Mesquite
NAME
Mesquite
LATIN NAME
Prosopis
ALSO KNOWN AS
Mizquitl
ORIGIN
North America, Mexico.
PARTS USED
Seed pods.
TRADITIONAL HERBAL USES AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Mesquite powder comes from the ripened pods of the algorrobo tree, native to South America. It is a unique blend of proteins, carbohydrates, sugars , minerals and B complex vitamins. It is high in dietary fibre, which it is believed, facilitates, amongst other things, the flattening of the blood sugar curve.
It has a sweet, slightly nutty flavour with a hint of both caramel and molasses. and can provide an ideal addition / ingredient in juices, shakes and all manner of desserts. The cultivation of our organic mesquite benefits the indigenous community in Peru.
Mesquite meal is a traditional Native American food produced by gathering ripened seed-pods from the mesquite tree and grinding them into a fine powder. Used as a staple food for centuries by desert dwellers, this high protein meal contains good quantities of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, and is rich in the amino acid lysine as well. It has a sweet, rich, molasses-like flavor with a hint of caramel which blends well into smoothies or other drinks, especially those made with cacao and maca.
Researchers report that mesquite is highly effective in balancing blood sugar. The natural sweetness in the pods comes from fructose. Fructose doesn't require insulin to be metabolised -- making it safe for those with blood sugar imbalances. The high rate of dietary fibre, pods are 25% fibre, causes the nutrients in mesquite to be absorbed slowly preventing the spikes and valleys in blood sugar. With a low glycemic index of 25, mesquite requires a longer time to digest then many grains. The digestive time for mesquite is to 4 to 6 hours unlike wheat that digests in 1 to 2 hours. These factors result in a food that maintains a constant blood sugar for a sustained time and as a result prevents hunger. Here is a food that supports the diabetic's diet and helps maintain a healthy insulin system in those not affected with blood sugar problem.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORY
Mesquite has been used as a staple food for centuries by Native American desert dwellers, the Mesquite Pods have traditionally been dried and ground into flours or processed into a sweetener or sweet beverage. Desert dwellers have used Mesquite Pods as a staple food for centuries and bartered with them to neighbouring tribes.
CONSTITUENTS
Nutritients(100g):
" Protein 16 g
" Fat 3.4 g
" Energy 380 Calories
" Fibre 36 g
Minerals
" Barium 3.7 mg
" Boron 3.2 mg
" Calcium 520 mg
" Chromium 0.12 mg
" Cobalt 0.03 mg
" Copper 0.8 mg
" Iron 18 mg
" Magnesium 140 mg
" Manganese 2.3 mg
" Molybdenum 0.05 mg
" Phosphorus 215 mg
" Potassium 1712 mg
" Sodium 12 mg
" Sulfur 222 mg
" Zinc 3.0 mg
TYPICAL PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE
Just add 2 dessertspoons of Mesquite Powder to your drink. It will help you stave off hunger for about 4 to 6 hours! You can not 'overdose' as such on this food, so use as much as you feel is needed.
PRECAUTIONS
None known.
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