I know what you've been doing...
That long weekend you've just had was probably filled with all the filthiest activities imaginable.
Naughty naughty...
That's why weeks in advance of such a time, the kind people at Ceres sent me Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder from Aduna.
I am usually really skeptical about so-called Super Foods and health products, so I trialed the Baobab fruit pulp for 3~weeks to see if I noticed anything worthy.
What is Baobab?
The Baobab Tree is known as the 'Tree of Life,' and is an icon of the African Savannah. It stands as a symbol of life and hope in a landscape where little else can grow. It grows wild across the African continent and has a lifespan up to 5,000 years, thus there are no baobab plantations, every tree is community-owned and wild-harvested.
For centuries the baobab has been a little secret of the women in Africa who turn to it as a source of natural well-being; benefiting skin, hair and general health.
The Baobab fruit, dries naturally on the branch and is simply harvested. The seeds are removed, sieved and in the case of Aduna simply ground to a pulp powder making it a completely natural product.
The baobab fruit is a nutrient-dense, raw wholefood with one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit in the world.
It holds over twice the antioxidants per gram of goji berries, and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined.
Making Baobab THE super fruit worth getting to know.
Baobab Tree [image credit: google] Baobab Fruit [image credit: google]
What are the benefits? Why should I even give Baobab a fleeting glance?!
The Baobab fruit contains 14 essential vitamins and minerals; such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium and Thiamin (Vitamin B1), it is 50% fiber and that teamed with it's high antioxidant capacity, it is no wonder that this fruit would have many health benefits.
To name a few - the baobab fruit can aid with:
- Energy - the reduction of tiredness and fatigue due to the great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin B6.
- Stress - it helps with the maintenance of normal blood pressure due to the potassium content.
- Immune System - as an aid to maintain and strengthen the normal functioning of the immune system, due to the source of Vitamin C and B6.
- Digestive Health/Metabolism - the rich calcium content helps to contribute to the normal functioning of digestive enzymes thus invigorating metabolisms.
- Weight Management - the baobab is 50% fibre, and a high source for Vitamin C, Calcium, Potassium, Thiamin (Vitamin B1) and Vitamin B6. Plus one 4.5g serving contains only 12kcal.
The advantage to consuming soluble fiber is that it attracts water and breaks down during passage through the digestive tract and forms a gel which slows down digestion. The soluble fiber delays the emptying of your stomach, and makes you feel full which helps to control your weight. - Skin health and aging - It has an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of 24,300 this high capacity of antioxidants help to protect our cells from oxidative stress ( free radical damage) and the Vitamin C content helps to contribute to the formation of collagen in skin.
Once you open the lid, you are greeted with a creamy white powder, and it surprisingly smells of raw freshly pressed fruit.
The raw powder tastes tangy, sweet and has undertones of grapefruit and vanilla.
I was pleasantly surprised, and the fact that it is sweet and tangy makes it so easy to work with.
Trial Period
I decided to trial the powder for ~3weeks.
There are no instructions on how to take the Baobab Fruit Pulp powder, nor is there a 'correct dosage' essentially you can add how much you like to anything.
I would normally try [ [okay in other words - try and force my sister/anyone] to make fresh juice in the morning so I thought it would be a wise idea to add 1.5 teaspoons of the powder [it is expensive stuff so I wanted to get as much out of it as possible] to my favorite juice blend of apples, oranges, melon [cantaloupe], lemons, carrots, and strawberries.
But you can use any fruit you like.
OR
If you are lazy/unable to force someone to juice your fruits or blend you a smoothie, you can just add it to your pre-made juice, sprinkle on your muesli or even make pina coladas with it [cheeky ;)] etc.
Use your imagination and conjure up your own potion.
However I did find that I had to vigorously stir/shake it in or the powder will clump together and form unattractive lumps at the bottom of my glass.
So add the powder to alittle liquid and stir it in thoroughly before topping up your glass to avoid clump-age, or if you have some time blitz it in with your smoothie ingredients or even better shake it into a cocktail!
What I noticed
I gave the Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder ~3weeks to work it's magic on me and so far I have found that:
- Energy/ Digestive Health/Weight Management- If I am feeling tired, when I did take Baobab I surprisingly do instantly feel more energised and refreshed. Moreover, it satisfied my appetite over a longer period of time than normal meaning that I could work/play for longer without having to have my regular snack breaks.
- Stress/Skin health - I am someone who breaks out into spots when I am stressed, and most recently I have had to deal with extended periods of stress and anger.
Normally I would see a huge, mammoth spot shamelessly posing right in the middle of my forehead, however during my trial of the Baobab powder I have noticed that I have remained spot-free. What is this sorcery?!? - Immune System/Metabolism - I don't think that I have trialed this product long enough to notice anything particularly striking about my Immune System/Metabolism levels.
Yummei Rating?
YUMMEI RECOMMENDED
However, I would consider Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder a luxury item as it is quite expensive, although it is a hugely versatile product and most significantly did make a difference in increasing my energy levels and minimalising tiredness, and made me feel full for longer. So, if that is something you would enjoy experiencing in your day to day life, then by all means go forth and purchase.
Where can I get my hands on this wizardry?
Baobab powder is available in 3 ways:
1) Aduna Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder (loose powder) 170g - £17.99
2) Aduna Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder (30 x 4,5g stick packets) - £24.99
3) Aduna Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder Capsules (90 x 500mg) - £22.99
Available in Planet Organic, Harrods, The Nutri Centre, John, Bell and Croyden Store, Wholefoods Market Kensington and Revital Stores.
OR
The Aduna website - www.aduna.com
References
1) www.Aduna.com/health-benefits
2)Aduna Press Release Leaflets
3)Physiology -Pocock and Richards
