Q Brain-Booster : A Super Fruit : The Magic of PEPINO

Talking about unique and rare fruits, Pepino is one of them. I bet it sounds a little bit unfamiliar to some of you, guys. This precious fruit was found a lot in Indonesia, for REAL! Well, KEy proudly presents an article about some cool facts of Pepino itself.

Before we’re going too far getting engaged with this fruit, it’s better for you all to know each other here :

Solanum muricatum is a species of evergreen shrub native to South America and grown for its sweet edible fruit.

It is known as pepino dulce (“sweet pepino” in English, in order to differentiate it from cucumber which is also called “pepino” in Spanish) or simply pepino; the latter is also used for similar species such as “S. mucronatum” (which actually seems to belong in the related genus Lycianthes). The pepino dulce fruit resembles a melon (Cucumis melo) in color, and its flavor recalls a succulent mixture of honeydew and cucumber, and thus it is also sometimes called pepino melon or melon pear, but pepinos are only very distantly related to melons and pears. Another common name, “tree melon”, is more often used for the Papaya (Carica papaya) and the pepino dulce plant does generally not look much like a tree. The present species is, however, a close relative of other nightshades cultivated for their fruit, including the tomato (S. lycopersicum) and the eggplant (S. melongena), which its own fruit closely resembles.

Source : wikipedia

Nutritional Facts on Pepino Melons

The pepino melon is an exotic fruit that makes a rare appearance between the months of February and May. While it is called a melon, the pepino melon is a berry that falls into the nightshade family of fruits and vegetables. The pepino tastes like a cross between a pear and a banana, and is entirely edible, including skin and seeds. Like other fruits, it is low in calories and high in fiber.

Calories

Pepino melons make a low-calorie fruit choice. One medium pepino, about 3.5 ounces, contains 80 calories. As a low-calorie fruit, the pepino melon helps fill you up without sabotaging your calorie intake, making it a good choice for people watching their calories to maintain or lose weight.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are the components in food found in the largest quantities, and they include carbohydrates, protein and fat. They are also the components in food that make up its calorie content. All of the calories in the pepino melon come from its carbohydrate content. One medium pepino melon contains 22 grams of carbohydrates and 0 grams of protein or fat. Carbohydrates are the macronutrient your body needs in the largest amount, according to the McKinley Health Center. The carbohydrates in the pepino melon are broken down into glucose during digestion, and they are used as your body’s preferred source of fuel. Ideally, carbohydrates should make up 45 to 65 percent of your daily calorie intake. So, on a 2,000-calorie diet, that means about 225 to 325 grams of carbs a day.

Fiber

Pepino melons are good source of fiber. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate your body does not digest. One medium pepino melon contains 5 grams of fiber. Adults need 20 to 37 grams of fiber a day. The fiber in the melon slows digestion, helping you feel full longer, which also helps with weight control. The fiber also adds bulk to your stool and softens it, making it easier for you to have a bowel movement. It also helps clear waste out of your body. In addition, consuming more fiber lowers your risk of both heart disease and diabetes.

Sodium

Like most other fruits, the pepino melon is sodium-free. Decreasing your daily intake of sodium lowers your blood pressure and reduces your risk of developing illnesses related to high blood pressure, such as heart disease and kidney disease. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that you limit your intake of sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams a day. If you already have high blood pressure or you are over the age of 50, you should limit your sodium intake to less than 1,500 milligrams a day.

 

Source : livestrong.com 

Alternative source : http://paulhaider.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/health-benefits-of-pepino-melon-the-super-fruit/ 

Phew! That was a long script of information about this magnificent fruit. Hope you guys enjoy it! Well, see you in the next articles ^^v