02 May

Best Passion Fruits for Juicing and How to Choose Them

Passion fruit can be used in many different ways when cooking or canning. One of the most popular is juicing. For veteran juicers, the answers to common questions regarding passion fruits either spring to mind or else already have answers. But for someone looking to just enter the realm of juicing at home with this fruit type, it can be more difficult. Look no farther for answers regarding the best passion fruits for juicing.

Passion Fruit Varieties

Not every passion fruit is the same. Originally, there were two types: the purple and the yellow granadilla, named such due to having been cultivated in South America. Typically, the yellow fruit has a very tart taste that could be termed “acidic.” The purple form can be much sweeter and “subacidic.” Crosses (called hybrids) between the two have been ongoing for quite a number of years and have resulted in some fine varieties, such as the Frederick, Kahuna, Red Rover, Pratt Hybrid, Sevcik Selection, and several others. When it comes down to it, however, the two best passions fruits for juicing are the purple Frederick and the Kahuna. The Frederick tends toward a tart, borderline sour taste that can be citrusy while the Kahuna’s flavor is quite sweet. The final choice is up to the juicer’s taste.

best passion for juicing

Finding the Perfect Fruit

Now that you have a choice between the best fruits for juicing, it’s time to actually find and buy them. Thankfully, some standard grocery stores will have them for sale, as well as specialty stores. They can be ordered online for shipping from producers in the U.S. as well. These fruits can grow year-round in some parts of the world, so finding them is not the issue. Peak harvesting periods come twice a year: once between August and December, and the second time between March and May. The fruit should be round or possibly egg-shaped, 1.5 to 3 inches wide, with a smooth, waxy rind. There should be no weak places or discolored spots in the rind (it can have white spots naturally), as it should remain tough even after it has wrinkled. Because they are the best for juicers to use, they can be expensive. Often spending more for a better product will yield better results.

When Is It Ready?

No matter what type you choose or how much you spend, both purple and yellow granadilla types start out green when they’re first growing. They mature to take on their purple or yellow (or in some cases maroon or mixed) coloration. When the skin darkens and wrinkles, the fruit is ripe and ready to use. It will last in the refrigerator for up to a week once ripened.

01 Apr

Passion Fruit Juice Side Effects

Passion fruit juice has no known severe side effects. However, because it is a fruit juice, it does have some possible side effects that should be taken into consideration when drinking any juice.

It must be kept in mind that passion fruit juice comes from a fruit that naturally contains sugar, so those with blood sugar problems and weight gain concerns should be aware that passion fruit juice side effects can include increased sugar and calorie intake levels. Also, passion fruit juice is high in iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorous. For those who are deficient in these minerals, this is a benefit. If a person has a high concentration of these minerals in their system already, then passion fruit juice would not be beneficial for them.

Passion Fruit Juice Side Effects

 

02 Mar

Health Benefits of Passion Fruit Juice

Passion fruit juice is a bright, refreshing way to get fiber as well as vitamins and minerals and other valuable nutrients. You can purchase prepared passion fruit juice at your local supermarket, or make your own from the raw fruit. Either way, you will have a healthy treat to enjoy with breakfast, or any time you are in the mood for a sweet pick-me-up. Passion fruit juice makes a welcome change from the same old orange juice you have been drinking for years, and it has some additional health benefits that most citrus juices don’t possess.

Vitamins and Minerals Are The Source Of Health Benefits of Passion Fruit Juice

Passion fruit juice is chock-full of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin that passion fruit juice is most known for is vitamin A. One 3-ounce serving of passion fruit juice contains almost 20 percent of your daily recommended allowance of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is instrumental in helping maintain keen eyesight, as well as healthy skin, tissues, cones and teeth.

Passion fruit juice is also a good source of vitamin C. While it doesn’t contain quite as much vitamin C as orange juice, one small 3-ounce serving contains 50 percent of the daily recommended allowance of the vitamin. Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system, as well as helps to heal wounds, repair tissues, blood vessels, and cells, and repair teeth and cartilage.

This juice is a good source of potassium, particularly if you squeeze your own juice from raw passion fruit. Potassium is a key mineral for heart health, nerve health, maintaining healthy kidneys, as well as helps the muscles to contract properly. Potassium is also an electrolyte, meaning that it helps to conduct electricity in the body.

Aside from these nutrients, passion fruit juice is a source of iron, magnesium, phosphorous and copper. Iron is essential for maintaining healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the heart and around the body. Magnesium is an important mineral for the creation and use of proteins and energy. Phosphorous helps to form bones and teeth. Finally, copper plays a role in red blood cell formation, as well as helps to maintain the nerves, blood vessels, bones, and immune system.

Antioxidants

The vitamin A and C in passion fruit juice act as antioxidants. This juice also contains other, additional, antioxidants as well. Together, this collection of antioxidants helps to clear the body of free radicals that can cause damage to skin and tissue cells as well as cause cancer.

Fiber

Passion fruit juice is a good source of fiber, particularly if it is prepared from fresh fruit rather than bought processed from a store. Fiber helps add bulk to the stool, which helps you to pass waste more easily. Fiber also helps to remove cholesterol from your system as well as helps to prevent certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer. Leave the pulp in the juice to take advantage of the high amounts of fiber in the pulp.

Alkaloids

This juice is a good source of alkaloids, such as harman. This alkaloid has anti-spasmotic properties, as well as helps to calm the nerves and lower blood pressure. These alkaloids are the main reason why passion fruit juice is thought to be healthy for those with high blood pressure, and clinical studies back the usefulness of this juice for lowering blood pressure. The sedative properties of the alkaloids are also believed to help you fall asleep naturally, reducing the effects of anxiety and insomnia.

Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids

The phenolic acids ad flavonoids in passion fruit juice may help protect the heart, as well as kill germs.

Anti-Inflammatory Substances

Passion fruit juice has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the symptoms of asthma. In addition, substances in passion fruit juice may block histamine, which is the main cause of allergies. Passion fruit juice may help relieve the symptoms of allergies by preventing nasal swelling as well.

These were the main health benefits of passion fruit juice. If you want them (yes you do! :) ) include passion fruit juice in your diet once in a while. Preferably homemade.

13 Feb

Passion Fruit Nutrition Facts

Passion Fruit Nutrition Facts

Betaine 0 mg
Calcium 0,4 mg
Calories 51 Calories
Carbohydrate 13,6 g
Carotene-a 0 mcg
Carotene-ß 743 mcg
Choline 4 mg
Copper 0,1 mg
Dietary Fiber 0,2 g
Fluoride 0 mcg
Folate 7 mcg
Iron 0,2 mg
Lutein-zeaxanthin 0 mcg
Lycopene  mcg
Magnesium 17 mg
Manganese 0 mg
Niacine 1,5 mg
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) 0 µ mol TE
Pantothenic Acid 0 mg
Phosphorus 13 mg
Phytonutrients 784 mcg
Potassium 278 mg
Protein 0,4 g
Pyridoxine Vit. B6 0,1 mg
Riboflavin Vit. B2 0,1 mg
Selenium 0,1 mcg
Sodium 6 mg
Sugar 13,4 g
Thiamine 0 mg
Total Fat 0,1 g
Vitamin A 717 IU
Vitamin B6 0,1 mg
Vitamin C 29,8 mg
Vitamin E 0 mg
Vitamin K 0,4 mcg
Water 85,6 g
Zinc 0,1 mg