South America doesn’t cease to surprise us with its bounty of amazing tropical and subtropical fruits. This time we have what the natives term as “Incan Gold” or Lucuma. Lucuma is a fruit that grows in the Peruvian Andes. Lucuma fruit powder has a unique flavour that is very close to sweet tasting maple or caramel. It resembles something between an avocado and a sweet potato. It’s yellowish green and egg-shaped with a dry, starchy yellow-orange flesh.
Because of its unique sweet taste lucuma has been used in desserts, milkshakes, juices, and ice creams in Peru and Chile. You can also use Lucuma powder as a sweetener, given its low glycemic index (2gm of natural sugar for every 11gm of carbohydrates).
This is great news if you are looking to lose weight and need to be on a low-GI diet. Packed with antioxidants, zinc, iron, beta carotene, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin B3, lucuma lives up to its rather recent superfood status. It is especially great for vegetarians and vegans who rarely find vitamin B3 outside of meat or animal sources. This vitamin is also known to help cope with anxiety and depression.
Lucuma has been used in Peruvian medicine for centuries and hailed for it’s anti-inflammatory properties. Rutgers University conducted a study that evaluated these properties of lucuma extract on wound healing and skin ageing. The results determined that it increased wound closure and promoted tissue regeneration.
In alternative medicine, lucuma is said to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, and protect against some forms of cancer.
Lucuma is a fantastic low-glycemic alternative to sugar for people with diabetes. Proponents claim that unlike cane sugar, lucuma is low in sugar and does not lead to the same increase in blood sugar levels.
Tribe Skincare 100% Raw Organic Lucuma Fruit Powder is organic, vegan, raw and naturally gluten- and dairy-free. It contains no artificial colours, preservatives, sweeteners or fillers.