Superfruits

I know you have heard of pomegranate, acai, and goji berries, but have you heard of the newest high antioxidant superfruits?

Cupuacu is a fruit gown in the Amazon rainforest and comes from a tree in the cocoa family. The fruit is brown and fuzzy and the size of a melon. A company in Utah has filed an application under "novel foods legislation" to market the concentrate from this fruit. The pulp is white and creamy and supposedly can be used as a substitute for cocoa in chocolate products.

Lulo is a fruit from South America and is a fruit that looks sort of like a tomato but tastes like a tangy pineapple. Expect to see it as a juice concentrate or puree or added to smoothies, ice cream, or baked goods.

Camu Camu come from the Amazon and are like cherries. It will also like show up in concentrate form, much like the acai and goji juices and concentrates.

What about these concentrates? Can they cure all diseases as they claim?

These fruits are indeed high in antioxidants, but I personally prefer to EAT spinach, broccoli, beans, potatoes, blueberries, whole grains, etc. to get my antioxidants instead of taking a "shot" of one of these juices. To my knowledge we have not yet found a cure for cancer or, for that matter, most diseases. We know that a healthy diet is one important tool for prevention of disease, and a diet rich in antioxidants is vital to good health.

Photo of pomegranate seeds courtesy of Swami Stream

Labels: antioxidants, food trends, Tara Gidus

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