Cherimoya, also known as sugar apple or chirimoya, one of the first exotic fruits, belonging to the species Annona cherimola which is native to South and Central America, is my first exotic fruit I’ve tried here in Ecuador.
Cherimoya is creamy, delicious, juicy, and sweet. The flesh resembles a custard apple. The outer skin is green with a custardy flesh with several black seeds in it.
Cherimoya is also known as ‘the tree of ice cream’ due to its creamy consistency, which tastes like a blend of banana, mango, strawberry, coconut, papaya and pineapple flavors. Yum! This tasty, exotic fruit is commonly used in smoothies and ice creams, added to fruit salads, make pudding, or even used as a mousse or pie filling.
Health Benefits of Cherimoya:
1. Boosts Immunity
This exotic fruit is high in vitamin C, a natural and powerful antioxidant that aids the body resist infection, playing an important role in improving the immune system and keeping it strong. The high vitamin C levels helps the body recover from colds and flus rapidly.
This exotic fruit is a good source of B vitamins, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which provides 20% of our daily recommended value. Cherimoya is also high potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate.
This fruit is a good source of B vitamins, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which provides 20% of our daily recommended value. Cherimoya is also high potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate.
2. Anti-inflammatory Properties
The high vitamin C levels in cherimoya helps to protect the body from damage by inflammatory free radicals.
3. Cardiovascular Health Benefits
The balanced ratio of sodium and potassium in cherimoya helps the regulation of blood pressure levels and heart rate. The consumption of cherimoya has proven to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL) level in the blood and can help improve blood flow towards the heart, providing protection against heart attack, stroke and hypertension.
4. Prevents Cancer
Cherimoya has a rich antioxidant content, which provides the body with anti-cancer benefits. Cancer cells are formed because of free radicals produced by oxidative stress. These antioxidants neutralize the effect of free radicals and contains significant amounts of dietary fiber, aiding to prevent absorption of cholesterol in the gut and prevent mucus membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances, reducing the risk of colon and liver cancers. This exotic fruit provides protection against breast cancer.
5. Brain Health
Cherimoya contains a good source of B vitamins, mainly vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) which helps to control the GABA neuro chemical levels in our brain. Adequate GABA levels helps calm us down, decreases depression and eases headaches. Vitamin B6 also protects against Parkinson’s disease and aids in relieves stress and tension. 100 grams of this exotic fruit contains around 0.527 mg or 20 % of daily recommended levels of vitamin B6.
6. Protection from Osteoporosis
The calcium levels in cherimoya fruit helps in preventing osteoporosis and keeping our bones strong.
7. Cytoprotective Properties
Cherimoya provides cytoprotective benefits to your body. The fruit’s extracts enhance the survival of cells in your system by decreasing the release of lactate dehydrogenase or LDH from your body. High levels of LDH indicate that the cell has been damaged by injury or disease, and this yummy fruit offers cytoprotective benefits.
8. Great Source of Minerals
Cherimoya contains high amounts of potassium and other minerals, which is required for a normal heartbeat and blood pressure. Cherimoya helps deal with hypertension and stroke, and supports your metabolism and bowel movement by getting enough fiber. Minerals like magnesium, sodium, zinc and manganese are found in cherimoya.
Other benefits of cherimoya:
Skin and hair health – Good source of collagen, vitamin C, prevents damage from free radicals,
Treats lice – The fruit can be dried and powdered and applied on hair for getting rid of lice.
Hope you enjoyed learning about the benefits of this amazing fruit.
Have you tried cherimoya?
Sources:
https://foodfacts.mercola.com/cherimoya.html
https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-cherimoya-for-skin-hair-and-health/
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