Introduction
Marañon fruit is an exotic fruit that is often unnoticed due to the more famous cashew nut, but it has many health benefits. The famous cashew apple is a transcendental tropical fruit found in Brasil and other regions of South America. Aside from being tremendously tasty, the fruit is also extremely beneficial from a health perspective as it is rich in essential nutrients. If you are wondering about the fruits nutritional values and potential benefits or planning to add the fruit to your diet, this guide aims to provide you with everything you need to know.
Where does the Marañon Fruit Come from?
Marañon fruit starts with the cashew apple which is an edible part of the cashew tree. The Anacardium occidentale tree is native from the northeastern region of Brazil and in other tropical subregions of South America. The marañon fruit is its fleshy part that sits above the cashew nut which is essentially the seed of the fruit. it is juicy and fibrous with packed combination of sweetness and tang.
Marañon is alternatively called cashew apple because it grows on the same tree that bears the well-known cashew nut. Even though the nut is popular all over the globe, the fruit remains a mystery beyond the tropical countries. This is truly surprising considering its versatility in cooking and many amazing health benefits.
Nutritional Value of The Marañon Fruit
Besides its great taste, marañon fruit has a high nutritional value too. It is low in calories, yet high in essential minerals and vitamins which makes it ideal for healthy diets. The following is the nutritional value of marañon fruit for every 100 grams:
1. Capital: 50 kcal
2. Carbohydrates: 12g
3. Proteins: 1g
4. Fat: 0.5g
5. Fibe: 1g
6. Vitamin C: 200% of daily recommended value
7. Calcium: 10mg
8. Iron: 0.6mg
9. Potassium: 160mg
Crammed with this distinctive nutritional profile, the marañon fruit becomes a prominent source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, among other vital nutrients.
Benefits to Health from Marañon fruit
The exotic marañon fruit has multiple health-related benefits caused by the array of nutrients it is composed of. This is useful while examining the benefits of incorporating the fruit into one’s diet.
1. High in Vitamin C
Maranon fruit aids in strengthening one’s immune system as well as promoting good skin due to it being rich in vitamin C. As noted, Marañon has one of the highest Vitamin C counts of any fruit. In fact, one serving of Marañon fruit provides more than 200% of the daily recommended intake. Between strengthening the immune system and taking care of the skin, vitamin C also helps to synthesize collagen, healing wounds and boosting the skin’s elasticity.
2. strengthens the immune system
First off, marañon fruit is notable for being rich in vitamin C, meaning it serves to help boost the immune defenses of the body. Vitamin C deficiency leads to illness and a weakened immune system. If someone is looking for something that helps from flu and cold, marañon fruit should be on the shopping list due to its amazing health benefits.
3. Aids the body with digestion
Consumption of marañon fruit is tied to aiding digestion practices. This can be explained with the dietary fiber that comes with the fruit. Along those lines, fiber ensures the bacteria residing in the gut are in proper working condition while averting the risk of constipation. Thus, making the digestion system run more smoothly.
4. Supports Heart Health
Marañon fruit’s antioxidants protect against oxidative damage, which promotes better cardiovascular health. Antioxidants, along with fiber and vitamin C, reduce inflammation and cell damage, aiding in cell and tissue health while also maintaining proper cholesterol levels and blood circulation.
5. Promotes Healthy Skin
Marañon fruit skin’s antioxidant properties defend against free radical damage and premature aging while vitamin C helps collagen production, which maintains skin elasticity. Together, these benefits result in enhanced skin radiance, reduced wrinkles, and greater youthfulness.
6. Hydrating and Refreshing
Marañon fruit contains a high water content which is beneficial for the body when consumed in hot tropical regions. It serves as a great post-workout or post-exercise refreshment, ensuring the restoration of fluids lost during physical activities.
Marañon Fruit Consumption Guidelines
If you were lucky enough to come across marañon fruit, there are a few tasty suggestions:
• Fesh: Take a slice of the fruit’s skin and the yellowish flesh is edible directly and tastes pleasant. It is great by itself or combined with other emits in a nakirutu tropical fruit salad.
• Juicy: The fruit makes refreshing juice or a smoothie. The puree can also be combined with mangoes, pineapples, or oranges adding extra zing.
• Desserts: You can also use marañon to prepare jams, jellies, sorbets and can bake it into cakes and pies. The mildly sweet and tangy taste of the fruit makes a great dessert.
• Sauces: In some tropical places, the fruit is made into a tangy sauce perfect for drizzling over grilled meats, or used as a marinade.
Where to Purchase Marañon Fruit
Locating fresh marañon can be difficult outside its native areas. Nonetheless, it is available in specialty markets or tropical stores in Brazil, Central America, and some parts of Asia. In more temperate areas, canned or frozen renditions can be found in international grocers or through online retailers.
Is Marañon Fruit Safe for Human Consumption?
Generally speaking, eating marañon is safe. There, however, are several factors to take into consideration:
1. Allergy to Cashew: Individuals experiencing allergies to cashews should not consume marañon fruit, as it grows on a tree containing cashew nuts.
2. Toxicity of raw cashew nuts: While the fruit is perfectly edible, the cashew nut’s urushiol: a toxic agent known to irritate skin, involves some careful processing. They should only be consumed post-roasting and proper preparation.
Conclusion
Marañon fruit, like many other tropical fruits, is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins. Its health benefits include boosting the immune system and helping with skin health and digestion. This unique fruit can be consumed fresh, juiced, or used in cooking making it a versatile dietary supplement.
Marañon fruit is sometimes overlooked while shopping for exotic fruits but can greatly contribute towards maintaining the health of one’s body.
