The custard apple is a fruit with a somewhat strange appearance and with very large seeds that should not be eaten and a white flesh with a certain consistency and a pleasant flavor. A fruit that is eaten by the spoonful like a yogurt. Today we are going to learn everything about this tropical fruit, from its nutritional values, the benefits it brings to the body, the maximum amount and the contraindications of its consumption.
In the market there are many fruits so that every day we eat 5 different ones and without repeating. Among all of them is the custard apple, a large fruit that is liked by adults and children alike and is very easy to eat. Be careful with the nuggets that are large, and it is better to give the children the meat already cleaned for safety.
Nutritional values
A very light fruit since for every 100 grams of weight it only provides 75 kilocalories , so yes, it is high in carbohydrates, since only a 100-gram cherimoya provides almost 20 grams of carbohydrates and is very sweet because it contains 13 grams of sugar. As for fiber, it only has 3 grams per 100 grams of cherimoya. This is important because we say 100 grams of cherimoya meat, not 100 grams of the whole fruit, since it is a large and heavy fruit.
Aside from this, custard apple also boasts good amounts of important vitamins and minerals. On the one hand, the vitamins, and we have vitamin A in very low values, almost non-existent; vitamin C that provides 20% of the recommended daily amount for every 100 grams of this fruit; and vitamin B9 with 23 micrograms, that is, 6% of the recommended daily amount.
With regard to minerals, we have calcium and it only provides 1% of the recommended daily amount; potassium with 6% of the amount recommended by experts for every 100 grams of cherimoya; magnesium with 4% of the amount indicated by experts; phosphorus with only 3% of the recommended daily amount per 100 grams of cherimoya; and sodium where its quantity is negligible and is not calculated.
The positive thing is that 80% of this peculiar fruit is water, and hydration is essential for the normal functioning of the body. Water is an essential food for any stage of life, since it helps us lubricate the eyes, throat, joints, regulates transit, keeps the skin healthy and smooth, regulates body temperature, etc.
Profits
Custard apple provides benefits to the body thanks to its nutritional values, which is why they are so important. We are going to know its main benefits and we will understand why we should include this fruit in our usual diet, and later we will tell the maximum amount per day and some contraindications.
Facilitates digestion and intestinal transit
It is a very popular fruit in terms of diet and nutrition, because, although its vitamin and mineral values are not very high, they combine perfectly with other foods and we manage to nourish our body adequately.
And it is that a large part of the nutrients that we have commented on in the previous section are absorbed in the ingredients. In addition, one of the benefits of cherimoya is that it promotes good digestion, reducing swelling, pain, gas and similar situations. It is a very easy fruit to swallow and digest , so it is also suitable for older people whose digestive system is weakened by age.
Regulates blood sugar level
Something important about cherimoya is that it does not alter blood sugar levels, so it could be a good dessert option for diabetics or people who want to reduce blood sugar levels.
This is due to the fiber that the cherimoya comes with, which helps the intestinal transit to flow normally and the body to clean itself properly. This same fiber dilates the absorption of sugar over time, which is why it does not alter blood glucose levels, something important for pregnant women, diabetics and the elderly.
Suitable for baby food
We have rarely added cherimoya to children’s porridge, right? Well, it is a very good option. Before doing so, we must consult a specialist, since we must take into account the child’s age , his health, if he is prepared to eat somewhat more consistent foods, etc.
Being low in fat, with a somewhat neutral taste, having good values of vitamins and minerals (they are not very high, we are talking about baby porridge), and having dietary fiber, it is a good ingredient to combine with cereals or other fruits in infant porridge.
Satiating and helps lose weight
Custard apple is satiating, so by consuming it we will shake that anxiety to continue eating because our stomach will feel that it has reached its limit. In addition, this satiating effect will save us snacks between meals of fast things such as cookies, sweets, chips, soft drinks, bread, etc. which we reduce carbohydrate intake and caloric intake and achieve our goal of losing weight, either by physical condition or by medical recommendation.
Contraindications
Before we have said that it “could” be suitable for diabetics, but we have a small print that goes directly into the contraindications. This is because it is a fruit with sugar, it is true, but it depends on the amount of cherimoya that we consume. In the next section we will see what the maximum is, but diabetics do not enter there, since they must first consult a specialist.
With this adverse effect, we must also take into account the amount of cherimoya we eat. If we overdo it and eat too much, we can suffer from stomach pain and gastrointestinal discomfort due to the grams of fiber. So you have to be careful with the amounts .
Dosage and how to eat them
Experts advise not to eat more than 200 grams of custard apples , and we return to what we said at the beginning of the text. We are not referring to 200 grams of whole cherimoya with skin and seeds, but to 200 grams of edible meat. Experts recommend this and no more than 100 grams for diabetics and that consumption is not so often, but rather occasional.
To eat them you have to cut them in half like avocados and use a spoon to empty the inside, remove the seeds and start eating the meat that is whitish in color. If the color is dark, it is because it may be old and overripe or it is not in good condition.
