Wellness Secrets in a Glass of Baobab Juice
Did you know that baobab juice, also known as baobab fruit pulp juice, has almost three times more vitamin C than citrus fruits?
Yes, and there is so much more. In this article, we will be unpacking the wellness power of this underexploited, lesser-known drink.
Baobab juice is a refreshing drink with a naturally tart and sweet-sour flavour, made from the powdery pulp of baobab fruits. Its texture often ranges from smooth and creamy to light and watery, depending on whether it is prepared with water, milk or condensed milk.
Baobab pulp has been considered a superfood. It is a good source of fibre, carbohydrates and key minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and zinc.
It is also an excellent source of prebiotics, comparable to prebiotic inulin, the gold standard dietary fibre that feeds healthy microbes in the gut. It improves digestion, supports blood sugar regulation, enhances mineral absorption and helps control appetite.
Baobab pulp has been found to have medicinal properties due to the presence of several active natural compounds. It has been found to have anticoagulant properties, which may reduce the chances of strokes, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms by reducing the formation of dangerous blood clots that could develop and clog the bloodstream. Some studies have also reported that baobab fruit pulp has antibiotic, antihelminthic, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antidyslipidaemic properties. In traditional folk medicine, healers have used baobab fruit pulp to treat diarrhoea and urinary tract infections.
Baobab fruit pulp contains several key minerals and vitamins, including B vitamins, and holds promise in helping to combat micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia. Studies conducted in Kenya and Nigeria showed that baobab juice improved haemoglobin levels in children and teenage girls. Even better results were observed when it was combined with iron-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables. This is due to the high vitamin C content of baobab fruit pulp, which is essential for the absorption of iron in the body.
Some studies also suggest that baobab fruit pulp may help support male reproductive health. The studies mentioned that the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C in the fruit pulp could play a role in boosting energy, improving sperm quality and stabilising the male reproductive system.
Consuming baobab juice has also been associated with better liver health in some studies. It was found that baobab fruit pulp reduced liver dysfunction following damage caused by drug toxicity. Another study also reported that baobab juice holds promise in protecting the liver against damage caused by herbicides, a common concern in agricultural food production today.
Baobab juice is not only delicious and a great plant-based alternative to yoghurt; it is equally healthy and holds so much promise that remains unknown to many. In our local African context, it can be explored for food fortification to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. This delicious fruit pulp juice should be part of everyone's healthy diet plan, and its benefits are best unlocked when it is included as part of a balanced diet.
Sources
Abdulwaliyu, I., Arekemase, S.O., Batari, M.L. et al. Nutritional and pharmacological attributes of baobab fruit pulp. Food Prod Process and Nutr 6, 98 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43014-024-00283-z
Hanafy, A., Aldawsari, H. M., Badr, J. M., Ibrahim, A. K., & Abdel-Hady, S. E. (2016). Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Adansonia digitata extract on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Article ID 4579149, 7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4579149
Ini, A. T., Makena, W., Usman, I. M., Aminu, A., & Gadzama, M. N. (2022). Protective Role of Adansonia digitata extract against glyphosate-induced hepatorenal toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Iranian Journal of Toxicology, 16(2), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.32598/IJT.16.2.920.1
Babatunde, D. J., Tope, O. O., Fidelis, O. E., Enevwo, O. G., & Olugbenga, E. (2021). Aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata reversed cotton seed extract-induced testicular damage in Wistar rats. JBRA Assisted Reproduction, 25(2), 257–265.
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