The Properties of chontaduro For health are numerous: it reduces bad cholesterol levels, improves heart health, helps control diabetes, improves vision, prevents cancer, combats aging and others that I will explain later.
Chontaduro is a plant that produces a fruit with the same name that may be unknown to some. Although it has spread its use in different forms, it still turns out to be a food that is not widely distributed.
This fruit is even processed for consumption in the form of oil and flour, and in addition to the plant are also eaten tender stems (palm hearts).
Scientists have focused more and more on studying chontaduro, as it has important properties that will help you to have better health.
Let food be your medicine and your medicine your food.-Hippocrates.
1- Reduces levels of bad cholesterol
Like all other fruits produced by palm trees, chontaduro is rich in fats and essential fatty acids. For example, chontaduro oil is rich in fatty acids such as Omega 3 and 6 type (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (oleic acid).
These substances contained in Chontaduro are very healthy, since they reduce the levels of cholesterol Bad Low density (LDL) , Allowing to raise the amounts of"good"cholesterol or High density (HDL) .
In addition, these omegas can help you to lose weight, as it was demonstrated in a publication of The Journal of Aging Research & Clinical Practice In 2013, by Dr. Carvalho of the Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil.
It is important to mention that abnormal cholesterol levels are due in many cases to the consumption of foods rich in fat and carbohydrates, without proper physical activity.
If bad cholesterol is high in our body can be very harmful, as it can lead to diseases such as diabetes , Kidney disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and thyroid gland disorders.
2 - Take care of your heart
In a 2004 publication , Performed by Dr. Artemis P. Simopoulos in the journal Food Reviews International , Concluded that omega-3s and omega-6s are important nutrients that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
By containing this type of fatty acids, Chontaduro will be a great food to keep your heart healthy.
3- Help control diabetes
Different studies have suggested that the glycemic index of foods could be a factor that may aid in the control of diabetes. The glycemic index measures how much your blood glucose rises after you have ingested carbohydrates.
A study Published in 2011, in the Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, by Dr. Silvia Quesada of Costa Rica showed that the glycemic index Of chontaduro is 35 mg / dl, which is low with respect to a scale where 100 is the highest glycemic index.
It has been suggested that consuming chontaduro may be ideal for diabetics, since the glucose contained in this fruit is slowly absorbed.
4- Restore your muscles
In a 2003 publication in Magazine International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition , Dr. Vanucchi and collaborators, concluded that chontaduro possesses all the amino acids required for the proper functioning of our body, both the amino acids Essential as non-essential.
But what is the importance of amino acids?
Amino acids are the molecules that make up proteins, which have several functions, such as the formation of muscles.
Although the portion of some amino acids in chontaduro is minimal, such as Methionine , Does not take away the special thing that this fruit is, since few are the foods that possess all the range of amino acids necessary for our body.
In addition you will help the repair of the tissue, since the amino acids also have a very important role in the transport of nutrients and in their adequate storage like vitamins, minerals, water, etc.
5- Provides energy
Thanks to Nutritional value of chontaduro , With a caloric intake of 200 Kcal per 100 g of the fruit, becomes ideal if you require energy with little food. This energy could be provided by the carbohydrates and fatty acids that chontaduro contains.
The fatty acids Are not only energetic, they also have an important participation in the muscular activity, production of red blood cells and transmission of nerve impulses.
In addition, they are of great importance in the development of brain And the retina of newborn children.
On the other hand, it contains minerals like potassium, selenium and chromium; Vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B3 and C.
6- Improves vision
The body is unable to produce carotenoids, so it is important to obtain them through the diet, since they are compounds of great biological importance.
He Chontaduro is an important source of carotenoids Such as beta-carotene, lycopene and carotene-gamma. Its presence in the chontaduro is the reason why its coloration is between yellow and red.
Beta carotene is a precursor of Vitamin A or Retinol , Necessary to maintain a good quality of vision.
Vitamin A is also necessary for growth and differentiation of the epithelial tissue of the eye and respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, and for the maintenance of teeth and skin. It also boosts immune function.
A study carried out in Costa Rica, published in 2011 in the magazine Food Research International Showed that chontaduro flour contains more Carotenoids Precursors of vitamin A than the carrot.
7- An ally against cancer
Today the number of cases of people with cancer has increased, so researchers have focused on studying molecules that may help counteract this disease. One such molecule is Carotenoids .
Because carotenoids can help Prevent cancer , The consumption of chontaduro fruit can be ideal if you want to reduce the risk of suffering from this disease.
The research carried out By Dr. Calorina Rojas-Garbanzo of the University of Bonn, showed that when the chontaduro is cooked reduce the amounts of carotenoids, so it is important to consume the raw chontaduro if you want to prevent cancer.
8- Combat aging
Research done over the last few years has shown that free radicals are harmful to our body, as they accelerate cellular aging.
Carotenoids, because of their antioxidant function, help maintain the youth and good functioning of our body.
Chontaduro, therefore, being a fruit rich in carotenoids, is an excellent food to rejuvenate our skin and other organs.
As demonstrated in a study Of the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse in France, published in 2003 in the journal Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society , Chontaduro oil is also a great source of antioxidants.
9- Rejoice your skin
Like coconut, which comes from the family of palms, has included the use of oils derived from chontaduro in the cosmetic industry.
Although it is not yet common to see cosmetic products based on chontaduro, Myriam Moya and Martha Neira, two pharmaceutical chemists from the National University of Colombia, Have developed emulsions , Soaps, body oils and lip moisturizers.
Surely the antioxidant role of the carotenoids contained in Chontaduro is responsible for the benefit that gives you in the care of the skin.
10- Improve your digestion
Because the chontaduro is Rich in dietary fiber , It will help you not only keep your bowel healthy, but also help you Prevent and control obesity , Arteriosclerosis, heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes.
As demonstrated in a study published in 2015 in Magazine Carbohydrate Polymers By Dr. Beatriz Cervejeira from the State University of Maringá, Brazil, chontaduro flour contains between 62-71% dietary fiber.
Therefore, it is ideal to integrate the flour of this fruit in order to improve the health of your digestive system.
11- Flour for gluten intolerant
There are people who may be allergic to gluten, which causes them Celiac disease .
This disease is a condition of the immune system that damages the small intestine due to the consumption of gluten, which is present in cereals rye, wheat and barley.
The Chontaduro flour Which can be used in the preparation of bread, pasta and other dishes, proves to be an excellent option for celiac people, since chontaduro has no gluten.
Here are some gluten free recipes.
Chontaduro cookies with mascarpone and blackberry
Ingredients
- 220 g. Flour of chontaduro
- 120 g. Sugar
- 100 g. Butter 2 egg yolks
- 250 g. Mascarpone cheese
- 100 g. Sugar
- 50 g. Blackberry
Process
- Cream butter and sugar
- Add the yolks while still beating
- Add the flour little by little until it is incorporated, obtaining a soft mass.
- Bake in a greased and floured pan for 15 minutes at 180 ° C
- Beat the cheese and sugar.
- Serve cheese over cookies
- Place blackberries on top
Flan of Chontaduro
Ingredients
- 500 ml. Milk
- 150 g. Chontaduro Peeled
- 4 Eggs Slightly Beaten
- 2 Egg yolk Slightly beaten
- 100 g. Sugar
- 5 ml. Vanilla
- 100 g. Sugar
- 60 ml. Water
Process
- Blend milk with chontaduro. Sieve
- Incorporate the sugar and vanilla essence into the milk. Bring to a boil
- Remove the pot from the fire and gradually add the milk to the mixture of eggs and yolks to temper it and prevent them from cooking. Reserve
- Incorporate remaining sugar and water into a pot.
- Cook until the consistency and the color of caramel *
- Cover the bottom of the molds with the caramel.
- Pour the milk mixture and eggs into the molds on the caramel
- Bake in a water bath 40 minutes to 1 hour at a temperature of 160 ° C
In this document You can find other recipes.
Generalities of chontaduro
Chontaduro, known in Colombia and Ecuador, has several local names among which stand pejibaye in Costa Rica and Panama, and pupunha in Brazil. Its cultivation is distributed from Nicaragua until Brazil Y Boli via
Called Chontaduro, scientifically Bactris gasipaes, And like the coconut, belongs to the family of palm trees (arecáceas). This palm reaches up to 20 m and grows in Latin American countries with a tropical climate, with temperatures between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius.
The fruit produced by this palm is balloon shaped, fleshy as a peach, and measures almost 4 cm, with a single seed or"bone"in the center. It has colors ranging from yellow, orange and red.
The nutritional properties of Chontaduro have caused Ecuador to consider encouraging the consumption of this fruit among the population, in the hope of reducing chronic diseases such as colon cancer, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.
Curiosities
- The consumption of the fruit can be raw or cooked and there are those who usually accompany it with vinegar or lemon and salt. Its flavor is not sweet, so sweetening it with honey is a good choice for some.
- The Chontaduro has such importance for the Amazonian people Uitoto and Muinane that they have a mythical history about the origin of the plant and its fruit.
- The fruit is also used to make alcoholic drinks with low alcohol content.
- Aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to it, although it has not been scientifically proven.
- The stalk of chontaduro is used in constructions and to manufacture utensils
References
- Neira-Mosquera, J.A., Pérez-Rodríguez, F., Sánchez-Llaguno, S., Rojas, R.M., 2013. Study on the mortality in Ecuador related to dietary factors. Nutr. Hosp. 28, 1732-1740.
- Rojas-Garbanzo, C., Pérez, A.M., Bustos-Carmona, J., Vaillant, F., 2011. Identification and quantification of carotenoids by HPLC-DAD during the process of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K.) flour. Food Res. Int. 44, 2377-2384.
- Yuyama, L.K.O., Aguiar, J.P.L., Yuyama, K., Clement, C.R., Macedo, S.H.M., Fávaro, D.I.T., Afonso, C., Vasconcellos, M.B. (1996). The composition of the fruit mesocarp of three peach palm (Pimentel, S. a., Badolato, E.S.G., Vannucchi, H., Bactris gasipaes ) Populations grown in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 54, 49-56.
- Yuyama, L.K.O., Cozzolino, S.M.F., 1996. Effect of supplementation with pupunha as source of vitamin A in diet: Study in rats. Rev. Saude Publica 30, 61-66.
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