Re: lucuma - any experience/information?

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol

Thank you so much for taking the time to look into this and replying. Having

re-read all of the links that I attached, I found the following (to address the

points you made):

1. you pointed out that lucuma has milky sap, also referred to as latex.

Firstly, the place where we found this reference is:

http://herbalguides.com/guides/lucuma

and it states:

" The pulp (mesocarpium) has a particular flavor and aroma, very pleasant,

bright-yellow colored, firm, dry, mealy, very sweet but permeated with latex

until almost overripe. "

and

" The immature fruit contains a bitter white latex. When the fruits fall from the

tree, they are still unripe. It has to be stored in hay or other dry material

until soft.

An unusual advantage is that the fruit, when ripe, can be dried and milled into

a mealy flour. "

So, while it does contain a milky sap/latex, it does not seem to persist when

the fruit is ripe, and it is only when ripe that it seems to yield a suitable

material to be ground into powder.

Also on this point, other fruits also contain latex, for example, mango and

papaya:

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_papaya.htm

2. you stated that lucuma contains sucrose, which, as a stand-alone ingredient,

is illegal. However, the sucrose mentioned is listed as a naturally occurring

ingredient in the fruit, along with glucose, fructose and inositol. Here's the

link and the quote:

http://herbalguides.com/guides/lucuma

" The sugars present in the pulp of Pouteria lucuma (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze are

glucose, fructose, sucrose, and inositol. In the green fruit only sucrose can be

detected but as maturation takes place, the amount of glucose and fructose

raises, and inositol can then be detected. The amount present in 100 g pulp of

dry, mature fruit is as follows: glucose 8.4 g, fructose 4.7 g, sucrose 1.7 g,

and inositol 0.06 g. "

Sucrose occurs naturally in many foods, including honey, fruits, vegetables, and

even nuts and seeds - I'm using Wikipedia and eHow as my sources -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5511133_food-sucrose-found.html

3. you wrote: You do not know if any processing aids

(not required on label or disclosed) were used.

So true! Unfortunately, this also applies to anything I buy that I don't make

from scratch myself - cheese (ah, the heady days when I could still eat it),

honey, ground almonds, baking soda, wine, frozen vegetables, coconut products,

preservative and vitamin derivatives, etc, etc! It is very crazy-making!

4. you also wrote that you found an entry in Hortus Third, but that the main

point seemed to be with regard to the latex. There is also a tiny bit more

information on the internet if you google Pouteria lucuma.

SO, given the above, what are your thoughts? I do not see a really clear-cut

answer. Sorry to persist with this, but its really great to be able to discuss

this with others so knowledgable in the ways of SCD.

Licia

colitis/SCD Feb 2006

no meds since July 2006

>

>

>

> <snip> Lúcuma's posh title is lúcuma obovata or pouteria obovata. The tree

> is long lived, evergreen, and belongs to the Sapotaceae family -- so it's

> similar to the canistel and sapote. irst certified organic importers of

> lúcuma. Lúcuma's posh title is lúcuma obovata or pouteria obovata. The tree

> is long lived, evergreen, and belongs to the Sapotaceae family -- so it's

> similar to the canistel and sapote.

>

>

>

> Carol's notes: Pouteria (Lucuma) is a member of the Sapotaceae family and

> hence has milky sap. The sap is described as `latex' in Hortus Third. I

> could not find any info on the particular species (obovata) nor any info on

> the fruit, other than what is described on the Lucuma website.

>

> I would not recommend this product. You do not know if any processing aids

> (not required on label or disclosed) were used. Plus, the product lists

> sucrose which is illegal.

>

> <snip> In addition Lucuma has various types of sugar:

> in 100g of dry pulp you find

> 8.4g of glucose, fructose 4.7g, sucrose 1.7g and inostol 0.06g.

>

> So, intriguing as it sounds it does not appear to be legal.

>

> Carol

>

> CD 22 yrs SCD 5 yrs

>

>

>

> From: BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf

> Of Licia

>

> has anyone heard of lucuma? here are 2 links that explain some aspects of

> it. I haven't been able to find any information regarding its saccharide

> content, but so far it sounds legal. its supposed to have a maple syrup-like

> taste and be excellent in ice cream!

>

> http://www.detoxyourworld.com/acatalog/lucuma.html

> http://herbalguides.com/guides/lucuma

>