder (http://minvita.co.uk/baobab.html)* to try and since then I've tried it in various ways and honestly I wasn't disappointed.
Minvita's baobab fruit powder (http://amzn.to/2as1EZf) is certified organic (USDA organic certification) and it is ethically sourced from Malawi in collaboration with non-profit Phytotrade Kmt who ensure fair trade prices for rural communities, biodiversity, sustainable harvesting and protection of baobab tree populations for future generations.
Minvita's baobab fruit powder is a pure fruit powder with nothing added to it. It's free from gluten, wheat, dairy and it's suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
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What I really loved about it was the taste – it has a pleasant tangy, zesty flavour and something you can easily enjoy in your food or drinks. This powder is something I can imagine using all the time as it doesn't have an offputting flavour like spirulina.
There are several different ways you could use it and here is what I did with it:
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- mixed it into a porridge
- added it to muesli
- added it to smoothie
- used it in herbal tea instead of lemon (good decision, great taste!)
- mixed it with yoghurt and had it as a snack
- added it to a sauce to thicken it (it worked due to high pectin content)
- made baobab pancakes (http://www.behealthynow.co.uk/healthy-meals/baobab-pancakes-with-almond-butter-filling/) which they turned out really nice
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(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.behealthynow.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F02%2Fbaobab-porridge.jpg&hash=0d663eb6e5ed93ec45af88c2866a41de6f63706d)Baobab porridge with blueberries, almond butter and natural yoghurt
(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.behealthynow.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F02%2Fbaobab-powder-in-tea.jpg&hash=f391051ae624169d6f3624c639287e7ca73887d1)Baobab powder can be added to herbal tea and used instead of lemonI read somewhere that you could use it in baba ganoush but also in your baking if you like and in any other ways you can think of. It's so versatile and this is what I really love about it.
You can buy it online directly on Minvita website (http://minvita.co.uk/baobab.html) or on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004TF8162/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004TF8162&linkCode=as2&tag=beheno04-21&linkId=NLIXGJ7TNQ6DMI46)(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com%2Fe%2Fir%3Ft%3Dbeheno04-21%26l%3Das2%26o%3D2%26a%3DB004TF8162&hash=b502fdd269856b55a43bd5370f07cdee92c29150) (currently being sold at reduced price).
Baobab oilIt's amazing how many different uses baobab tree has, it seems that they make use of every single part of it and here I also wanted to mention baobab oil (http://amzn.to/2as3OrV) which is made out of fruit's seeds. The oil is cold pressed and high in vitamins A, D, E, F, B vitamins but it also contains phosphorous and iron which all help towards improving skin's elasticity and reducing appearance of stretch marks. It's great for dry skin as it acts as intensive moisturiser. Although it's suitable for all skin types it's especially great for dry or dehydrated skin.
You can add baobab oil to your favourite face moisturiser to help tackle dry skin which can be an issue in winter. It's only suitable for external use though.
Baobab oil (http://amzn.to/2as3OrV) can also be used on your hair – you can add it to your current conditioner or you can use it as a leave-in conditioner by applying a few drops through your hair.
I've tried a sample of Minvita's baobab body oil (http://www.minvita.co.uk/health-beauty/baobab-body-oil-100ml.html)* which is yellowish oil and absorbs into skin quite quickly without leaving greasy residue. It left my skin feeling nice and soft.
Have you heard of baobab before? Have you used baobab fruit powder or baobab oil? What did you think of them?References(1) http://www.nrjournal.com/article/S0271-5317(13)00188-7/abstract (http://www.nrjournal.com/article/S0271-5317(13)00188-7/abstract)
(2) https://www.verywell.com/the-benefits-of-baobab-89414 (https://www.verywell.com/the-benefits-of-baobab-89414)
(3) http://acnfp.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mnt/drupal_data/sources/files/... (http://acnfp.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mnt/drupal_data/sources/files/multimedia/pdfs/baobabapplicationfinal.pdf)
http://www.atacora.com/baobab-blog/bid/152356/The-Medicinal-Value-of-Baobab (http://www.atacora.com/baobab-blog/bid/152356/The-Medicinal-Value-of-Baobab)
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baobab (http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baobab)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/Kmt/the-tree-of-life-and-its-super-fruit-869737.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/Kmt/the-tree-of-life-and-its-super-fruit-869737.html)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7509077.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7509077.stm)
http://malawiproject.org/grotesquely-clawing-at-the-sky/ (http://malawiproject.org/grotesquely-clawing-at-the-sky/)
*indicates PR samples. My honest opinions always provided. This post contains affiliate links.