Meet the Baobab Tree!

The Baobab is a magnificent tree that grows wild in the African Savanna, an ecosystem with one of the harshest climates in the world. Revered as “The Tree of Life” by rural communities in Sub-Saharan regions, the Baobab serves as a place for gatherings and a source of food and medicine. No other African tree is shrouded in more myths and legends than the Baobab. They sometimes live for thousands of years becoming massive in size and concentrating nutrients essential for longevity.

Many of us are familiar with the Baobab tree from our favorite childhood book, The Little Prince, the movie Madagascar, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but there is so much more to love about the Baobab tree and its magical fruit.

Baobab fruit is a nutrient powerhouse. 

Baobab trees produce fruit pods packed with seeds that are pressed for oil and an incredibly nutrient-dense fruit powder that is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals. The fruit powder is rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and prebiotic fiber. It’s no wonder that the Baobab is known as “Nature’s Pharmacy Tree.” The fruit powder dries in the pod while still on the tree, tastes sweet and tangy, and is considered a raw ingredient. It’s as pure and tasty as it gets! 

Traditional uses of Baobab. 

Traditional healers in rural communities use the Baobab leaves, bark, and fruit for nourishment and medicinal purposes. The bark is used to alleviate colds, fevers, and influenza. The leaves are used to treat fever, kidney and bladder diseases, as well as asthma and diarrhea. The fruit powder is used to treat fever and alleviate pain, diarrhea, dysentery, smallpox, measles, and cough. [1]

Baobab, the Hadza hunter-gatherers, and gut health.

The Hadza tribe of Tanzania, often referred to as the “last true hunter-gatherers in the world,” include Baobab powder as a key part of their diet. Recent studies have shown that the Hadza have an exceptionally healthy and diverse gut microbiome — far superior to the U.S. and European populations studied. [2] It turns out that wild plants, both terrestrial and marine, are rich in bioactive nutrients that support and replenish the human gut microbiome. The harsh natural environment in which these ancient wild plants grow causes them to have incredibly high nutrient density and therefore powerful health benefits. 

Baobab for modern wellness. 

Incorporating Baobab and other wild plants into our modern lifestyle offers us the ability to strengthen our own resilience in a decreasingly biodiverse world that contributes to many of today’s health problems.

Studies show that Baobab fruit powder improves the glycemic response and supports a diverse gut microbiome. [2,3] These benefits make Baobab a powerful food to include on a daily basis in the prevention of conditions associated with our western lifestyles such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, digestive problems, and cardiovascular disease.

Baobab is rich in prebiotic fiber.

Increasingly we learn about the health benefits of a plant-based diet and how the prebiotic fiber in fruit and vegetables promotes diversity of the gut microbiome. Baobab is exceptionally rich in prebiotic fiber, a soluble indigestible fiber that, through a process of fermentation in the gut, promotes a healthy gut microflora. 

Research shows that Baobab powder increases beneficial bacteria Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. While you’ve probably heard of probiotics and taken them after a course of antibiotics, these powerful microbiota actually play a crucial role in every aspect of our health. They produce essential B vitamins and calm neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin. This helps to optimize nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body, which supports good digestive health and a robust immune system.

Baobab is a source of potent polyphenols.

In addition to prebiotic fiber, Baobab powder is an excellent source of polyphenols. Plants concentrate polyphenols as a defense against UV radiation and infection. In our body, polyphenols have far-reaching effects with antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and anti-inflammatory benefits. 

The biological activity of polyphenols is determined by gut microbiota which convert them into metabolites absorbed through the gut barrier. These metabolites act as powerful antioxidants and counter the damaging effects of excessive free radicals that result from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress accelerates aging and promotes the development of chronic disease.

Baobab includes both prebiotic fiber and a high concentration of polyphenols. A single helping of nutrient-dense Baobab powder includes six times the amount of polyphenol antioxidants found in berries which is another reason to toss a tablespoon or two into your smoothie and keep those free radicals in check! [5]

Baobab is low-glycemic.

It’s a good idea to pay attention to your blood sugar even if you are not diabetic. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels throughout the day helps keep your energy up and your mood balanced. Eating low glycemic foods that take longer to digest such as fiber-rich Baobab powder is a great way to support stable blood sugar levels. 

Baobab supports healthy weight management.

A daily dose of Baobab promotes the feeling of fullness and reduces the absorption of fats from our diet. [6] In addition, studies indicate that good gut health improves weight and reduces depression and anxiety which affect appetite, energy levels, and efficiency.

Baobab benefits the skin from within.

Baobab has six times the vitamin C of an orange by weight. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that increases collagen and elastin production, the proteins that keep your skin supple and youthful. [7] While a balanced gut microbiome is good for your digestion it’s also great for your skin as observed in the latest research that connects gut and skin health. [8] Polyphenols reduce inflammation and oxidative stress that come from sun exposure and blue light radiation from mobile phones and computers. [9]

Baobab for calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

The nutrient profile of Baobab is truly mind-blowing and is a great source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. In fact, Baobab has four times the potassium of a banana, two times the calcium of equal amounts of milk, and four times the magnesium of an avocado. Every cell in your body needs these minerals to regulate heartbeat, relax blood vessels, and promote normal blood pressure. Baobab is also great for performance and recovery in athletes. 

Now that you know why Baobab trees have been revered for centuries and its fruit is considered the “Queen of Superfruits,” here’s to your great health!

References:

1. Herbal gram The Journal of the American Botanical Council, Number 108 | November 2015 – January 2016.
2. Foltz M, Zahradnik AC, Van den Abbeele P, Ghyselinck J, Marzorati M. A Pectin-Rich, Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder Exerts Prebiotic Potential on the Human Gut Microbiome In Vitro. Microorganisms. 2021 Sep 17;9(9):1981. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091981. PMID: 34576876; PMCID: PMC8467054.
3. Coe SA, Clegg M, Armengol M, Ryan L. The polyphenol-rich baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) reduces starch digestion and glycemic response in humans. Nutr Res. 2013 Nov;33(11):888-96. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.08.002. Epub 2013 Sep 9. PMID: 24176228.
4. Garvey R, Clegg M, Coe S. The acute effects of baobab fruit ( Adansonia digitata) on satiety in healthy adults. Nutr Health. 2017 Jun;23(2):83-86. DOI: 10.1177/0260106017704361. Epub 2017 Apr 17. PMID: 28413912.
5. Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhourigan JD, Nout MJ, Van Boekel MA. Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Mar;49(3):254-74. DOI: 10.1080/10408390701856330. PMID: 19093269.
6. Garvey R, Clegg M, Coe S. The acute effects of baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata) on satiety in healthy adults. Nutr Health. 2017 Jun; 23(2):83-86. DOI: 10.1177/0260106017704361. Epub 2017 Apr 17. PMID: 28413912.
7. Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhourigan JD, Nout MJ, Van Boekel MA. Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Mar;49(3):254-74. DOI: 10.1080/10408390701856330. PMID: 19093269.
8. Mahmud MR, Akter S, Tamanna SK, Mazumder L, Esti IZ, Banerjee S, Akter S, Hasan MR, Acharjee M, Hossain MS, Pirttilä AM. Impact of gut microbiome on skin health: gut-skin axis observed through the lenses of therapeutics and skin diseases. Gut Microbes 2022. Jan-Dec;14(1):2096995. DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2096995. PMID: 35866234; PMCID: PMC9311318.
9. Dong K, Goyarts EC, Pelle E, Trivero J, Pernodet N. Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and creates damage in skin cells. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Dec;41(6):558-562. DOI: 10.1111/ics.12572. PMID: 31418890.