05/31/2026
Navidad Part 2
After I was drooped at the door of the homestead I felt this overwhelming feeling of happiness, of peace. It has taken me over 15 years to get up the gumption to return here. I wanted to see if being here gave me that feeling again, and boy does it ever.
I dropped my luggage and started to unlock all the padlocks on the doors to the 2 bedrooms and kitchen. Seeing the kitchen again was heart warming to say the least. I remember back when I first rented it there was no heat source and the owner built me an adobe style wood fired cobb oven....topped with a metal comal....for cooking tortillas and even food in pots. I used it more for heat to sit around at night. I had installed lots of shelving but that is gone now. Sigh. Talk about deja vu!
I started to clean and organize all the rooms, the patio, the bathroom....it took a good day to do it but I then could relax and enjoy it all. 😁
Then it was time to explore the acres of trees, plants and flowers growing to see what I could eat or use as medicine. Just steps from the house was a tunnel 11 ft long and about 5 feet across absolutely covered with Passiflora sp. (yellow fleshed fruit) also known as Maracuya!
On first glance I thought the Passiflora was Incarnata (the type that is used for medicine) but upon further investigation found it to be Edulis f. edulis which is grown for the fruit. While researching Passiflora Edulis I found that all Passifloras have medicinal benefits.
I had problems falling asleep that night as I was so wired and excited. The next day I gathered leaves and flowers, chopped them up and made a strong tea to drink before bed. After 1 hour I had to go lay down as I couldn't keep my eyes open and slept a solid 7 hours!
Each day I looked for ripe fruit to eat but found more on the ground and to be honest, they were riper and had more taste.
Passiflora Edulis ~ P. edulis f. flavicarpa 🪷
Flor de las 5 llagas ~ "Flower of the 5 Wounds" to illustrate the crucifixion of Christ, with other plant components also named after and an emblem in the Passion of Jesus.
Raw passion fruit is 73% water, 22% carbohydrates, 2% protein and 0.7% fat. 100g ~ 97 calories, a rich source (20% or more of our daily value) of Vitamin C (33%) DV and a moderate source (10-19% DV of riboflavin and potassium.
Passiflora edulis offers significant health benefits, including high antioxidants (Vitamin C, polyphenol content, high fiber to support digestion, improved heart health due to low sodium and high potassium levels. It is also linked to improved insulin sensitivity and reduced anxiety, making it a nutrient dense dietary addition.
Key Nutritional and health benefits:
~ Immune system boost: the pulp is rich in Vit C, beta Cryptoxantin (related to Vit A) and Alpha carotene, which strengthens the immune system and protects against infections.
~ High anti-oxidant content: It is rich in polyphenols that reduce cellular stress and inflammation, which may help lower the risk of cancer and heart disease.
~ Heart health and blood pressure: Its high potassium and low sodium content helps regulate blood pressure.
~ Digestive health: High in dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation and promotes gut health.
~ Blood sugar management: Compounds in the seeds, such as piceatannol, may improve insulin sensitivity, supporting healthy blood sugar levels.
~ Calming and sleep: Compounds found in the plant (leaves and fruit) are used in traditional medicine to treat anxiety, insomnia, and nervous stomach due to their mild sedative properties.
Other potential uses: Skin health - Vitamin A and C support healthy, radiant skin.
~ Anti-inflammatory: It is used in traditional medicine for pain relief and reducing joint inflammation.
Well, I know what I will eat more of when i return to Rancho El Pie del Arroyo!
*Stay tuned for part 3
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Passiflora is a highly diverse genus where taxonomic lack of consensus remains. This may be the reason why numerous studies do not specify to the infr…
