benefits of sapodilla fruits

The flavor of sapodilla appeals to almost everyone, and it can best be described as a pear that has been sopping in brown sugar. They are best served fresh and chilled, and then they can be halved or cut into wedgese. It is strong and windresistant and rich in a white, sticky latex. In the tropics level it will grow to 100 feet, but graft cultivars are significantly shorter.

Sapodilla is believed to have originated in the Central American rain forests, probably in Mexico and Belize. It has now spread across the tropical belt and is being commercially grown in a large scale in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia. Sapodilla grows naturally in coastal Yucatan in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. This plant was introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization. The sapodilla tree grows fast and is resistant to the wind and drought hence making it suitable to withstand dry arid regions with scanty rains. However, in order to get a good fruit yield, irrigation is necessary during the summer season.

The sapodilla Fruit is a chewing gum component and also the source of chicle. Fruit may be round to ovalshaped or conical, and 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Small brown downy fruit with orange flesh which has a caramel. Fresh ripen sapodilla is a good source of minerals like potassium, copper, iron and vitamins like folate, niacin and pantothenic acid. These compounds are essential for optimal health as they involve in various metabolic processes in the body as cofactors for the enzymes.

The plant was used as the base for chewing gum from Sapodilla. The flesh with soft brown of the sapodilla tastes a bit like a sweet mix of brown sugar and root beer. Sapota fruit is brown in color with sandy

The juice extracted from the seeds of this fruit is an effective sedative and can be used in treating anxiety and depression. It is also a diuretic and aids in removing stones from internal organs. The fruit is rich in antioxidant polyphenolic compound tannin. Tannins are a complex family of naturallyoccurring polyphenols that neutralize acids by precipitating proteins. Research studies found that tannins have shown to have potential antiinflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects.

A good amount of antioxidant vitamins such as A and C, sapodilla can be consumed on a daily basis. Vitamin A is essential for vision, helps in maintaining a healthy mucus membrane and prevents lung and oral cavity cancers. Vitamin C, on the other hand, helps the body in developing resistance against infectious agents and other harmful free radicals.

Sapodilla helps in limiting conditions such as erosive gastritis, refluxesophagitis, enteritis and irritating bowel disorders. Sapodilla is high calories, 100 g provides 83 calories (almost same as that of calories in sweet potato, and banana). In addition, it is a very good source of dietary fiber (5.6 g/100g), which makes it an excellent bulk laxative. The fiber content helps relieve constipation episodes and help protect the mucous membrane of the colon from cancercausing toxins by firmly binding to them.

These fruits are very rich in the antioxidant polyphenolic compound called tannin. Tannins are naturally occurring organic substances that neutralize acids by precipitating proteins. Studies prove that tannins have potential antiinflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic effects, thus, making sapodilla beneficial in several medicinal applications.

Sapodilla is a good source of dietary fiber, which makes it a bulk laxative. The fiber content in the fruit provides relief in case of constipation and also helps in protecting the mucous membrane of the colon from cancer causing toxins by firmly binding to them.

Choose a smooth fruit with intact skin