In this article, we will give information about the Custard Apple Fruit Benefits. Knowing the benefits of Custard Apple fruit, you will eat Custard Apple and here we will tell you about the side effects of Custard Apple apart from the benefits of Custard Apple, so read this article till the end for information about Custard Apple fruit.
Custard apple is a creamy-textured sweet tropical fruit. The custard apple, also known as sitaphal, is high in fiber, antioxidants, and a strong source of vitamin C. It’s high in nutrients that can help with immunity, and digestion.
The flesh is sweet and gritty, with huge black seeds that are easy to remove. It is typically eaten raw, blended into smoothies, or mixed into fruit salad, yoghurt, porridge, or soup.
Cherimoya contains a variety of nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This fruit may be an excellent complement to a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet.
Custard Apple Fruit
The Custard apple fruit of Annona squamosa, the widely grown species of Annona and a native of tropical climates in the Americas and West Indies, is the sugar-apple or sweet-sop. It was brought to Asia by Spanish traders aboard Manila galleons landing in the Philippines.
Custard apple, often known as cherimoya, is a subtropical Annonacea fruit. It is popular in India as a sitafal and has a green-colored, tough-leathery exterior and creamy flesh within.
The fruit is spherical-conical in shape, measuring 5-10 cm in diameter and 6-10 cm in length, and weighs 100-240 g. It has a thick peel made up of knobby segments. The hue ranges from pale green to blue-green; with a deep pink flush in certain kinds, and it has a bloom.
Custard Apple, also known as “sitaphal” in Hindi, is a popular and tasty fruit. Custard apples are offered in a variety of shapes, including spherical, round, irregular conical, and heart shapes. Sitafal flesh is sweet, creamy, and granular, with a lot of seeds.
This sweet and creamy fruit with a firm rind is high in nutrients. The fruit includes antioxidants and is abundant in minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which provide several health benefits.
Custard Apple Nutrition Facts
Custard apples are high in nutrients and minerals that the body need. The nutritional value of custard apple fruit is determined by the plant’s bioactive compounds, which give health benefits.
The Nutritional value of Custard apples per 100 g as follow:
- Energy: 393 kJ
- Carbohydrates: 23.64 g
- Dietary fiber: 4.4 g
- Fat: 0.29 g
- Protein: 2.06 g
- Vitamin C: 36.3 mg
- Calcium: 24 mg
- Phosphorus: 32 mg
- Magnesium: 21 mg
- Potassium: 247 mg
- Sodium: 9 mg
Sugar-apple is high in energy, an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6, and has fair amounts of vitamin B2, B3, B5, B9, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Custard Apple Different Names
Custard Apple is known by different names throughout South, East and Southeast Asia.
- Tamil: Seethapazham
- Bengali: Aata
- Bhojpuri: Shareefa
- Gujarati: Seetaphal
- Hindi: Shareefa
- Kannada: Seetaphal
- Malayalam: Seetaphazham
- Marathi: Seetaphaḷa
- Urdu: Shareefa
- Tetum: Ai-ata
Custard Apple Health benefits
Custard apples contain a plethora of health benefits. The custard apple is derived from the custard tree, which has medicinal properties in its leaves, bark, roots, and unripe fruit. Custard apple is an extraordinary fruit that is high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins and has several health benefits, including:
1. Improves Immunity
Custard apples are abundant in vitamin C, which is very good for the body and also for immune system since it helps to combat free radicals and stabilizes them so that they do not cause oxidative damage to healthy cells or tissue.
Sitafal is high in antioxidants, which help the immune system fight infections and diseases by encouraging the creation of white blood cells in the body. Sitafal like other tropical fruits are a nutrient that boosts immunity by fighting infections and disease.
2. Promotes Skin Health
Custard apple, which is high in antioxidants, protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals and so avoids several skin-related diseases such as ageing. It aids in the decrease of sebum production, which aids in cure of skin issues such as acne and pimples.
Custard apple is high in amino acids, which may aid in the formation of collagen and hence provide skin suppleness. It may improve the skin’s radiance and smoothness. Sitafal promotes collagen growth, keeping skin fresh and healthy. Its constituents decelerate collagen breakdown.
3. Aids digestion
Custard apples, which are high in B vitamins, promote metabolism and provide optimal food-to-energy conversion. The large reserves of dietary fiber in this winter bounty satisfy hunger, prevent premature and unhealthy cravings, allow nutrients to move freely, and boost digestion.
Custard apple has a high amount of fiber, which aids digestion, reduces constipation, detoxifies bodies and promotes bowel movements. These fatty acids shield the digestive system from inflammatory illnesses including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
4. Abundant antioxidants
Sitafal contains antioxidants such as kurinoc acid, vitamin C, flavonoids, and carotenoids have potent properties. They reduce the risk of chronic diseases by neutralizing oxidizing agents. Custard Apple is high in antioxidants, which help body combat free radicals.
Sitafal is high in antioxidants, which combat free radicals linked to chronic diseases, cancer, and heart disease. High quantities of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which has been linked to a variety of diseases.
5. Lowers Cancer Risks
Custard apple’s antioxidant qualities fight cancer-causing cells without harming healthy cells. This anticancer action of custard apple might help slow the progression of breast cancer in patients. Including custard apples in regular diet effectively heals tumors.
The anti-cancer benefits of custard apples appear to be related to a family of chemicals. The acetogenin molecules in sitafal have been effective against various types of cancer cells in vitro, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
6. Increases Brain Function
Custard apples are high in vitamin B6, which helps to stimulate the brain. It is beneficial for healthy nerve signalling, increased attention, depression relief, and mood uplifting. The vitamin B complex regulates the gamma-amino butyric acid neuron chemical levels in the brain.
Custard apples are high in grouped B-Vitamins, which are beneficial to brain health since assist to manage the amount of GABA neuron chemical in brain, so avoiding tension, stress, sadness, and irritability. Vitamin B complex aids in relaxing, especially when you are anxious or depressed.
How to Use Custard Apple
Custard apples may be found in many grocery and health food stores, however able to access by area. Custard apple can be prepared as follows:
- It is best eaten raw and fresh, it may also be used as a condiment or dressing.
- It should be kept at room temperature until soft, and then refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Remove and discard the peel and seeds from the Sitaphal before slicing and cutting the fruit into pieces with a paring knife.
- Custard apples are wonderful in fruit salad, yoghurt, or porridge, and may also be blended into smoothies or salad dressings.
- Chilled Sitaphals may also be eaten like custard by splitting the fruit in half and scooping out the meat with a spoon.
- Sitaphals with chile lime shrimp and chilly summer soup are two meals that use it nicely.
- You may combine the pulp with other fruits in salads or use it as a topping for ice cream.
Custard apple is used in the preparation of delectable sweet foods such as firni, rabdi, and kheer. It is also used in the production of ice cream, drinks, and milkshakes. It is also used in cosmetics to protect the skin.
Consult an Ayurvedic doctor before altering or stopping existing drugs with ayurvedic or herbal products. They will advise you on best form and dose to take.
Custard Apple Side Effects
Custard apples are treasured not just for their usage in traditional Indian sweets and custards, but also for their great nutritional profile. The benefits of eating custard apple are various, however high intakes may cause negative outcomes such as:
- It contains annonacin, a poison that can harm your neurological system and brain.
- Consuming its seeds and skin, which contain high levels of annonacin, raises the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
- Custard apple seeds and skin may potentially cause skin allergies, redness, or eye damage to the presence of toxins.
- Excessive intake may result in increased body fat and obesity.
- A typical Parkinsonism develops in persons who take custard apples daily owing to the fruit’s bioactive ingredients.
- The photochemical may cause brain lesions, which can harm brain tissue and likely cause brain diseases.
- In sensitive people, custard apples may cause rashes.
As a result, before ingesting the delectable pulp of the custard apple, the outer covering and seeds must be carefully removed to avoid any negative effects and reap its wonderful benefits for general health.
Note: If you do have any negative effects, get quick medical attention from the doctors who prescribed to you. They will be best guide in providing you with early treatment.
Also more: Coconut Fruit Benefits
Summary
Custard apples are treasured not just for their usage in traditional Indian sweets and custards, but also for their impressive nutritional profile. The custard apples are not only tasty but also have a variety of health benefits.
Sitaphal’s risks are rare, but they may be avoided if you eat it properly. It would enhance the balance and nutrient content of diet. There are some downsides to eating custard apples; the benefits far exceed the drawbacks.
It is the best meals for living a healthy lifestyle. It has enough minerals, nutrients, and vitamins to meet daily needs. As a result, you may eat it raw or as a dressing for salads and smoothies.
Include these delectable fruits in diet right away to reap the benefits they provide for general health. If you mistakenly ingest the poisonous custard apple seed, consult with doctor.