Gaining popularity as a hot superfood, not many know that baobab has been used as food and medicine for centuries for the people of its native – the hot, dry grasslands of Africa. Referred to as ‘the tree of life’, the Baobab tree has a massive trunk with a diameter of about 60 feet. It has a life of 500 or more years. It not only withstands environmental changes but offers support to humans and wildlife in its vicinity.
List of 12 Health Benefits of Baobab Powder
Health and baobab seem to have a great companionship. The natives use almost every part of the massive tree to treat various health conditions. Baobab leaves, bark, and seeds been traditionally used for ages. It is primarily used to treat conditions like microbial infections, fever, malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea, dysentery, anemia, and toothache. The leaves and pulp of the fruit are believed to boost the immune system and reduce fever.
Since the fresh fruit is not accessible to everyone, the most common commercial way to consume baobab is by using its powder. Its oil is also available. It is in a concentrated form due to which it needs to be used sparsely and with caution.
1. Lowers blood pressure
The vital element for each of your heartbeats, potassium, is an important constituent of the fruit. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you flush out of your body. It also helps ease tension in your blood vessels, increasing the blood flow without making your heart pump harder. Lower blood pressure also prevents other cardiovascular risks such as strokes and heart attacks.
2. Gastrointestinal Problems
Baobab powder and fruit have been largely found to help in gastrointestinal troubles for centuries, thanks to the presence of both soluble and insoluble fiber in them. By including it in your daily diet, you can get rid of digestive issues and improve the bacteria levels in your gut. Dietary fiber also helps with regulating blood sugar levels. It keeps the cholesterol levels in check and reducing inflammation in the gut.
3. Anemia Prevention
Baobab, dubbed as a superfood has a high concentration of iron levels. Iron is crucial in binding oxygen to the blood and is a key component of hemoglobin. Haemoglobin, (Hb or Hgb) is the protein that is present in red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and gets carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs to be exhaled out.
Optimum iron levels in the body prevent anaemia, the condition when your heart needs to pump more blood for body tissues because of lack of oxygen. Anemia can even be life-threatening, so it is imperative that you have a diet rich in iron. Baobab powder is excellent in iron content and helps with anemia.
4. Improve bone strength
Calcium and magnesium, the two minerals that are a must for maintaining bone health, are found in baobab fruit. Though its powder has more concentrated levels. Including baobab as a part of your daily dietary regime can save you from bone mineral density loss. It can also prevent conditions such as osteoporosis. People living in Africa’s drier regions, do not have enough access to dairy products. However, baobab fruit pulp which is an exceptional source of dietary calcium comes to the rescue (2). It is a boon especially for pregnant women and children who require calcium more than others.
5. Chronic Diseases
The antioxidants present in baobab absorb free oxygen radical cells and protect them from various chronic diseases. These free cells cause the healthy body cells to mutate and make them prone to chronic diseases such as cancers. Though the body has a mechanism to reduce the impact of these free radicals, including antioxidant-rich foods makes it easier to avoid potential harm. Use baobab regularly to get the maximum benefit of the latest in health – the antioxidants.
6. Great for boosting immunity
We all know a strong immunity is a must to live healthily. And to fight foreign pathogens attacking the body, the first thing that comes to our minds is vitamin C. Including baobab powder in your daily diet will provide your body with optimum vitamin C, among other essential minerals and vitamins, and increase the white blood cells. To stay healthy, and boost your immunity levels, have baobab supplements every day.
7. Benefits for Skin
Healthy, radiant, and glowing skin is everyone’s dream, but most of us suffer from aging, dull skin that is sore to the eyes. The antioxidants in baobab fruit powder help even out wrinkles giving flawless skin. The abundant vitamin C plays a vital role in skin rejuvenation and repair and lends it a beautiful, soft glow. Just include baobab fruit in your daily routine and brace yourself for amazing skin.
Organic oils made out of Baobab helps in skin related problems. The oil protects skin against allergies, wind, sun, and long-standing inflammatory conditions. It also helps skin affected by chapping, and dryness. It also helps in the skin related ailments like dermatitis and eczema. (3)
8. Benefit from anti-inflammatory properties
Baobab had anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it an excellent remedy to treat joint pains and sores, especially arthritis. If you are suffering from pains, aches, injuries, or respiratory conditions caused by internal inflammation, baobab is your go-to fruit. As per a study (4), aqueous bark extract of the fruit was found to possess strong analgesic properties. As the fruit composition improves inflammation, the immune system focuses on eradicating harmful pathogens from your body.
9. Helps maintain optimum sugar levels
Baobab is known to have both soluble and insoluble fiber, and the soluble fiber helps the intestines to absorb less sugar, making it easier for diabetic patients to maintain their blood sugar levels. Soluble fiber also helps reduce dangerous visceral belly fat, just like oats, barley, psyllium, and beans, making baobab an excellent choice for people fighting with high blood sugar levels.
10. Booster for brain health
Baobab contains Vitamin B, the wonder vitamin to make your brain relax and prevent neurological issues arising out of the stress of our fast-paced lives. Other minerals and vitamins present in baobab also help the brain muscles and nerves to relax. It affects the overall nervous system in a positive way. Brain problems such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, etc. can also be treated positively by including baobab fruit powder in your diet.
11. Weight loss
The fruit is rich in polyphenols and dietary fiber. It helps in giving a state of fullness or increase satiety. As per a research (5), it was found to reduce hunger thus helpful in weight management.
12. Acute Dehydration Treatment in Children
A study(6) was done where baobab solution was compared against WHO solution on children with acute diarrhea. These children suffered from dehydration which was mild to moderate. It was found that though the WHO solution was superior but not notable enough. The fruit solution showed additional nutritional advantages.
FAQ on Baobab
What is Baobab?
World’s oldest trees, the Baobab trees can be found grazing the barren lands of Madagascar, Africa, Australia, and other parts of South Asia. The tree belongs to the genus Adansonia, and at times stands a mighty 50 feet in height. The tree gets a lot of attention owing to its size and resilience to the environment. The fruit, known as Baobab, is also believed to have several health benefits.
Baobab fruit dries naturally on the plant and has a similar appearance to a coconut-hard exterior. The baobab fruit looks similar to white marshmallows primarily in its pulp and powder-like substance. It is this powder that is deemed of high nutritional value and is believed to be a superfood. The baobab fruit is edible and has a citrusy flavor. The fruit is loaded with phosphorus, calcium, potassium, proteins, lipids, vitamin C, and fiber, among other minerals. The parts of the tree with primary benefits are –
- Pulp: Antioxidant properties, Vitamin C (40g – 80-100% of daily vitamin c intake)
- Leaves: Calcium, Protein, Antioxidant properties
- Kernels/Seeds: High Lipid Content
What are top Baobab Powder Nutritional Values?
Baobab powder is considered a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamine, carbohydrates, and calcium. The powder also has antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Being a powder, it can be easily incorporated into smoothies, salads, and other foods, and it is also used as a natural preservative.
Baobab leaves contain Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2. The leaves could be used as a vegetable and help people with zinc and iron deficiencies.
The fruit contains notable levels of nutrients that include minerals, protein, and fiber. Organic food is rich in zinc, potassium, fiber, calcium, iron, and magnesium. The level of nutrients in the fruit is significant and is better than bananas, mango, berry or guava. One could take this food to overcome the nutrient deficiency. Above all the price for the fruit is less which makes it even more sought after fruit in Africa(1).
How to use Baobab fruit powder?
If the fresh fruit is not accessible, one can opt for many commercially available powders and oils. Baobab fruit is non-GMO and doesn’t contain gluten, so people allergic to gluten can also consume it safely. The only thing to consider will be that the oils are in concentrated forms so may need to use cautiously.
It is pretty easy to incorporate its powder into your diet. Sprinkle it on your shakes, smoothies, salads, yoghurt, ice-creams, baked goodies, plain or coconut water. It could be practically blended into everything.
What are top Baobab Powder Side Effects?
The FDA recognized the fruit as “GRAS”, i.e. generally safe for daily intake. There are no known side effects of the fruit. However, it is advisable to consult your physician before adding it to your daily diet. Contact a herbalist to determine the correct quantity of fruit you should take.
