The Star-Shaped Inca Peanut of the Upper Amazon
Cultivated for over three millennia in the cloud forests of the Peruvian Amazon, the climbing vine Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) produces distinct 6-pointed star-shaped green pods containing edible seeds celebrated as the "Inca Peanut".
1. The Highest Plant-Based Omega-3 Concentration
Cold-pressed virgin Sacha Inchi oil contains one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids of any plant species on Earth:
- 48% to 50% Alpha-Linolenic Acid ($ALA$ - Omega-3).
- 36% Linoleic Acid (Omega-6) with an optimal 1.4:1 ratio that helps balance inflammatory eicosanoids.
- Naturally rich in $\gamma$-Tocopherol and $\delta$-Tocopherol, preventing oxidative rancidity without artificial preservatives.
2. Clinical Cardiovascular Lipid Benefits
Human clinical trials demonstrate that consuming 10 to 15 mL of cold-pressed Sacha Inchi oil daily significantly reduces arterial systolic stiffness and lowers total serum cholesterol.
3. References & Clinical Citations
- Garmendia, F., et al. (2011). Effect of Sacha Inchi oil on the lipid profile of patients with hyperlipidemia. Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública, 28(4), 628-632. [PubMed: 22241359]
- Fanali, C., et al. (2011). Chemical characterization of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) seed oil: Efficiency of cold-pressing extraction. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59(13), 7049-7058. [PubMed: 21627349]
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