Pleasantly sweet and tart, Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is highly consumed throughout the world with its aroma and taste that are unique and unmistakable, as well as its nutritional properties.
Native to the subtropical wild regions of South America, it is an avid climber which grows on anything that it can grapple around through its tendrils. Brazil has the world’s largest fruit production, but it is also the largest consumer of fruits in natura.
Benefits
Dietary fiber. 100 g fruit pulp contains 10.4 g or 27% of fiber. Good fiber in the diet helps remove cholesterol from the body.
Vitamin-C, a powerful water-soluble antioxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin-C helps the human body develop resistance against flulike infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
Very good levels of Vitamin-A and flavonoid antioxidants such as ß-carotene and cryptoxanthin-ß Current research studies suggest that these compounds have antioxidant properties, and along with vitamin-A are essential for good eyesight.
Vitamin-A is also required for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin.
Very rich in potassium. 100g fruit pulp has about 348mg of potassium, which is a major component of cells and bodily fluids and helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
Furthermore, passion fruit is an excellent source of minerals. Iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus are all present in adequate amounts in the fruit.
Usage
The pulp of passion fruit is mostly used by the juice industry in the form of ready to drink, concentrates and in the food industry; for example the famous passion fruit mousse, sauces for meats, salads and many other things.
