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Jabuticaba is a Brazilian fruit that has the unusual characteristic of sprouting on the stem of the jabuticaba tree, and not on its flowers. This fruit has few calories and carbohydrates, but it is rich in nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.
Jabuticaba can be eaten fresh or in preparations such as jam, wines, vinegar, brandy and liqueurs. As it quickly loses its quality after removing the jabuticaba tree, it is very difficult to find this fruit in markets far from its production regions.
Due to its high nutrient composition and low calorie content, jabuticaba seems to have several health benefits, including:
- Prevents diseases in general, such as cancer and atherosclerosis, and premature aging, as they are rich in anthocyanins, which are highly antioxidant phenolic compounds;
- Strengthens the immune system, as it is rich in zinc;
- It helps to lose weight, because it is very low in calories and rich in fibers, which increase satiety;
- It fights constipation, because it is rich in fibers;
- It helps to control diabetes, as it is low in carbohydrates, which helps to prevent the increase in blood glucose;
- Improves skin health, as it is rich in vitamin C;
- Prevents anemia by containing iron and B vitamins.
It is important to remember that anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds in jabuticaba, are concentrated especially in their peel, which must be consumed together with the pulp of the fruit to obtain more benefits.
Nutritional information of jabuticaba
The following table provides the nutritional information for 100 g of raw jabuticaba, which is equivalent to about 20 units:
Nutrient | 100 g of raw jabuticaba |
Energy | 58 calories |
Proteins | 0.5 g |
Fats | 0.6 g |
Carbohydrates | 15.2 g |
Fibers | 7 g |
Iron | 1.6 mg |
Potassium | 280 mg |
Selenium | 0.6 mcg |
B.C. Folic | 0.6 mcg |
Vitamin C | 36 mg |
Zinc | 0.11 mg |
As the jabuticaba deteriorates very quickly, the best way to preserve it is to store it in the refrigerator or make small bags of homemade pulp, which should be kept in the freezer for up to about 3 months.
Healthy recipes with jabuticaba
To enjoy the benefits of jabuticaba, there are some healthy and delicious recipes that can be prepared at home:
1. Jaboticaba mousse
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of jabuticaba;
- 2 cups of water;
- 2 cups of coconut milk;
- 1/2 cup of cornstarch;
- 2/3 cup demerara sugar, brown sugar or xylitol sweetener.
Preparation mode:
Place the jabuticabas in a pan with 2 cups of water and take to cook, turning off the heat when the peels of all fruits break. Remove from the heat and sieve this juice and squeeze well to remove the seeds from the jabuticaba, making the most of its pulp. In a saucepan, add this jabuticaba juice, coconut milk, cornstarch and sugar, mixing well until the cornstarch dissolves and becomes homogeneous. Bring to medium heat and stir until it thickens or is the desired consistency. Then transfer the mousse to a clean container, wait for it to cool slightly and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
2 Strawberry and jabuticaba smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of strawberry tea (banana or plum can also be used);
- 1/2 cup of jabuticaba tea;
- 1/2 cup of water;
- 4 ice stones.
Preparation mode:
Beat all ingredients in a blender and take ice cream.
See 10 other fruits that help you lose weight.