Ok, so first things first, I want to clear a little something up before I dive into the “superfood” Lucuma. The health world has been abuzz with the term “superfoods” for some time now. We’ve all been exposed to new hero-worshiped foods many of us in the Western world likely had never heard of twenty years ago; Maca, acai, goji berries, moringa, cacao…the list goes on. While yes, these do all provide some super wonderful health benefits, they can be too much on the pricier side to add regularly to most of our food budgets. So before we get started, I just want to let you know of some foods this nutritionist deems to be “super” that are more price accessible for most… spinach, garlic, eggs, oats, sardines, berries, dark chocolate and more! Now we’ve got that super clear, let’s take a look at a lesser-known superfood that is rising in status, Lucuma. More importantly, let’s discuss why its status has recently been elevated to superstar status!
Lucuma (also spelled “lúcuma” and pronounced loo-koo-ma) ) is a fruit native to South America – particularly Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. It is sometimes referred to as the “Gold of the Incas” due to its historical importance in Incan culture. While a relative newcomer to many nations, it has been cherished for centuries in South America, both as a staple healthy food source and also as a religious offering associated with fertility. The whole fruit is round, with green or yellow-brown skin and sweet yellow-orange flesh. It is known for its unique flavor, which is often described as a mix between caramel, sweet potato, and maple.
You would be very hard-pressed to find a lucuma in your local fruit store or supermarket, so how is one to access this fruit in New Zealand? Local lucuma lovers buy it in a fine powder form after it has been carefully dehydrated at low temperatures to retain its nutritional qualities. Wondering if you should give this wonder fruit a whirl? Below are 5 reasons you may want to…
With fresh accessibility to this revered fruit an issue for us Kiwis, we aren’t going to be dicing fresh lucuma into our fruit salads anytime soon! So it’s good to know that the powdered form is available at health food stores, online, and in some supermarkets is the way to go! Here are 5 ideas for how you could include Lacuma into your diet in a healthy way…
If you’re considering adding the lucuma superfood powder to your diet, remember, everything good in moderation…as while super, it is sweet! A little can go a long way (which also helps keep a check on blowing out the budget in fancy superfoods!) Enjoy your good ol’ superfoods and maybe mix things up now and then with a little lucuma gold in your morning beverage alongside your trusty porridge.
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