Custard apple, though not much popular, is a highly reputed fruit when it comes to its beneficial capabilities. Its nutrient-dense nature, which consists of equal parts of fibers, minerals, and vitamins, gives it an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristic that brings about positive changes to your lifestyle. Be it your blood pressure, or your blood’s sugar level, there is nothing that remains untouched by this potent food ingredient. This fruit is native to West Indies, Central America, Peru, and Mexico, and is known by different names worldwide. Here is a brief look at some of its benefits that can affect your health as well as your beauty.
Table of Contents
Health Benefits Of Custard Apple
1. Great For Controlling Blood Sugar Level
Custard apple is known for its anti-diabetic properties. Upon its consumption, custard apple stimulates the release of insulin by the pancreas (a hormone that is responsible for breaking down sugar molecules into energy). Furthermore, the presence of an ample amount of fiber in custard apple slows down the digestive system, further resulting in a slower rate of sugar absorption and giving the pancreas enough time to secrete a proper amount of insulin.
The fiber-filled nature of custard apple can effectively lower the rate of sugar absorption in the system.
Also Read: Diabetes Diet: What To Eat To Manage Blood Sugar And Keep Diabetes In Control
2. Maintains Blood Pressure
Custard apple has high quantities of minerals that help in the regulation of blood pressure, such as potassium and magnesium. Salt, upon being extensively consumed, can often constrict the inner walls of your blood vessels and result in higher blood pressure. However, potassium and magnesium are both essential in countering the adverse effects of heavy salt consumption, for they tend to exert a dilating pressure on the inner walls of the blood vessels, thus expanding them and maintaining a proper flow of blood.
3. Restores Appropriate Cholesterol Levels
Apart from potassium and magnesium, custard apple also contains a sufficient amount of sodium. And it is this perfect ratio of sodium and potassium that maintains proper blood pressure fluctuations throughout the body. Magnesium, on the other hand, is beneficial for relaxing the smooth muscles of the heart, thus reducing the risk of heart attack and strokes. Another compound, Niacin, along with fiber aids in lowering the bad cholesterol and increasing the concentration of good cholesterol in the body, which prevents the absorption of cholesterol by the gut.
The healthy balance between magnesium and sodium helps in maintaining proper blood flow.
Also Read: Top 9 Heart Friendly Foods
4. Prevents Oxygen Deficiency
Custard apple is a storehouse of minerals, and apart from the ones that have been mentioned before, iron is yet another essential nutrient that is present in custard apple in an ample amount. Iron is responsible for the production of hemoglobin, a cell that is responsible for the transfer of oxygen throughout the body. In other words, the consumption of iron can indirectly help in increasing the concentration of oxygen in your body and reduces the risk of oxygen deficiency. Thus, it can be e extremely useful in preventing disorders such as anemia.
5. Custard Apple is Beneficial For Digestion
Custard apple is one of the most flavorful fruits that you can include in your diet in order to treat digestive problems. Its fibrous content is responsible for flushing out toxins and keeping your intestines clean and healthy, which further results in the proper functioning of the bowel system. Its antacid nature can also cause relief from other stomach related diseases like heartburn and acidity. A single custard apple can provide you with about 6 grams of dietary fiber, which is equivalent to 90% of the daily recommended amount. Hence, there is no doubt in the beneficial nature of custard apple towards one’s digestive system.
Custard apple is a natural antacid that helps in the prevention of heartburn and acidity.
Also Read: Best And Worst Foods For Digestion
6. Perfect For Reducing The Risk Of Arthritis
Another perfect example of the beneficial properties of magnesium present in custard apple is its ability to equalize the water balance in the body and remove the acids accumulated in the joints. This further reduces the symptoms of disorders such as rheumatism and arthritis. Moreover, regular consumption of magnesium-rich custard apple can also help in fighting muscle weakness, as it contains an adequate amount of calcium; it can help maintain a stronger bone structure and can significantly increase bone density.
7. Strengthens Immune System
These extraordinary fruits are a reliable source for acquiring natural antioxidants such as Vitamin C. The antioxidant property of vitamin C provides it with an innate anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting capabilities. In fact, it is so effective that just a single spoon of this fruit might boost your body’s ability to fight external pathogens. In addition to that, its antioxidant quality makes it a scavenger for harmful free radicals in the body, which delays the onset of various age-related illnesses and diseases.
Also Read: Immunity-Boosting Foods: Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Broccoli, Oranges And More
8. Beneficial For Keeping Your Skin Youthful
Custard apple, after being added to your regular diet, can effectively stimulate the production of collagen, a specific repair tissue, which helps in the reduction of wrinkles and scars. This increase in the formation of collagen also improves the elastic nature of the skin. The presence of Vitamin C in custard apple combats free radicals and prevents them from attacking healthy skin cells, resulting in healthy and glowing skin and promoting a healthy cell membrane. This consumption of antioxidants delays the signs of aging like age spots and blemishes.
Benefits Of Custard Apple:
The antioxidant nature of custard apple prevents the skin cells from getting damaged by harmful free radicals.
Also Read: A To Z Of Antioxidant-Rich Food | Complete List Of Food Items To Fight Free-Radicals
9. Promotes Healthy Hair Growth
External application of custard apple paste, or even its oral consumption, can help in the prevention of hair fall. It also enables better absorption of nutrients by the scalp, providing nourishment that is essential for strengthening your hair. A mineral such as iron, which is also present in custard apple, effectively improves blood circulation in the scalp, stimulating the follicles to promote hair growth.
After checking out the benefits that are commonly associated with the consumption of custard apples, it is time for you to decide whether custard apple should be a part of your daily diet. And if you decide that it is, then make sure that you eat it responsibly and keep a check on your consumption.