Baobab provides a number of nutrients, including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and other antioxidants, and it contains them in much higher concentrations than other fruits.
For example, a Baobab fruit provides
The fruit grows on the Baobab tree, which is called the 'tree of life'. When harvested, every part of the tree, in addition to the fruit, is used.
The fiber from the bark is used to make rope, baskets and cloth. The Baobab leaves can be cooked and eaten or used to treat skin abrasions and insect bites. The fruit pollen is mixed with water to make glue. The fruit of the Baobab tree is similar to a coconut and has a hard outer shell.
The fruit inside the shell is naturally dehydrated before you even open the shell. It's a naturally dried fruit. You can eat the white powder-covered seeds straight out of the fruit or mix the powder with water or sprinkle it on other foods for a citrus-flavored treat.
The powder, seeds and pulp of the Baobab fruit are all ground up and used in a variety of Baobab supplements.
As more people learn about this super food, people around the world are shopping for products and supplements extracted from the fruit include pure Baobab fruit powder, dried fruit and Baobab seeds.
You may want to take a Baobab supplement just to enjoy the everyday nutritional benefits it offers. You also may want to take Baobab supplements for a variety of reasons, for example to
Baobab provides several vitamins and minerals in high concentrations including the following:
Like most fruits, Baobab is low in calories, low in fat and high in fiber and antioxidants.
The Baobab fruit contains about 200 calories per 100 gram. This is a higher calorie content than that of other citrus fruit but lower than most dried fruits. The Baobab fruit is low in protein but high in fiber. Almost fifty percent of each serving of Baobab fruit is fiber.
Baobab has 20 times more antioxidants than both goji berry and acai. Antioxidants are chemicals that help inhibit or prevent cell damage. Cell damage and mutated cells lead to illness and disease. Natural antioxidants include vitamins C, E and A.
The high concentrations of vitamin C and other antioxidants in Baobab make it a natural immune booster. Baobab's antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protects your cells from damage. This helps to prevent you from illness and disease.
Its high fiber content cleans out the digestive tract, clearing out bad bacteria that may make you ill.
The vitamin C found in the Baobab fruit aids your body in forming collagen and elastin. These two proteins are needed to provide skin elasticity. This helps your skin to stay younger looking for longer.
The antioxidant properties of the Baobab fruit also improve skin health as the antioxidants help to neutralize and destroy free radicals that can damage skin cells. Damaged skin cells can lead to premature aging, wrinkles and degenerative skin diseases. The antioxidant properties of Baobab lessen the appearance of wrinkles.
In addition to all the nutrients in Baobab, it is high in fiber. Baobab is almost fifty percent fiber and contains equal quantities of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Its soluble fiber slows down the release of sugar into the blood stream after eating. This helps to reduce spikes in blood sugar. The fact that it has not starch or sugar also keeps you from having blood sugar spikes after eating Baobab.
Baobab's insoluble fiber is not absorbed and therefore helps to provide a regular and healthy digestion.
The high concentrations of vitamin C and potassium in Baobab may contribute to improved cardiovascular health. Having low levels of vitamin C has been associated with developing atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, a condition which can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
Baobab is also high in potassium, which contributes to heart health. Potassium aids in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Baobab's vitamin C concentrations help the body manufacture elastin and collagen which not only improve skin health but also help veins maintain strong. This helps improve circulation and prevents the development of varicose veins.
Varicose veins may be accompanied by pain, swelling and aches. If they get worse, they can produce ulcers, swelling and discoloration around the ankles.
The Baobab fruit is a great source of calcium and contains almost twice as much calcium as dairy milk. This makes Baobab a great alternative source of calcium without the lactose.
Men, women and children need calcium to support healthy bones. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of calcium for men and women under the age of 50 is 1.000mg. Older adults and pregnant women require up to 1.300mg of calcium.
The great number and high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and fibre make Baobab powder a healthy choice for children, teens, men and women who are looking for a nutrient-dense supplement.
You may want to take Baobab if you suffer from the following:
Side effects from eating Baobab fruit or from taking supplements are rare. The high fibre content can lead to laxative effects. These are usually resolved by either cutting back on the amount of Baobab consumed until your body adjusts.
There are no documented interactions between Baobab and any medications.
Since Baobab fruit powder is basically a food, there is not specific intake recommendation. Therefore it can be taken depending on the individual needs.
Baobab powder is widely available. Since getting fresh Baobab fruit is difficult, Baobab is the next best choice in order to enjoy its benefits. Baobab powders can be mixed with water, fruit juice, yoghurt or mixed into smoothies and protein shakes.
Baobab is known by a variety of names including Adansonia, baob, tabaldi, bottle tree and upside down tree.