Home » Blog » Cupuaçu can be used in delicious recipes and offers many health benefits

Cupuaçu can be used in delicious recipes and offers many health benefits

With a creamy white pulp, cupuaçu is a fruit with an exotic flavor, used, in general, more in the preparation of juices, ice cream, jellies, pies, etc., than consumed in its natural form (although this is also an option).

Paula Crook, nutritionist at Patrícia Bertolucci Consultoria em Nutrição, comments that cupuaçu originates from the Amazon and belongs to the cocoa family. “Its pulp takes up approximately one-third of the fruit,” she says.

The nutritionist highlights that cupuaçu can be considered a medicinal plant, as it helps to strengthen the body, increasing its ability to fight diseases. “It also has an energetic effect, but without caffeine (it is one of the few plants in the cocoa family with this characteristic)”, she says.

In the cosmetics industry, cupuaçu also stands out, being found in body moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners and hair masks.

Cupuaçu benefits and properties

Cupuaçu is considered a powerful fruit and stands out for having:

  • Polyphenols (phytonutrients with antioxidant properties)
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Fatty acids
  • amino acids
  • Phosphor
  • Fiber
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B2
  • Vitamin B3

In this way, the fruit can help protect the body from various problems. Among some of its benefits are:

  • Strengthening immunity;
  • Strengthening the cardiovascular system;
  • Reduction of bad cholesterol and maintenance of good cholesterol;
  • Prevention of premature aging;
  • Improves the functioning of the digestive system;
  • Aid in the control of blood pressure;
  • Aid in weight loss when associated with a balanced diet (since its antioxidant properties decrease the inflammatory process of the body, helping in the loss of body fat);
  • Improves skin and hair health.

It is worth mentioning that such benefits are achieved when the consumption of the fruit happens with a certain frequency and in adequate amounts (preferably indicated by a doctor or nutritionist).

How to consume, recipes and tips

“With a sour taste, but quite mild, cupuaçu can be used to make juices, jellies, mousses, sweets, wines, ice creams and liqueurs, in addition to being consumed in its natural form”, emphasizes Paula.

Read Also:  Powder sunscreen: what it is, how to use it and which brands are the best

Cupuaçu has 49 kcal in 100g, making it an ideal fruit for weight loss diets, as Paula points out.

“In addition, it is an extremely rich fruit in antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals, highly reactive molecules and fragments of molecules that can damage the body at the cellular level, leaving the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease and various other degenerative diseases, including inflammation. of adipose tissue and production of substances that favor body weight gain. In other words, cupuaçu reduces the inflammatory process of the body, helping to lose body fat”, explains the nutritionist.

Cupuaçu fibers also improve intestinal functioning, as Paula emphasizes.

With so many benefits that cupuaçu offers to health and due to the exotic flavor, it is possible that you will want to include the fruit in your diet. Check out some recipes below:

1. Functional cupuaçu cream (recipe Dr. Paula Crook): 4 cupuaçu pulps + 1 and 1/2 cup (tea) of softened green banana biomass + 1/2 cup (tea) of coconut milk + 1/2 cup (tea) of coconut or demerara or brown sugar. Blend everything in a blender and serve.

2. Açaí cream with cupuaçu (recipe from Dr. Paula Crook): 1 açaí pulp + 1 cupuaçu pulp + 1 banana + 3 tablespoons of coconut or demerara or brown sugar. Blend everything in a blender and serve.

3. Cupuaçu cream: in a blender, blend 1kg of cupuaçu pulp + 1 can of condensed milk + 1 box of cream. Place in a refractory and take it to the freezer until hard.

4. Cupuaçu mousse: blend 1.5 cans of condensed milk + 1.5 boxes of whey-free cream + 500 g of cupuaçu pulp in a blender. Dissolve 10g of colorless, unflavored gelatin in 5 tablespoons of warm water and add to the other ingredients. Pour the cream into individual bowls or molds and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

5. Cupuaçu juice: put 2 cups of water + 3 tablespoons of cupuaçu pulp + sugar or sweetener to taste in a blender. Serve with ice cubes.

Read Also:  30 photos of blue front lock for a stylish look

6. Cupuaçu in the bowl: add 400g of cupuaçu + 2 bananas + 5 tablespoons of guarana syrup to the blender. Beat until you form a homogeneous cream. Serve in a bowl and sprinkle with granola.

7. Cupuaçu vitamin: beat 300ml of iced milk + 200g of iced cupuaçu pulp. If you prefer, use lactose-free milk. Other fruit can be added.

8. Cupuaçu cake: mix 3 cups of sugar + 250g of margarine until incorporated. Then add 4 eggs + 4 cups of wheat + 1 small spoon of yeast. Add 200g of cupuaçu + 1 glass of whole milk (in the form of juice) little by little until the dough is homogeneous. Bake in a greased pan for approximately 45 minutes.

9. Cupuaçu pudding: put 1 can of condensed milk + 2 eggs + 2 tablespoons of cornstarch + 300gr of cupuaçu to the blender. After mixing the ingredients, caramelize the entire mold with sugar, pouring the mixture into the mold and placing it in a bain-marie for about 30 minutes.

It is worth noting that those who follow a weight loss diet and/or intend to consume cupuaçu frequently should opt for more functional recipes that do not use sugar (or use sugars considered healthier, such as brown, demerara or coconut).

Cupuaçu butter: benefits for skin and hair

Cupuaçu acts as an excellent product for the skin and hair. It is not by chance that it is part of the formulations of different cosmetic products, such as shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, body moisturizers, etc.

As Denise Finamori, beautician at Crystal Hair, explains, cupuaçu is available for sale as cupuaçu butter, oil and in body creams. “For those who have dry skin, it is great to be used on the face. In the rest, legs and arms,” she says.

Nutritionist Paula recalls that cupuaçu is an ally of skin care as it is rich in antioxidants, which neutralize the effects of free radicals, helping to combat premature aging of the skin and also protecting against the effects of sun rays.

Read Also:  How to remove false nails: 5 effective methods to remove them correctly

Cupuaçu butter, in particular, has a soft, creamy and smooth texture, and is the best-known way to enjoy the benefits of the fruit for the skin and hair.

“Cupuaçu butter deeply moisturizes the hair, giving it shine and softness. I recommend using it in hair creams and masks, leaving it on the hair for about five minutes”, says beautician Denise.

On the skin, cupuaçu butter, when used correctly, helps to:

  • Delay the premature aging of the skin;
  • Increase elasticity;
  • Hydrate;
  • Combat the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays;
  • Reduce the appearance of wrinkles;
  • Soothe some skin irritations.

In several beauty salons it is still possible to find treatments, both for the skin and for the hair, which have cupuaçu as an ingredient.

Are there any contraindications?

Nutritionist Paula explains that there is no contraindication for the consumption of cupuaçu. “We can consume the fruit pulp in the form of juices, creams, ice creams, etc.”, she says. “However, no food should be consumed in excess,” she recalls.

For those who want to enjoy all the benefits of the fruit, the ideal is to consume it under the guidance of a nutritionist – who will indicate quantities and also the best ways of consumption.

Cupuaçu butter also does not pose any risks when used on the skin or hair, but the most recommended thing is to have the guidance of a dermatologist to indicate the best way to use it, to ensure really significant results.

It is also worth remembering that those who have oily skin, in particular, should not apply butter on their face.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Twin Flame?

Answer just a few simple questions and Psychic Jane will draw a picture of your twin flame in breathtaking detail:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Los campos marcados con un asterisco son obligatorios *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.