The Lucumo tree is native to the Andean valleys that is cultivated for its fruit called Lucuma used in gastronomy, especially in Peru, above all in the preparation of sweets, desserts and ice creams.

Properties and medicinal benefits of the lucuma powder

Magical Superfood and golden delicious fruit of the Incas …
This is how it is usually known as Lucuma, a fruit native to the Andean valleys of Peru. This fruit grows in a perennial tree of the genus Pouteria, called lucuma.
Today, it is possible to consume lucuma powder and incorporate it into numerous recipes in order to take advantage of its valuable properties.
Learn about the essential qualities of lucuma and discover why it is classified as a Superfood.

Origins of the lucuma

Lucuma is a mythical fruit in the Andean regions. The evidence indicates that its cultivation had a peak of growth at the time of the Mochica culture, between the 1st and 7th centuries AD. The Moches used irrigation techniques and intensive cultivation to produce enormous quantities of lucuma.
The Moches also created a large number of art pieces that represent lucuma, since part of their interest was to include the fruits and foods they consumed. In the Larco Museum the neck bottle is exhibited, in which four lucumas were put together. This shows that the fruit is not only rich in nutrients, but also rich in history and fascination for ancestral cultures.

This fruit was the protagonist of the pre-Columbian diets, used by the Incas to be precisely a superfood that contained all the essential nutrients for human life. For this reason it was used in times of famine and food shortages.
The lucuma, in addition, was a symbol of fertility for the Incas, and remains a basic food in Peru. The tree is known as “the tree of life.”

Properties and main qualities of lucuma

Why is Lucuma a superfood? Lucuma powder or fruit is recognized as a superfood due to the nutrients it has.
To take into account: only 100 grams of powdered lucuma provides 99 calories and nutrients such as calcium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, niacin (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (vitamin B1) and vitamins A and C.
But that’s not all, calcium is one of its main components. It is estimated that Lucuma has the equivalent amount of calcium as in a glass of cow’s milk. With which, it could be a substitute in those cases in which you can not consume milk.

On the other hand, lucuma is rich in carbohydrates and sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose and inositol. At the same time, it is rich in proteins, ashes and lipids. It is worth noting that their proteins are not fats, so consuming them will not contribute to weight gain.
The fact that it is a fruit rich in fiber helps to keep the digestive system clean and un swell, while increasing the feeling of fullness.

Medicinal benefits of lucuma powder

One of the most prominent properties of lucuma powder is vitamin B3, which we mentioned earlier as niacin. This is an essential component for obtaining energy, improving neuronal function, maintaining short-term memory and combating chronic fatigue and depressive states. Similarly, it reduces cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. For this last is usually recommended in the diet of people with obesity or cardiovascular problems, since it reduces bad cholesterol.
Vitamin B2, on the other hand, also known as rivoflavin, is important for the growth, development and functioning of the body’s cells. Intervenes, along with other vitamins of group B, in reactions to obtain energy from proteins. It also participates in the processes of cellular respiration and hepatic detoxification.

Vitamin B2, also called thiamine, is primarily involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids and is essential for normal growth and development. That’s why it helps treat metabolic disorders. Similarly, it helps combat the symptoms of certain diseases such as diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and heart failure. It is a fundamental vitamin for cognitive function, the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells.
The lucuma powder is rich in antioxidants, so it helps prevent diseases and the deterioration of the body.
In bone diseases, such as arthritis, lucuma powder can be a great ally. Because of its anti-inflammatory function and its high Calcium content, it will allow the bones to be reconstituted. In addition, it is of great help to reduce the pains.

In cases of anemia or nutrient deficiency, lucuma powder is also an excellent resource, given that it has high levels of iron.
One of the most outstanding medicinal benefits of lucuma powder is related to skin care. Because of its high content of beta-carotene (provitamin A), a natural antioxidant, it protects the skin from solar radiation, which helps reduce the oxidative damage caused by UV rays. It also improves the appearance of the skin, since it increases its firmness and decreases wrinkles and fine lines. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties it accelerates the healing of wounds and the healing of tissues.
Using lucuma powder in any preparation will strengthen the immune system, thanks also to beta-carotene. This reinforces the defenses and protects the organism from potential health problems.

In addition to everything said so far, powdered lucuma is allied to combat depressive states and stress, thereby improving the quality of life in all its facets.

Current uses of lucuma powder

You can find the lucuma fruit in powder. Lucuma powder is created from the pulp. It is a golden sweet powder, with a rough texture, which is used as a condiment for the elaboration of numerous products.

Being gluten free, lucuma powder is suitable for celiacs (gluten-intolerants). Lucuma powder can be used as a replacement for sugar, both in shakes of raw foods, as mixed with yogurt or sprinkled on cereals.
As for the fruit, you can eat it raw and combine it with other products to make smoothies, yogurts, for the filling of cakes or to make jams.

The gold of the Incas today

Delicious and above all nutritious, a superfood that still retains its relevance today, as no one doubts that this orange-yellow fruit pulp is still as valuable as gold.