Bunchosia argentea, originated in South America is the peanut butter fruit. The dark-red to dark-orange fruit is the size of a quail egg and needs to be picked every day as they spoil quickly on the tree.
They can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or can be separated from the seed and frozen.
The skin is very tender with rich, sweet flesh that has a texture very similar to peanut butter or a sweet potato.
Mostly eaten fresh, it is used for jellies, jams, or preserves. As a protein-rich food, when you eat peanut butter fruit you feel fuller for longer.
Fruits like peanut butter fruit are low in calories and fat and are a source of simple sugars, fiber, and vitamins, which are essential for optimizing our health.
Fruit’s health benefiting properties are because of their richness in vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients, anti-oxidants, which helps the body prevent or at least prolong the natural changes of aging by protecting and rejuvenating cells, tissues and organs.
Eating a diet rich in some fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.
Dietary fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease.
Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells.
Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should consume adequate folate from foods, and in addition 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid from fortified foods or supplements.
This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during foetal development.
Fruits are important to be a part of the diet, some we may know off others we are not familiar with, but nevertheless, fruits should be consumed on a daily basis.