Passion fruit (a.k.a. Passiflora edulis) | Integrative medicine LONG ISLAND | NYC

Passion fruit (a.k.a. Passiflora edulis) is a sweet tropical fruit, with a yellow or dark purple skin, depending on the variety. It is slightly oval in shape and has a slimy yellow flesh which wraps numerous edible and crunchy seedsr
It is a rich source of antioxidants, which effectively destroy cancer cells, and about 13 carotenoids, including zeta, beta and alpha-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin, Vitamins and lycopene. Moreover, this fruit is abundant in B vitamins, vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and protein.
Therefore, it has a plethora of health benefits, such as:

ïIt is abundant in dietary fiber which lowers cholesterol levels, potassium, which protects the heart from an irregular heartbeat and controls the contraction and expansion of heart muscles, and antioxidants, which prevent plaque buildup in the arteries

ïPassion fruit detoxifies the colon and ensures healthy bowel movements

ïIt has been found to prevent and fight Cancer, since it is rich in phytonutrients, like apigenin, luteolin, caffeic acid, and beta carotene, while its seeds are rich in amygdalin and passifloric acid

ïThe high potassium levels regulate blood pressure, balance electrolytes and control muscle function, so its consumption improves heart health

ïPassion fruit contains high amounts of medicinal alkaloids and phytonutrients which relax the nervous system, improve mood, treat depression and anxiety, and improve sleep quality

ïThe high amounts of antioxidants like vitami
A, C and flavonoids improve vision, and protect the eyes from free radicals, while the beta carotene prevents eye damage and eye diseases

ïThe numerous antioxidants in this fruit prevent free radical damage and protect against cancer

ïIt increases the levels of a pigment called hemoglobin in the blood, which transports blood throughout the body

Here’s a fun fact about the digestive system, it has its own nervous system

The digestive process is controlled by the enteric nervous system, which functions independently of the brain but contains some of the same types of neurons and neurotransmitters. In fact, there are so many of these neurons in the gastrointestinal tract that we think there are about as many neurons there as there are in our spinal cord.

Often called the body’s “second brain,” the enteric nervous system is capable of sensing the food you eat, producing hormones like serotonin, and controlling your gut muscles, to name just a couple of its functions. Some of these sensory neurons can even tell the brain when it’s time to lay off the cheese fries. If we are bloated, those neurons can tell us, ‘Hey, this is a distended stomach or distended intestine,’ and it can signal pain or discomfort back up to the brain.

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