Fruits play an essential role in improving our physical health. Fresh and dried nutritious fruits are good for the health of our bodies. These fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. One such excellent fruit rich in various nutrients is passion fruit. This article describes the nutritional profile and potential health benefits of passion fruit.
What is passion fruit?
Passion fruit is rich in nutritious and medicinal properties. Passion fruit is a plant in the Passifloraceae family. The passion fruit is a tropical fruit and is native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Passion fruit is a native of Southern Brazil. It is grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions for its sweet, seedy fruit. The fruit is both eaten and juiced, with juice often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma. The fruit has gained popularity due to its richness in some powerful antioxidants and other nutrients and other nutrients that provide many health benefits.
Nutritional value of 100 g Passion fruit/Passiflora edulis
| Nutritions | Value |
| Energy | 406 kj (97 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 22.4 g |
| Sugar | 11.2 g |
| Fat | 0.7 g |
| Protein | 2.2 g |
Nutritional value of vitamins per 100 g of Passion fruit/Passiflora edulis
| Vitamins | Quantity |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 64 μg |
| Beta-Carotene | 743 μg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.13 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 14 μg |
| Choline | 7.6 mg |
| Vitamin C | 30 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.7 μg |
Nutritional value of minerals per 100 g of Passion fruit/Passiflora edulis
| Minerals | Quantity |
| Calcium | 12 mg |
| Iron | 1.6 mg |
| Magnesium | 29 mg |
| Phosphorus | 68 mg |
| Potassium | 348 mg |
| Zinc | 0.1 mg |
Other constituents per 100 g of Passion fruit/Passiflora edulis
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 72.9 g |
Scientific classification of Passion fruit/Passiflora edulis
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Rosids
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Passifloraceae
- Genus: Passiflora
- Species: P. edulis
- Scientific name: Passiflora edulis
Health Benefits of passion fruit
1. Immune booster
The richness of antioxidants in passion fruit includes vitamin C, carotene and cryptoxanthin which protect the body from free radical damage and fight conditions such as cancer, heart disease and premature aging. The phenolic in the passion fruit have powerful anti-cancer properties that prevent cancer of the mouth and lungs. Passion fruit helps to improve the immune system and protects you from the common cold, fever and cough.
2. Regulate blood sugar
Due to its high fiber content and low glycemic index, passion fruit is a fruit of choice for diabetics. Soluble fiber pectin keeps you satiated, reduces gastric emptying time and prevents you from overeating.
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3. Enhance eye health
Passion fruit is very rich in vitamin A which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration, sunburn and night blindness. Additionally, the energy packed with antioxidant passion fruit helps reduce wrinkles, and even naturally improves skin health.
4. Regulates intestinal health
The passion fruit contains fiber, one serving of the fruit meets about 50% of the daily requirement. It is a good source of soluble fiber that acts as a laxative, regulates bowel movements, helps digest food, gets rid of excess cholesterol and prevents colorectal cancer.
5. Treats insomnia
A powerful medicinal addition of passion fruit is an alkaline hormone that acts as a healer. (1) This compound is beneficial in reducing and nervous anxiety thereby helping you sleep at night.
6. Augments skin health
Being an excellent source of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, carotene and riboflavin, passion fruit is the ultimate superfood for improving skin health. It not only delays the signs of premature aging like acne, wrinkles, fine spots, blemishes etc. as well as moisturizes and nourishes the skin. Eating this fruit or applying the juice as a face mask does wonders for the skin by providing a revitalizing glow.
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7. Enhances cardiac functioning
Rich in the mineral potassium, which is essential for controlling blood pressure, lettuce plays an important role in regulating blood pressure levels in the body and controlling high blood pressure. It helps to dilate blood vessels, which reduces heart rate and blood flow. Regular consumption of this fruit reduces cholesterol and combats the accumulation of debris inside the capillaries, thereby preventing diseases such as atherosclerosis and reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart blocks.
8. Remedies respiratory troubles
Due to its anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and anti-asthma properties, it plays an important role in the treatment of common cold, asthma, wheezing, cough and flower symptoms. It thins and loosens phlegm within the chest and nasal cavity and therefore facilitates breathing and helps to get rid of mucus buildup.
9. May strengthen bones
Passion fruit contains minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Hence, including fruit in your diet is a good way to supplement the effects of other bone-strengthening foods. These minerals, when taken with other rich sources, maintain bone density and may prevent osteoporosis.
Studies have shown that passion fruit bark extract also has anti-inflammatory properties. These can help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
10. May improve blood circulation
Scirpusin B, a compound in the seeds of the passion fruit, acts as a vasorelaxation substance. It relaxes blood vessels, and it can increase circulation. Also, potassium in passion fruit may have vasodilation properties. Iron and copper present in the passion fruit can further increase circulation as they are essential components associated with the production of red blood cells. However, it needs more research.
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11. May enhance digestive health
Passion fruit is an ideal addition to a digestive diet as it is an excellent source of fiber. The fruit contains soluble fiber, both in its pale and rind. Dietary fiber acts as a laxative and improves bowel movements. Fiber helps prevent constipation and reduces total cholesterol levels by eliminating it through the stools.
12. May aid weight loss
Fruit fiber can keep you fuller for longer. However, there are no direct studies that suggest that passion fruit can help you lose weight. You can include it as a part of your weight loss diet.
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Uses of Passion Fruit
The passion fruit, seeds and bark are used medicinally. Passion fruit can be eaten fresh and you can make juice from this fruit and eat it. It can also be used in combination with other fruits.
Side Effects of Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is a good source of fiber. If you increase your fiber intake significantly, it can cause a short-term crisis in the gastrointestinal tract. Most people without any problems can eat the passion fruit, it is delicious, nutritious and easy to eat. However, a small number of people with latex allergies may have adverse reactions. In some cases, the reaction will be mild, but sometimes the reaction can be strong and surprising.
Therefore, passion fruit should be used in the right amount considering its advantages and disadvantages as excessive use of any ingredient can harm our health. The above information is provided for general information purposes only. It is recommended to consult a doctor before using passion fruit in treatment.
Conclusion
The information discussed in this article has introduced you to the health benefits of passion fruit. In this article, you will learn about the Health benefits, harms, uses, and information of passion fruit. I hope the information mentioned in this article will be useful to you. Thank you!
FAQ
1. What are the common names of passion fruit?
Ans: The common names of passion fruit are- purple granadilla, grenadine, grenadelle, and passionflower.
2. What are the benefits of passion fruit?
Ans: The benefits of passion fruit include immune boosting, good source of fiber, maintaining healthy blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, reducing risk of cognitive decline, improving digestive health, promoting restful sleep, relieving asthmatics, and improving insulin sensitivity, improve skin and eye health, prevent osteoporosis.
3. Is passion fruit good for diabetes?
Ans: Due to its abundance of fiber and low glycemic index, passion fruit is a good choice for diabetics. Soluble fiber pectin keeps you satiated, reduces gastric emptying time and prevents you from overeating.
4. Passion fruit plant belongs to which family of plant?
Ans: The passion fruit plant belongs to the Passifloraceae family.
5. What is the scientific name of passion fruit?
Ans: The scientific name of passion fruit is Passiflora edulis.