10 Health Benefits of Mamey Fruit | Diving into a famous Fruit  across Latin America

10 Health Benefits of Mamey Fruit. Diving into a famous Fruit  across Latin America

Also known by its scientific name “Mamey Sapote”, It is a type of tree found throughout Mexico and Central America. It produces large fruit with a soft, creamy texture, and unique flavor that’s often compared to sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and apricots.

In addition to being delicious and easy to enjoy, this tropical fruit is incredibly nutritious and may be associated with several potential health benefits. 

In this article, we will explore how to eat this fruit,  traditional uses and medicinal properties of this exotic fruit, uncovering the secrets behind its popularity in traditional cuisine and healing practices.

Eating Mamey Fruit

Storing: Fruit that isn’t perfectly ripe should be kept at room temperature until it is soft and the flesh is deep orange underneath the skin. Ripe mamey sapote should be eaten as soon as possible for best texture and flavor, but a ripe fruit can be kept in the refrigerator for several days.

Cooking: If you’re lucky enough to find fresh mamey, eat it fresh by cutting it in half, removing the large seed, and scooping out the flesh with a spoon. The fresh fruit can also be added in chunks to smoothies, or juiced along with other fruit.

Caribbean cuisines, especially Cuban, make extensive use of mamey fruit. The batido de mamey, a traditional Cuban milkshake, is especially popular and can be made with fresh or frozen mamey fruit. In baked goods, the mamey can replace bananas for a different flavor in muffins and quick breads. Mamey also lends itself well to flans and other custardy desserts like this bread pudding. The fruit’s richness and creamy texture also makes it a great candidate for raw desserts, like this refreshing raw custard.

Mamey sapote can be used in savory foods as well: It brings a sweet element to creamy salad dressings and sauces for roasted and grilled food. It can even make an unconventional, substantial meat substitute in vegan cooking.

Preserving: Mamey sapote can be scooped out, pulped, and frozen for several months. Mamey can also be combined with other fruits and made into a jam.

Traditional uses of Mamey Fruit

This fruit can be added to smoothies, ice creams, desserts, or juices,  and you can enjoy them on those packaging sizes that Delifood offers:

1. Fruit pulp Carafe: 1,89L
2. Refrigerated Fruit: 454 G
3. Frozen Fruit Bucket: 20Kg

In addition to this, The mamey sapote fruit has a rich history of traditional uses across various cultures. Some of the traditional uses include:

1. Culinary Purposes: Mamey sapote fruit is commonly used in culinary dishes across Latin America, where it is enjoyed fresh, blended into smoothies, used as a topping for desserts, or incorporated into jams, ice creams, and baked goods.
2. Medicinal Uses: In traditional medicine, mamey sapote has been used to treat digestive issues such as constipation and indigestion due to its high fiber content. It has also been used to alleviate symptoms of respiratory conditions like coughs and bronchitis.
3. Skin Care: Mamey sapote oil, extracted from the fruit seeds, is used in traditional skincare routines. It is believed to have moisturizing and nourishing properties that can help improve skin texture and appearance
4. Hair Care: Similarly, mamey sapote oil is also used in traditional hair care practices. It is applied topically to the hair and scalp to condition, strengthen, and promote healthy hair growth.
5. Cultural and Ritual Uses: In some cultures, mamey sapote fruit holds cultural significance and may be used in rituals, ceremonies, or as offerings to deities or spirits.

Health Benefits of Mamey Fruit

Mamey Sapote fruit offers a range of health benefits due to its nutrient – rich composition. Some of the key health benefits include: 

1. Rich in nutrients: This fruit is packed with essential nutrients including vitamins A, C and E, as well as potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber, all of which are important for overall health and well-being.

One cup (175 grams) of raw mamey fruit provides

• Calories: 217
• Protein: 2.5 grams
• Fat: 1 gram
• Carbs: 56 grams
• Fiber: 9.5 grams
• Vitamin B6: 74% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin C: 45% of the DV
• Copper: 41% of the DV
• Vitamin E: 25% of the DV
• Potassium: 17% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 16% of the DV
• Niacin: 16% of the DV
• Manganese: 16% of the DV
• Pantothenic acid: 14% of the D

2. Digestive Health: The high fiber content of mamey sapote promotes healthy digestion by preventing constipation, improving bowel regularity and supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Plus, following a high fiber diet may protect against other issues like hemorrhoids or diverticulitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the small pouches in the lining of the digestive tract
3. Improves immunity: The vitamin c in this fruit helps enhance the body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses. In fact, research shows that vitamin C can improve immunity by reducing inflammation, neutralizing harmful free radicals, strengthening the barrier of the digestive tract, and promoting the production of immune cells
4. Helps keep the skin healthy: Due to its rich nutritional content, mamey fruit can supply many of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your body needs to keep your skin glowing and smooth. It’s especially high in vitamin C, which stimulates the synthesis of collagen, a type of protein that promotes skin elasticity and slows signs of aging. 

Vitamin C may also promote wound healing, reduce inflammation, and protect against ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage. Additionally, mamey fruit is a great source of vitamin E, a micronutrient commonly featured in skin care products due to its antioxidant content. Vitamin E is often used to speed wound healing, reduce acne, and treat conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

5. Weight management: The fiber content in mamey sapote helps promote feelings of fullness and satiety, which can help in weight management by reducing calorie intake and preventing overeating 
6. May enhance heart health: With plenty of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants in each serving, mamey fruit can have a powerful effect on heart health.

Fiber is especially beneficial. It may significantly reduce cholesterol levels, a key risk factor for heart disease.

What’s more, a review of 18 studies found that eating more fiber — especially fiber from fruits — may be linked to a lower chance of developing heart disease. Potassium, another mineral found in mamey fruit, also helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure levels.

In conclusion, mamey fruit stands out as a versatile fruit across Latin America, offering a variety of health benefits and culinary uses. From its rich nutrient profile, including vitamins A and C, to its fiber content and antioxidant properties, mamey fruit contributes to overall health and well-being.

Additionally, its deliciously sweet and creamy flesh makes it a popular ingredient in various dishes, desserts, and beverages. Whether enjoyed fresh, blended into smoothies, or incorporated into savory recipes, mamey fruit provides a unique and flavorful addition to any diet. Embracing the main health benefits and culinary uses of mamey fruit allows individuals to explore the vibrant flavors and nutritional benefits of this iconic fruit from Latin America.