Baobab fruit pulp perfect for healthy snacks

BAOBAB FRUIT PULP PERFECT FOR HEALTHY SNACKS

We are constantly subjected to media reports detailing the detrimental effects of obesity, poor nutrition, and disease on people across the globe. Can something as simple as changing your diet help to provide a solution?

Eating the right foods has been recommended for years as a course of action to correct many health problems. The pulp of the baobab fruit, sometimes referred to as a superfruit, contains many nutritious properties that are helpful to the human body. Combined with a sweet and tangy taste, the result is an ingredient that can add some zing to your food and some energy to your body.

Photo courtesy of Baobab Fruit Company Senegal

Baobab nutritional information

According to PhytoTrade Africa, baobab fruit pulp has the following characteristics:

-High natural Vitamin C content (at least 150mg/100g).
-Strong antioxidant properties: Integral Antioxidant Capacity (IAC) - 11.1 mmol/g. This value is significantly higher than that of an orange pulp (IAC = 0.103 mmol/g), and grape seed Oligomers (IAC = 10.25 mmol/g).
-A natural source of minerals including Calcium (293 mg/100g), Phosphorus (96-118 mg/100g), Iron (7-8.6 mg/100g) and Potassium (2.31 mg/100g).
-Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Vitamin B3 (niacin).
-High levels of pectin (23%), making it a useful binding and thickening agent.
-Gelling and viscosity modification.
-Soluble and insoluble dietary fibres with prebiotic effects.
-The acidulous taste is attributed to the presence of organic acids, such as citric acid, malic acid and succinic acid.

Uses for baobab fruit pulp

PhytoTrade Africa has done quite a bit of work to develop and lobby for the baobab fruit industry. Some recommendations from them for using baobab fruit pulp include its use in product formulation to provide nutritional fortification, flavor enhancement, viscosity and texture modification, and as a source of dietary fiber and nutrients.

Additional potential lies in using baobab fruit pulp in the following applications:

-Soft drinks and beverages
-Snack bars, breakfast cereals, biscuits and snacks
-Natural fruit smoothies
-Health supplements; botanical extracts including antioxidants
-Fruit fillings, jams, sauces, puddings and desserts
-Baking products
-Various active cosmetic uses, including antioxidants for anti-aging, skin tightening, moisturizers, and hair and nail strengthening products

My related posts

* Baobab use goes beyond fruits
* New king of the superfruits? A look at the baobab