Sapota is delicious and calorie rich fruit belonging to the category of fruits like mango, banana and jack fruit. Other names of Sapota are nose berry, sapodilla plum, chickoo sapote etc.
Sapota has its origin in the rain forests of Central America, particularly in Mexico, Belize. But it is easily available in India.
Sapota fruit is round or oval-shaped berry. It measures around 10 centimeter in diameter and weighs about 150 grams. It has 2-5 big, black, shiny bean like seeds in the centre.
The unripe fruit has a hard surface and white pulp. As the fruit ripens its flesh achieves a brown color. Sapota or Chickoo has a smooth and grainy texture with a sweet and musky flavour. Chickoo contains simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that restore energy and revitalize the body.
Sapota offers large benefits for skin, hair and health. Let us see them.
Skin Benefits of Chickoo or Sapota
Sapota or Chickoo fruit is an amazing choice for healthy and glowing skin. There are wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in it.
- Eating Sapota fruit is good for the skin. Vitamin E present in the fruit moisturizes our skin, thus giving us healthy and beautiful skin.
- Sapota or Chickoo fruit is rich in antioxidants. It acts as anti-ageing agent by removing free radicals in the body. Free radicals are responsible for the ageing process. It is also useful in reducing wrinkles.
- Seed Kernal Oil of Sapota is used as a skin ointment. The residue of this seed can be used as a poultice on painful skin disorders after the extraction of oil.
- Milky sap of the Sapota plant can be used to remove warts and fungal growth on the skin.
Healthy Food – Benefits of Chickoo or Sapota for Hair
Sapota is loaded with essential nutrients for our body. Proper supply of nutrients and their absorption in our body is necessary for maintaining good hair health. Hair problems occur as a result of exposure to harmful chemicals, unhealthy lifestyle and inadequate essential nutrients in our diet.
- Oil extracted from Sapota seeds helps in moisturizing and softening hair. It gives shine and is considered excellent for curly hair. It also gets absorbed easily.
- Sapota seed oil nourishes the scalp by relieving irritated skin conditions. It promotes healthy hair growth. This oil is considered effective in treating hair fall caused by seborrheic dermatitis.
- Ground seeds of Sapota to make a paste. Mix it with castor oil. Apply this mixture on scalp. Keep it overnight and wash off the next day. This makes our hair smooth and the problem of dandruff can also be controlled.
Health Benefits of Chickoo or Sapota
Sapota fruit is delicious and great for health as it contains lot of nutrients. Because of its sweet taste it is widely used in shakes.
Good for the eyes
Sapota contains high amount of Vitamin A which helps in improving vision even during old age. If we want to maintain a good vision, we must eat Sapota fruit.
Source of Energy
Athletes are recommended to eat sapota fruit as they require loads of energy. It is rich in glucose which provides instant energy to the body.
Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Sapota contains high content of tannins which make it an important anti-inflammatory agent. It improves the digestive tract through prevention of diseases like esophagitis, enteritis, irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis.
It reduces inflammation by reducing any swelling and pain.
Prevention of certain cancers
The antioxidants, dietary fiber and nutrients present in Sapota provide protection against cancer and tightly bind the carcinogens to protect the mucus membrane of the colon. Vitamin A gives protection from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Healthy Bones
Sapota fruit is rich in calcium, iron and phosphorus which are required by bones to increase their endurance. Thus, it helps in enhancing and strengthening of the bones.
Relief from Constipation
Sapota fruit has a high amount of dietary fiber around 5.6/100gm providing relief from constipation. It is regarded as an excellent bulk laxative.
It also supports the colons’ membrane and makes it resistant to infections.
Benefits during pregnancy
Sapota fruit is very beneficial for pregnant and lactating mothers. It is high in carbohydrates and essential nutrients.
It aids in reducing weakness and other symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea and dizziness.
Haemostatic Properties
Sapota herb is beneficial in reducing bleeding in case of piles and injuries. The ground seeds can be applied as a paste for alleviating stings and insect bites. It is known for its haemostatic properties i.e. stopping blood loss.
Anti-viral and Anti-Bacterial Properties
Sapota contains polyphenolic antioxidants. It is found to have several anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial properties. The antioxidants stop bacteria from entering into the human body.
Vitamin C present in chickoo destroys the harmful free radicals. Potassium, iron, folate, niacin and pantothenic acid aid proper functioning of the digestive system.
Anti-Diarrheal
Sapota is considered as anti-diarrheal as it has purgative properties. Decoction made by boiling this fruit in water can cure diarrhea. It also helps in mitigation of piles and dysentery.
Mental Health
Sapota fruit is a potent sedative. It helps to calm the nerves and alleviate stress. It is advisable for individuals suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression.
Cold and Cough
Sapota fruit helps in the alleviation of colds and coughs. It is effective in keeping congestion and chronic coughs at bay by removing the phlegm and mucus from the nasal passage and respiratory tract.
Kidney Stones
Crushed seed of Sapota fruit acts as a diuretic, thus helping to expel bladder and kidney stones. It gives protection against kidney diseases as well.
Aids in Weight Loss
Sapota fruit indirectly helps in weight loss and prevents obesity. It regulates the secretion of gastric enzymes thereby regulating metabolism.
As a Detoxifying Agent
Sapota prevents water retention by maintaining the water concentration within the body. It acts a diuretic and so it helps in removing waste materials from the body through frequent urination.
Tooth Cavities
The high latex of chickoo fruit can be used as a crude filling for tooth cavities.
Other Health Benefits
Magnesium present in sapota fruit is beneficial for blood and blood vessels. Potassium present in it helps in regulating blood pressure and promoting healthy circulation.
Folate and Iron present prevent anemia. It also helps in strengthening the intestines and in improving their performance.
Eating Sapota or Chickoo fruit helps in developing body resistance against many infectious diseases.
Chickoo should be eaten ripe for best results. But we can also have it in juice form.
Eating raw sapota fruits can cause mouth ulcers, itching sensation in the throat and difficulty in breathing. They are very bitter due to high content of tannin and latex.
Nutritional Value of Chikoo or Sapota
PRINCIPLE
|
NUTRIENT VALUE
|
PERCENTAGE OF RDA
|
Energy
|
83 Kcal
|
4%
|
Carbohydrates
|
19.9 g
|
15%
|
Protein
|
0.44 g
|
<1%
|
Total Fat
|
1.10 g
|
3.5%
|
Cholesterol
|
0 mg
|
0%
|
Dietary Fiber
|
5.3 g
|
14%
|
VITAMINS
| ||
Folates
|
14 µg
|
3.5%
|
Niacin
|
0.200 mg
|
1%
|
Pantothenic acid
|
0.252 mg
|
5%
|
Pyridoxine
|
0.037 mg
|
3%
|
Riboflavin
|
0.020 mg
|
1.5%
|
Thiamin
|
0.058 mg
|
5%
|
Vitamin A
|
60 IU
|
2%
|
Sapota is a great source of protein which is crucial for the growth of our body.
Also Read : Healthy Food - Health Benefits of Sapota Juice
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