Top 5 Health Benefits of Lucuma!

Lucuma (pronounced ‘Loo-Koo-Ma’) is a superfruit grown in Peru, Ecuador and Chile. It has been eaten throughout South America since about 200AD. It’s usually found in powder form and has a sweet taste which makes it perfect to be added to smoothies or other food. Referred to as the ‘Gold of the Incas’ by local Peruvians, it has since become a staple food for many centuries. Should it become a part of your diet though? Find out now with our Top 5 Health Benefits of Lucuma!

1. Low Glycaemic Index (GI)
Despite its sweet flavour, lucuma has a naturally low GI. This means that you can avoid any drastic ups and downs in your blood sugar associated with other sweet foods as lucuma releases its energy slowly. This means you’ll feel fuller for longer and more energetic throughout the day.

2. Vitamin-packed
Containing a variety of minerals and vitamins, lucuma can provide a number of nutrients many people often lack; it’s a source of zinc, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin B3. Lucuma can be a powerful supplement-ally to help ensure your body is as optimally healthy as it can be.

3. Wound healing
Rutgers University found that lucuma extract has an anti-inflammatory effect on wounds and skin aging. Therefore, including lucuma in your diet is likely to help reduce the amount of time it takes to heal from cuts and scrapes as well as keeping your skin glowing and effulgent.

4. Supports eye health
Lucuma is rich in beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, which is converted into vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A is needed to help maintain good eye health and eyesight and a benefit of beta-carotene is that your body only ever converts as much as it needs to, so, your body won’t build up any excess vitamin A, which is otherwise toxic.

5. Fibre
Even if it’s eaten in powder form you can still reap the benefits of lucuma’s high fibre content; with 2.3g of dietary fibre per 100g serving, it’s excellent for helping you maintain good digestive health.

Most easily available in its powdered form here in the Western world, lucuma is easy to add into your diet. Add it to juices or smoothies for a delicious, refreshing mix and simultaneously get a health boost in the process or watch the video above for a way to incorporate it into a meal and learn a little more about it.  Tried lucuma? Let us know what you think about this incredible superfood by commenting below, join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. (Feast your eyes and mind on our other juicy Top 5’s to help Keep YOUR Fit ON!) 

Cameron Huck

Cameron is a huge fan of all things food and exercise. Currently studying International Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University he has also been part of the university rowing team and played football and badminton throughout most of his life. He loves to try new sports whenever he can. He's incredibly interested in understanding ways to make the 'healthy lifestyle' as easy as possible as well as how to effectively fuel-up for training in high intensity sports, namely rowing.

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