The inga (Inga eats Mart.) is a fruit from the ingazeira tree that provides many health benefits, such as preventing premature aging, facilitating weight loss and combating constipation. These benefits are possible because ingá contains bioactive compounds and nutrients, such as fiber, vitamin C, flavonoids and catechins.
There are different species of ingá, such as ingaí, ingá-mirim, ingá-cipó, ingá-feijão and ingá-de-macaco, which differ mainly in terms of the size of the beans.
Ingá is shaped like a pod, where its seeds are covered by a sweet and juicy white pulp, which can be consumed raw or used in recipes such as juices, cakes, fruit salads, mousses, ice creams and smoothies. Furthermore, ingá can also be used for medicinal purposes, in the preparation of teas or poultices.
Main benefits of ingá
The main health benefits of consuming ingá are:
1. Prevents premature aging
Because it has excellent amounts of antioxidants such as flavonoids, saponins and catechins, ingá combats free radicals, preventing damage to healthy skin cells and thus preventing premature aging, the formation of wrinkles and sagging.
2. Promotes weight loss
Ingá promotes weight loss, because it contains fiber that prolongs satiety and reduces hunger throughout the day, helping to reduce calorie intake in the diet.
However, to lose weight, ingá must be included in a healthy diet along with regular physical activity. Find out how to follow a diet to lose weight.
3. Boosts immunity
With good amounts of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, ingá increases immunity by protecting the body against inflammation, as well as helping to fight infections caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria. Check out other foods that boost immunity.
4. Avoid diabetes
Because it contains fiber, ingá is a fruit that slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, balancing blood glucose levels and thus preventing insulin resistance and diabetes.
5. Helps fight constipation
Ingá helps combat constipation as it has fibers that increase the volume of feces and stimulate natural bowel movements, facilitating evacuation. See more foods recommended for constipation.
6. Prevents cardiovascular diseases
Ingá has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that maintain artery health and prevent the oxidation of fat cells. Thus, ingá helps control the levels of “bad” cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides in the blood, preventing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
7. Fights diarrhea
Tea made with the leaves or stem of the ingá can be recommended to combat diarrhea, because it has bioactive compounds with astringent and anti-inflammatory action, which reduce inflammation and the frequency of bowel movements. Discover other teas recommended for diarrhea.
8. Scar wounds
As it contains flavonoids, tannins and saponins, which are bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and healing properties, the poultice made with the stem or bark of the ingá plant can be used to help heal wounds.
Nutritional information table
The following table contains nutritional information for 100g of fresh ingá pulp:
To obtain all the benefits of ingá, this fruit must be part of a healthy and varied diet, associated with regular physical activity.
If you want to know how to include ingá in your diet, make an appointment with a nutritionist in the region closest to you:
Taking care of your health has never been easier!
How to consume
Ingá pulp can be consumed raw, or used in preparations such as juices, cakes, mousses and vitamins. Furthermore, ingá can also be used for medicinal purposes, in the preparation of teas or poultices.
- Inga tea: to make this tea, simply place 1 cup (of coffee) of chopped ingá stem peels and 1 liter of water in a pan and bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Wait for it to cool, strain and drink 2 to 3 cups (of tea) per day to help treat diarrhea;
- Inga poultice: After preparing the ingá tea, soak a cotton pad or gauze in the tea and apply it to the clean wounds. Keep the compress in place for 10 minutes.
The use of ingá in teas or poultices should only be done under the guidance of a doctor or herbalist, as the safety and long-term side effects when this fruit is used for medicinal purposes are not yet known.
Healthy recipes with ingá
Some healthy recipes with ingá are juice and cake.
1. Inga juice
Ingredients:
- 1 ingá bean;
- Honey or sweetener to taste;
- 500 ml of filtered or boiled water.
- Ice to taste.
Preparation mode:
Open the ingá bean and remove the pulp. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 2 minutes or until a homogeneous mixture forms. Strain the drink with a sieve, transfer to a glass and serve immediately.
2. Inga cake
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs;
- 1 spoon of chemical baking powder;
- 2 cups (tea) of wheat flour;
- 1 glass (200 ml) of ingá juice;
- 1/2 cup (tea) brown sugar;
- 200 ml of milk or vegetable drink;
- 1 tablespoon butter.
Preparation mode:
Preheat the oven to 180 ºC. In a bowl, beat the eggs with a mixer or whisk. Add the butter and sugar and beat until a very homogeneous mixture is formed. Add the milk and beat for another minute. Add the ingá pulp and mix gently with a spoon.
Add the wheat flour and yeast to the dough and mix with a spoon or spatula. Transfer the dough to a greased pan and place in the oven to bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Wait for it to cool and serve.
