Sapota Fruit - Health Benefits, Calories, Uses & Side Effects

Who doesn’t love Sapota? Because it is so loved, people call it with different names. Scientifically know as Sapotaceae, Sapota is a soft, tropical, mushy, and delicious fruit. 

It is also known as chickoo, chikoo, lamoot, sapodilla, sapodilla plum, nose berry, and sapoti.

The fruit mainly has a very mushy texture which makes it a favourite ingredient in many smoothies and milkshakes. 

Health benefiting properties & Calories of Sapota:

Sapota fruit contains high calories. About 100 grams of Sapota is said to have 83 calories in it. This means this fruit can be very useful if you want to keep your tummy full. 

Sapota contains dietary fibre in its pulp, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Potassium, Copper, and many other vitamins and minerals.

It also has health-benefiting properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiparasitic. (NetMeds)

Health Benefits & Uses of Eating Sapota Fruit:

• Boosts Energy

Sapota is an absolutely energetic fruit that helps us consume some of the most naturally digestible sugars such as fructose and sucrose. Sapota is hence said to give a lot of energy.

It also helps the sugar to get converted into energy to boost our energy levels. It should especially be fed to kids and pregnant women to increase their stamina.

As pregnant women often experience fatigue, have one sugary fruit can make a lot of change.

• Improves digestion

Sapota contains the natural plant compound tannins which help your body to neutralize the acid secretion in your intestine. It helps regulate digestive functions easily.

In fact, many studies have stated how consuming Sapota every day can help you treat digestive disorders such as constipation, hard stool, gastritis and stomach aches. The fruit can soften the stool due to the presence of digestive fibres.

• Boosts Immune System

The fruit is loaded with Vitamin C which is a must if you want to boost your immunity.

It also contains antioxidants that can fight many diseases, free radicals damage and oxidative stress.

Also, if you add this amazing tropical fruit to your daily diet, it keeps you safe from the seasonal cold and flu too.

It has played a very important role in boosting your body’s natural defence mechanism.

• Stress Buster

Have you ever seen an individual who doesn’t stress about his health? There’s none. Stress has become very common as we all have started taking money very seriously.

If you have always been stressed, you may have heard this that eating sweet fruits can reduce your stress and also save you from diseases.

That’s exactly what Sapota does, it boosts your immunity and saves you from stressing so much.

• Boosts Bone Health

Since Sapota is full of bone health-enhancing minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, copper, selenium, magnesium and iron, it should be included in your daily diet to boost bone health.

The fruit is said to prevent dangerous bone conditions such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint pains and aches.

If you’re above the age of 30 or 40, chanes are you have bone issues. So make sure you eat this fruit every morning and pair it with other calcium-rich fruits.

• Prevents Cancer

Sapota is blessed with various vitamins and antioxidants that can prevent cancerous cell and tissue growth in our body. It also prevents the growth of tumours.

Since colon cancer has become very common these days, Sapota can save you from it with its dietary fibres helping you cleanse your bowels regularly.

It protects your gut flora and never lets you have any cancerous growth.

• Rich in Iron

Iron deficiency has become a common name in every household. No matter who you are or where you come from, it is highly possible that you have an iron deficiency if you live in India.

So it is better to include iron-rich fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. This problem is more common in women.

To cure anaemia our doctors advise eating iron and copper rich foods to produce more blood cells and fight anaemia. Sapota fruit does just that. 

• Normalises Blood Pressure Levels

We get angry so often that ‘our blood boils’. Arterial plaque has become such a common thing these days.

Almost every other ageing individual has hypertension or a low BP. This is not something to be proud of. Studies suggest that many people die due to hypertension every year.

Sapota contains potassium that can relax your muscles and open up the arteries so your blood can flow easily despite the plaque deposits.

Also, the antioxidants in the fruit can destroy the plaque and flush out all toxins from your body.

• Improves Eyesight/Vision

The Vitamin A content in Sapota fruit is so high that you won’t need to take Vitamin A supplements at all.

If you’re suffering from various signs of ageing, it is best to start consuming Sapota today because it will prevent vision loss.

It has so many nutrients that can prevent you from going blind. The fruit enables your eyes to see properly even in dim light or dark.

• Good For Pregnant Women

Folate is an essential supplement taken by every pregnant women. Sapota has a good amount of folate and many other vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the growth of the fetus: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron etc.

The fruit, when consumed in morning, can help reduce the symptoms of morning sickness and give an instant boost of energy.

It also fights inflammation of the gut and digestive tract which is another common issue amongst pregnant women.

Side-Effects of Eating Sapota Fruit:

Sapota is generally considered to be very safe for consumption, even during pregnancy.

However, it is advised to consume every fruit and vegetable in a moderate amount.

Like every other fruit, Sapota can cause some minor side effects if consumed in excess:

• Raw Sapota contains tannins which may irritate your tongue and mouth.

• In some cases, it may also cause irritation and inflammation of the throat.

• If children consume Sapota in excess, the may get breathing problems or allergies.

• Ingesting seeds of Sapota can cause digestive health problems including nausea, vomitting and diarrhoea.

Conclusion:

Since the fruit is so sweet and beneficial, there’s no way one can avoid it. It has started becoming everyone’s favourite!