The African Superfruit: Baobab
Baobab trees grow in dry, remote areas in over 30 African countries and this incredible superfruit is the foundation for most of Elxr Co formulations (Elxr Co Balance and No Filter Superfood Brightening Serum)
BAOBAB VITAMIN C CONTENT
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.
GOOD FOR THE SKIN:
Foods rich in vitamin C are a cornerstone of the anti-wrinkle diet. Vitamin C, whether derived from foods or dietary supplements, helps your body form collagen and elastin, two structural proteins that give your skin support and elasticity. To Discover NO FILTER, Click here!
Baobab has ten times the antioxidant levels within oranges, six times more than powdered vitamin C, and more than twice the calcium level of milk. Moreover, it has six times more antioxidants than cranberries, blueberries and blackberries, six times more levels of potassium than found in a banana, two times more antioxidants than goji berries, more iron than red meat, and more magnesium than spinach.
BAOBAB ANTI-OXIDANT ABILITY
As you may already know, antioxidants neutralize free radicals, unstable atoms and molecules that can cause damage to your body at the cellular level, increasing the risk of degenerative diseases and other signs of aging, including wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Here's an overview of the antioxidant capacity of the pulps of some common fruits, expressed as Integral Antioxidant Capacity (IAC), to give you an idea of the incredible antioxidant potential of the baobab fruit:
• Baobab: 11.11
• Kiwifruit: 0.34
• Orange: 0.10
• Strawberry: 0.91
• Apple: 0.16
A NATURAL LIVER CLEANSER
If your liver is not healthy, it will not efficiently do one of its most important jobs – detoxifying toxic substances, including metabolic wastes, and excreting them from your body. A high exposure to toxins such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, alcohol and many other substances can cause damage to the liver and limit its detoxifying capabilities, but luckily there are also many foods and supplements that can get your liver back on track.
In one study, researchers tested the hepatoprotective activity against liver injury in rats (the term hepatoprotective is used in medical circles to refer to substances that are capable of preventing damage to the liver). The water-based baobab extract used in this study was found to have significant protective effects against liver damage. It has been proposed that the potential hepatoprotective properties of the baobab fruit may be linked to the presence of triterpenoids, beta-sitosterol, beta-amyrin palmitate and ursolic acid in baobab pulp.
POWER HOUSE OF MINERALS
If you're still not impressed by the health benefits of the baobab fruit, consider this: using fresh baobab pulp in cooking or adding concentrated baobab fruit powder to your favorite dishes can also supply your body with a slew 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 Nutrition Facts table 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)
References
1. E. De Caluwe, K. Halamova and P. Van Damme (2010). Adansonia digitata L. - A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Afrika Fous, 23(1), 11-51.
2. S. Vertuani et al (2002). Antioxidant capacity of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp and leaves. Acta Phytotherapeutica. 5(2).
3. S. Coe et al (2013). The polyphenol-rich baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) reduces starch digestion and glycemic response in humans. Nutrition Research, 33(11), 888-896.
4. E. Adewusi and A. Afolayan (2010). A review of natural products with hepatoprotective activity. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 4(13), 1318-1334.
5. A. Al-Qarawi, M. Al-Damegh and S. El-Mougy (2003). Hepatoprotective Influence of Adansonia digitata Pulp. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 10, 3.
6. M. Didibe et al (1996). Baobab-homegrown vitamin C for Africa. Agrofor. Today 8: 13-15.
7. M. Osman (2004). Chemical and Nutrient Analysis of Baobab (Adansonia digitata): Fruit and Seed Protein Solubility. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 59, 29-33.
Written by Mohammad Yousef, CMQ/OE