Sugar apple: What are the benefits of sugar apple?
Sugar apple read about an exotic fruit called sugar apple or, in Thai – Noi Na. How to eat it, valuable properties, and calorie content. Also, harm from overeating sugar apples. Custard Apple or “Sugar Apple” (Lat. Annona squamosa) is a green fruit of the Annonaceae family. The Thai name is Noi Na (noinah). In India, it is called Sharifa. In China, it is fan-li-chi, ati in Brazil. In Russia, the fruit is known as “scaly Annona” (from the Latin name of the species) or cream apple.
The exact origin of this plant is unknown. Like many sugar apples, it is believed that noina was born in South America. And today, apple cider vinegar is widely grown in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Thailand. The Portuguese brought the sugar apple to India in the late 16th century. It was already cultivated in Indonesia and widely distributed in southern China, Polynesia, Australia, tropical Africa, the lowlands of Palestine, Egypt, and the Hawaiian Islands by this time. In addition, this fruit is one of the most popular fruits in Brazil. This fruit is in great demand and can be found in any base or market.
Table of Contents
Description of sugar apple: trees and fruits
The tree reaches 3 to 6 m, with an open crown and zigzag branches. Its pale green leaves are arranged on short, mature leaves. Biseriate, oblong, and about 5-15 cm long. Small (2-4 cm) fragrant flowers are arranged individually along the branches or in several groups. Inside – with dark red or purple spots on the bottom. It consists of three outer yellow-green petals and three tiny inner pale yellow. Never, even during pollination, does not open completely.
The sugar apple is large (about 300-350 g). It can be round, oblong, or conical. It reaches up to 10 cm in length. The skin is lumpy: it consists of convex parts and can turn pale green, bluish green, or gray-green. Inside is a fibrous creamy juicy pulp of milky color, which has an exquisite taste and aroma. Each part contains one elongated seed. The harvest season for sugar apples is from June to September. Ripe fruits are very soft, with thin skin, and can be easily damaged. Overripe sugar apples open to show seeds.
How and what to eat in sugar apple
The pulp of ripe sugar apple fruit is edible. The consistency is very similar to apple juice. The skin, as well as the bones, is not eaten. Opening a ripe Thai fruit is not difficult: it is broken in half, or the skin flakes open. Some people eat sugar apple with a spoon – in this case, it is better to cut the fruit in half with a knife.
In Malaysia, sugar apples are used in cooking to produce various desserts and soft drinks. (For example, you get a delicious cocktail if you mix the flesh of a sugar apple with ice milk). The fruit is trendy for its vibrant taste. The ripe fruits are lovely and a bit like icing. The only thing I do not like about this fruit is that it has a lot of seeds, from 20 to 40 pieces. You cannot eat it like persimmon (by the way, read about the properties of persimmon). In Thailand, going costs about 50 baht per kg.
Composition
Vitamins:
- Niacin – 0.65-0.93 mg
- Thiamine – 0, 10-0, 13 mg
- Riboflavin – 0, 11-0, 17 mg
- Ascorbic acid – 35 – 43 mg
The number of vitamins that the exotic fruit is rich in positively affects the cardiovascular system and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. And the use of vitamins, group “B,” promotes the regeneration and growth of tissues, increases muscle endurance, and participates in collagen formation. The composition of sugar apple also contains irreplaceable amino acids for the human body:
- Lysine – 54-69 mg
- Tryptophan – 7-10 mg
- Methionine – 6-8 mg
They are involved in the construction of essential proteins and are a way to prevent many viral infections. The fruit is saturated with phosphorus – 23, 5-55, and 2 mg. Calcium is present in large quantities – 19, 5-44 mg. The content of iron (0, 28-1, 34 mg) and other minerals is low.
Calorie content of sugar apple
100 g of pulp is 104 kcal; it can be called one of the most calorie-rich fruits.
Also, this mass contains:
- Carbohydrates – 19-25 g
- Protein – 1, 5 -2, 5 g
- Fat – 0.4 g
- Calcium – 17 mg
Favorable features
Due to its composition, the fruit perfectly satisfies hunger and thirst. It is an excellent source of nutrients, vitamins, and microorganisms.
Sugar apple is also actively used in traditional medicine:
- In India, the pulp of ripe fruit is applied to tumors.
- For wounds and wounds, the Indians use crushed leaves of the plant.
- In tropical America, their performance is used as an excellent antipyretic.
- And to reduce rheumatic diseases, patients are advised to take a bath with a spoonful of sugar.
- In El Salvador, unripe fruits are used for diarrhea.
- Bark collection is effective in indigestion.
Damage
Benefits and harms always go hand in hand. Sugar apple seeds have a strong taste. They are toxic, poisoning can lead to severe consequences, and contact with eye juice causes blindness in some cases! Do not let it wander with the delicious pulp of the fruit. Should consume it in moderation.
Pregnant women should use apple sugar with caution due to its high calcium content.