What is Tamarillos?
Tamarillo is a small tree or in the family solanaceae . it is originally found in Peru Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is mow cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
The tamarillo tree is small, it is brittle and shallow-rooted, growing to a height of 10 to 18 ft. The leaves are odorous and more or less heart-shaped at the base and ovate, pointed at the apex. The flowers are borne in small, loose clusters near the branch tips. The fruit is oval shape with smooth shiny skin and can be of different colors depending upon the cultivar type. Red tamarillos are more common than orange-yellow varieties. Fully grown fruit are about 6-8 cm in length and 4-6 cm wide, weighing about 100 grams. inside, cut section appears similar to that of in plum-tomatoes. The flesh is juicy, deep in color, sweet yet tangy, flavorful, filled with numerous small flat, circular edible seeds that are slightly larger than in tomatoes.
Health Benefits of Tamarillos
Promotes digestion: Tamarillo contains high dietary fiber that can improve digestion function. Eating tamarillo regularly can help bowel movement and increase the nutrient absorption inside the body.
Relieve constipation: The fiber content in tamarillo can increase bulk on stomach and soften it. Fiber in tamarillo is not only can improve digestion but it can help to relieve uncomfortable feeling due to hard defecation process This will make the stool easier to pass the colon or large intestines.
Prevent cancer: Tamarillo contains high antioxidant level which can protect the body from developing almost all types of cancer. The main antioxidant in tamarillo are the pigment athocyanins, poplyphenolic, flavonoid and chlorogenic acid. Those antioxidant protect all body cells from any damage that caused by free radical infection that leads to DNA mutation. DNA damage is the beginning of the cancer cells development.
Prevent diabetes: Tamarillo contains fiber that can stabilize the blood sugar level within the body and it also a food with low glycemic index that didn’t cause the rise of blood sugar. Tamarillo also contains chlorogenic acid that play important role in delay the onset of diabetes and increase insulin sensitiivity. Consuming tamarillo can significantly help to prevent the development of diabetes especially type 2 diabetes.
Improve vision: Tamarillo is excellent source of caratenoids and Vitamin A. Those may protect the eyes from any damages that caused by external or internal factors. Vitamin A in tamarillo also can maintain and improve healthy vision, it also prevent the eyes from developing cataract and prevent aging on eye that called as macula degeneration.
Increase metabolism: Tamarillo contains various vitamin B complex that are important in maintaining healthy metabolism. Vitamin B complex are the key of several metabolic enzyme which can improve energy production to provide the body cells with sufficient energy.
Lower blood pressure: This amount of potassium can help to maintain normal heart beat and blood pressure. This make tamarillo a great snack for hypertension patients.
Prevent anemia: Tamarillo is completed with iron and it can prevent the body from development anemia since it is the main mineral that is part of the red blood cells. . Anemia is body condition that can cause weakness and several problem to human health. Anemia occur due to lack of red blood cell that responsible in transferring oxygen and nutrients to the all part of the body.
Maintain healthy skin: Due to high of vitamin C, tamarillo can help to keep skin tight, firm, bright and young. Tamarillo also packed with vitamin E that is important in keep skin elasticity. Both vitamin C and vitamin E can promotes the production of collagens within skin tissue and collagen is known as aging fighter.
Reduce cholesterol: Tamarillo contains fiber that can increase the good cholesterol and decrease the level of bad fat or cholesterol within the body. Consuming tamarillo after eating high cholesterol food or along the meal can help you to reduce the effect of cholesterol.
Boost immunity: All the antioxidants and nutrients content of tamarillo can slightly boost immune system. Tamarillo also contains vitamin C that almost same to oranges and vitamin C known as body immune booster. The vitamin C can protect the immune cells and strengthen it to fight disease or microorganism infection.
Rejuvenate cells in the organs: Tamarillo contains protein and amino acids that can promote body cell rejuvenation or production of new cells. This will actually help in repairing any damage that occur in the body including fasten the wound healing on skin area.
Prevent alzheimer and Parkinson disease: Tamarillo contains high antioxidant that can protect the brain cells from damage and keeping healthy nerve function within the brain.
Uses of Tamarillo
- Tamarillo slices used in decorating fruit/green salads.
- It is also popularly used as the acidic ingredient in some dishes
- Its slices served as toppings on cakes, ice creams, sandwiches, etc.
- Its juicy pulp can be pureed and blended to prepare smoothies, sauce, salsa, jams, jellies, etc.
- The sugar content of fresh Tamarillos added to Kombucha can generate a rapid carbon dioxide production in secondary fermentation within just 48–72 hours.