It’s super, super sweet… like cotton candy… syrup… brown sugar… or a caramel-covered pear. Truly sweet treat, both inside and out!
Sapodilla trees (member of the family sapotaceae) are actually slow-growing evergreen trees originating in Mexico. But they’ve expanded beyond their Central American home—now you can find them all over the West Indies, as well as other warm-weather climates like Florida, India, Thailand, Philippines, etc.
The Sapodilla tree can grow as tall as 100-feet high. Conversely, their flowers, seen year-round, are small. Eventually those little flowers transform into sapodilla fruits which are technically berries and about the size of a small pear or potato—think 4-5 inches long with brown skin. In some areas, the trees even bear fruit twice-per-year.
The fruit is a large berry, 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) in diameter. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each fruit contains one to six seeds.The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.
In Mexico, sapodilla is grown commercially for making chewing gum. The consumption of sapodilla is recommended in herbal medicine as it has an uncountable number of medicinal uses.
Types Of Sapodilla
- Brown Sugar Variety-Fruit is medium to small, 2 to 2-1/2 inches long, nearly round. Skin is light, scruffy brown. Flesh pale brown, fragrant, juicy, very sweet and creamy, texture slightly granular. Quality is superb.
-
Prolific Variety– the fruit is round-conical, 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches long and broad. Skin is scruffy, brown, becoming nearly smooth at maturity. Flesh is light-pinkish, mildly fragrant, texture smooth, flavor sweet, quality good. The tree bears early, consistently and heavily.
-
Russel Type– The fruit is large, round, 3 to 5 inches in diameter and length. Skin is scruffy brown with gray patches. Flesh is pinkish, mildly fragrant, texture somewhat granular. Flavor is rich and sweet.
-
Tikal– A new seedling selection with excellent flavor. Elliptic in shape, light brown in color, smaller than Prolific. Ripe very early.
Nutritional value of sapodilla fruit (100 g of fruit)
Constituent: Approximate Value
Water content: 78%
Calories: 83
Protein: 0.4 g
Fat: 1.1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 20.0 g
Total dietary fibre: 5.3 g
Calcium: 21 mg
Iron: 0.8 mg
Magnesium: 12.0 mg
Phosphorus: 12.0 mg
Potassium: 193.0 mg
Sodium: 12.0 mg
Vitamin C: 12. 7 mg
Vitamin A: 60 IU
Health Benefits Of Sapodilla
1. For Strong Bones
Consuming sapodilla is a great source to strengthen your bones. The content of calcium found in the fruit can effectively promote bone density. Consuming sapodilla can effectively ward off factors that contribute to bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Moreover, it can do wonders for the bones of growing children as well.
2. Prevents Iron Deficiency
Nutritionists recommend regular consumption of sapodilla as it can help increase iron deficiency. Inadequate levels of an essential mineral like iron can contribute to serious health conditions such as chronic fatigue and dizziness. Consuming sapodilla promotes red blood cells and produce required levels of hemoglobin effectively. However, in case of severe iron deficiency, it is suggested to consult with your doctor to avoid further health problems.
3. For Stomach Health
Sapodilla is a powerhouse of dietary fiber that is essential to maintain your digestive system. Regular consumption of processed foods or sugary beverages aids in indigestion that chunks of fresh sapodilla can combat effectively. The nutrients found in the fruit can help relieve constipation along with other stomach problems like vomiting and bloating. Therefore, incorporate sapodilla into your routine and keep digestion problems at bay.
4. A source of Magnesium
Sapodilla is a powerhouse of magnesium that can ease various body pains. If you encounter muscle aches frequently, try consuming this delicious fruit. Moreover, adequate levels of magnesium in the body can help alleviate various major or minor health problems. Incorporating sapodilla in any form also helps promote body functions effectively.
5. For Metabolism
Factors like processed foods, inadequate water intake, no physical activity or environmental stress can affect your metabolism. You can incorporate foods into your diet that help fight daunting factors and boost your metabolism. The nutrients found in the sapodilla are beneficial in this regard. They cannot only prevent it from damaging factors but increase your metabolic rate naturally.
6. It Boosts Energy
You need an energetic body to stay active and alter throughout the day and to perform various tasks. Low energy levels can affect the quality of your life. Therefore, you should opt for food options that are loaded with energy-boosting components. It is said to increase your energy levels due to plenty of healthy nutrients found in it. Apart from this, carbohydrates are essential in this regard as well, and you can obtain the required amount of good carbohydrates from a single serving of sapodilla.
7. For Eye Health
Like your other body parts, you need to protect your eyes from chronic diseases. Enriched with vitamin A, sapodilla can become a nourishing fruit for your eyes. It has potential to maintain your eyesight, and regular consumption of the fruit can delay age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration. Therefore, avoid consuming supplements and opt a natural source to obtain plenty of vitamin A to improve the condition of your eyes.
8. Sapodilla is Diuretic
Nutritionists have assured that it contains diuretic properties and is necessary to maintain healthy kidneys. Consuming one sapodilla daily will allow you proper urination. And this way your body will flush out toxic substances, chemicals, excess salts, and water. Moreover, sapodilla is said to be effective when it comes to dissolving kidney stones. However, if you feel pain during urination or observe red tint, consult with your urologist as it could be a symptom of serious kidney problem.
9. Treats Cough and Cold
It is said to ward off factors that contribute to cold and cough. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help relieves congested chest, phlegm, and mucus production. Nutritionists encourage incorporating the fruit into your daily diet as it can naturally treat viral flu and fever as well. Moreover, it is suggested to add at least one sapodilla into the diet of children to prevent them from falling prey to seasonal colds and viral infections.
10. For Psychological Health
It can become a delicious way to maintain your psychological health. Studies have shown that it contains sedative properties and can relax stressed nerves. Moreover, the minerals and vitamins can effectively alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. These factors have potential to affect your sleep patterns that usually result in insomnia. Therefore, consuming sweet sapodilla in a day can help maintain your overall psychological health naturally.
11.For Oral Health
You should never ignore even a minor oral problem such as bleeding gums. It could be a symptom of serious health problem. Also, lack of oral care and poor hygiene could contribute to a chronic oral problem such as oral cancer thus; you need to take precautions in this regard. By incorporating sapodilla into your daily routine, you can maintain various oral issues including cavities and tooth decay. Moreover, you can add sapodilla to the diet of your children to alleviate risks associated with their dental health.
Something To Keep In Mind
Latex and tannins are highly concentrated in the raw sapodilla fruits and, therefore, intensely bitter in taste. Eating unripe fruits may cause mouth ulcers, itchy sensation in the throat, and breathing difficulty, especially in the children.
How To Eat
Wash the sandy scruff before eating in cold water. Fresh sapodilla should be eaten when it turns soft. Cut the fruit into two halves, then scoop the flesh using a spoon and discard the seeds. It should be enjoyed without any additions in order to experience its unique flavor.
Here Are Some Serving Tips:
- Fresh sapota sections are a great addition to fruit salads.
- Sapodilla-milkshake (chikoo milkshake)/smoothie is a favorite drink in Asia.
- It also used in ice-creams, fruit-jam, cakes, pie, etc.
Article References:
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota
- https://www.healthbeckon.com/sapodilla-chikoo-benefits/
