10 Proven Health Benefits of Sapodilla

Updated on February 20th, 2020
Benefits of Sapodilla

Sapodilla is one of the sweetest and mouth-watery fruits that has a lot of health benefits. Sapodilla benefits include boosting energy, preventing iron deficiency, strong bones, promoting metabolism, and supporting psychological health. The benefits of sapodilla are researched and proven. The nutritional value of sapodilla is remarkable and mind-blowing. Now it’s time to read the health benefits of sapodilla.

  • Originally native to Mexico and other parts of Central America, sapodilla is now harvested in many parts of the world.
  • The tree can grow to around 30 meters in height, but the average height is between 10 and 15 meters.
  • A tree bears as many as 2,000 fruits/year.

What is Sapodilla and what is its Origin?

Fresh Sapodilla
Image:ShutterStock

Sapodilla is delicious fruit and has its origin in different parts of the globe like India, Central America, Southern Mexico, Caribbean and West Indies where it is usually called as Chiku or Sapota. Sapodilla tree is a tropical evergreen tree that bears the fruit. The sapodilla fruit is an oval-shaped or round berry and pale yellow to brown in color, measuring around 10 centimeters in diameter and weighing 150 grams approximately.

The seeds present inside are shiny and found in the center of the sapodilla fruit. The fruit has grainy and smooth texture with a sweet flavor. The sweet taste is attributed to the presence of sugars like sucrose and fructose that revitalize the body and replenish energy.

The consumption of fruit helps to make your skin glow and reduce the requirement of cosmetic and skin care products to improve your natural skin complexion and texture. Similarly, you will know the great benefits of sapodilla in upcoming passages.

A Brief About the Nutritional Profile of Sapodilla

Sapodilla is a warehouse of nutrients like,

  • Glucose
  • Minerals
  • Vitamins
  • Calories and
  • Tannins

The ripened sapodilla fruit contains an extensive range of minerals like

  • Iron
  • Copper
  • Potassium

Sapodilla is also rich in vitamins such as

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B, and
  • Vitamin E

Being rich in glucose, it is an energy-giving fruit. Lastly, sapodilla is also a great source of protein that is vital for the growth of your body.

10 Sapodilla Benefits That Can Better Your Health

1. For psychological health

Sapodilla can become a delicious way to maintain your mental health. Researches have shown that it contains soothing properties and can relax stressed nerves. The minerals and vitamins present in sapodilla can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression(1).

These anxiety disorders may potentially affect your sleep patterns and result in sleeplessness. Therefore, consuming sweet sapodilla in a day can help maintain your overall psychological health naturally.

2. Benefits during pregnancy

Sapodilla has a high dose of carbohydrates and essential nutrients which is exceptionally beneficial for lactating mothers & pregnant women. Sapodilla helps to reduce weakness and other symptoms of pregnancy such as dizziness and nausea.

3. For eye health

Sapodilla contains a considerable amount of vitamin A. Vitamins A is an essential vitamin for eye health. According to research, vitamin A helps in improving vision even during old age. Sapodilla has potentials to maintain your eyesight, and regular consumption of the fruit can delay macular degeneration. Add vitamin A sapodilla to your diet to improve the condition of your eyes.

4. Anti-inflammatory agent

Sapodilla contains a high content of tannins which makes it an essential anti-inflammatory agent. Sapodilla reduces inflammation by reducing any pain and swelling. It also improves the condition in the digestive tract through the prevention of diseases like gastritis, enteritis, and esophagitis.

5. Boosts Energy

Sapodilla is rich in energy-boosting components that help stay active and alter through the day to perform various tasks. Deep energy levels can affect the quality of your life. Therefore, consuming sapodilla is said to increase your energy levels due to plenty of healthy nutrients found it. A single serving of sapodilla provides the right amount of carbohydrates to boosts your energy.

6. Prevents iron deficiency

Many nutritionists recommend regular consumption of sapodilla as it can help decrease iron deficiency. Chronic fatigue and dizziness are health conditions due to low levels of essential minerals like iron. Consuming sapodilla promotes red blood cells and produces the required levels of hemoglobin effectively.

7. Skin care

Sapodilla contains a wide range of antioxidant properties and nutrient compounds making it perfect in maintaining a youthful and healthy complexion. The sapodilla seed is also used to extract oil to rid off various skin ailments. The fruit contains vitamin E that helps moisturize the skin giving it a healthy glow. The antioxidant properties protect against many telltale signs of aging.

8. Relieves constipation

Sapodilla fruit provides a high amount of dietary fiber (5.6 per 100 grams). Sapodilla contains laxative properties and is regarded as the best bulk laxative. The potent fiber content provides relief from constipation and supports the colon’s membrane by making it resistive to infections. Sapodilla contributes to the overall digestive health and helps relieve many of the common gastrointestinal symptoms that we are familiar with like indigestion and diarrhea.

Sapodilla fruit provides a high amount of dietary fiber (5.6 per 100 grams). Sapodilla contains laxative properties and is regarded as the best bulk laxative. The potent fiber content provides relief from constipation and supports the colon’s membrane by making it resistive to infections. Sapodilla contributes to the overall digestive health and helps relieve many of the common gastrointestinal symptoms that we are familiar with like indigestion and diarrhea.

[Also Read: Treat Constipation Using Natural Remedies]

9. Bone health

Sapodilla contains a variety of essential minerals like manganese, zinc, and calcium which are known to have a positive effect on the bone and muscles.  Calcium deficiency increases the risk of your bones to become weaker and develop common conditions like osteoporosis.

10. As a detoxifying agent

Sapota acts an extraordinary diuretic and thus helps in removing waste materials like excess salts, chemicals, and toxic substances from the body through frequent urination. Sapodilla prevents water retention and edemas by maintaining the water concentration within the body. Moreover, sapodilla is said to be useful when it comes to dissolving kidney stones.

How to Eat Sapodilla?

If you are unfamiliar with the fruit, here are some guided instructions on how to eat sapodilla. The fruit is tasty and sweet, customarily eaten fresh, with the flesh being scooped from the fruit. You can also happily add the fruit to your shakes or juices, or into your oatmeal. Sapodilla is also used as an active ingredient in desserts and fruit cakes.

DIY Sapodilla Remedies

1. For Treating Dandruff and Head Lice

How to do?

  • Wash and dry the sapodilla seeds
  • Make into a fine powder using a grinder
  • Apply the powder directly to your scalp or dust over the head
  • Cover the head with a cloth tightly for 1-2 hours

2. Use as a hair wash

How to do?

  1. Take 40 grams of bark powder and add it to 800 ml of water
  2. Boil the water till it reduces to 500 ml
  3. Use the water for hair wash or as the last rinse

3. Can treat wounds & mouth ulcers

How to do?

  1. Take 3-4 mature sapodilla green leaves and add it to a 600 ml water
  2. Boil the water and reduce it to 300 ml
  3. Filter and leave it to cool down
  4. Use it for mouth gargling as well as washing wounds

DIY Sapodilla Recipe That You Can Make at Home

Sapodilla Milkshake

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of ripe sapodilla, de-seeded, and peeled
  • Half a cup of low-fat cold milk
  • Honey

How to prepare?

  1. Blend the sapodilla fruit along with a cup of milk for 30-40 seconds
  2. Add the remaining milk and honey, and blend for a few seconds.

Serve chilled by adding ice cubes.

Precautions to Keep in Mind While Using Sapodilla

  • Eating unripe sapodilla can cause mouth ulcers, throat irritation and in extreme cases can cause difficulty in breathing.
  • Raw sapodilla fruits have high latex and tannin content making the fruit too bitter to eat.
  • Over-consumption of sapodilla is unhealthy if you are concerned about your weight as it is relatively high in calories.
  • The outer layer of Sapodilla may contain germs and microorganisms, always make sure that your wash before and after eating it

Ancient people had the talent to understand the benefits of fruits like sapodilla and they knew how to use it and when to use it. Similarly, you can also obtain numerous minerals and vitamins by incorporating fresh sapodilla into your diet.

The benefits of sapodilla are well discussed in the above article and will promise to give excellent benefits and will not cause any harm to your body. However, make sure that you read the precautions before using sapodilla.

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