
 |
 |
| Passion
fruit.
Note for oval shaped ripening fruit with smooth waxy surface and fine
white specks. |
Golden yellow passion fruit. Note for thick
rind. Inside view, showing pulpy juice with numerous tiny, dark brown
or
black, pitted seeds. |
The passiflora plant requires
well-drained fertile soil and good moisture to flourish. It grows
quickly and reaches about 15-20 feet per annum once established. Its
average life span is about 5-7 years.
Over five hundred cultivate types exist; however,
two main type purple and yellow passion fruits are widely cultivated.
During each season, the vine bears greenish-white fragrant flowers. The
fruit features round to oval shape, 4 to 8 centimeters in diameter,
have a tough shell mangosteen-like
rind. Average weight is about 35-50 g.
Inside, the fruit
consists of membranous sacs containing light orange-colored, pulpy
juice with
numerous small, hard, dark-brown or black, pitted seeds. Yellow
passions are generally larger than the purple varieties, but the pulp
of
the
purple fruit is less acid, richer in aroma and flavor, and has a higher
proportion of juicy pulp.
Health benefits of passion fruit
-
Delicious, passion fruit is rich source of
antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fiber. 100 g fruit contains about
97 calories.
-
The fruit is a very good source of dietary
fiber. 100 g fruit pulp contains 10.4 g or 27% of fiber. Good fiber in
the diet helps remove cholesterol from the body. In addition dietary
insoluble fiber by acting as a bulk laxative helps protect the colon
mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxic substances in the
colon as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.
-
Passion fruit is good in vitamin C,
providing
about 30 mg per 100 g. Vitamin-C (ascorbic acid) is a powerful water
soluble anti-oxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the
body develop resistance against flu-like infectious agents and scavenge
harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
-
The fruit contains very good
levels of vitamin-A
(provides about 1274 IU per 100 g), and flavonoid antioxidants such as
β-carotene and cryptoxanthin-β. Current research studies suggest that
these compounds have antioxidant properties, and along with vitamin A
are essential for good eye-sight.
-
Vitamin A is also
required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of
natural fruits rich in vitamin-A, and flavonoids helps to protect from
lung and oral cavity cancers.
-
Fresh granadilla is very rich in potassium.
100 g fruit pulp has about 348 mg of potassium. Potassium is an
important component of cells and body fluids, and helps regulate heart
rate and blood pressure.
-
Furthermore, granadilla is a very good source
of minerals. Iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus are present in
adequate amounts in the fruit.