Custard Apple Nutrition

Have you seen a heart shaped fruit with an unusually scaly rind?  If you must know, we are talking about the custard apple! Despite its hideous appearance, this fruit has several benefits. It grows on a small deciduous tree, about 10 meters in height and is known by different names worldwide. At an unripe stage, custard apples showcase a pale green colour and when it is perfectly ripe, brown patches develop on its skin. These fruits are quite rich in flavour and nutritive content. If you are not a fan of the custard apple then you can enjoy the sweetness and aroma of the fruit in the form of juices or ice creams. The custard apple is a wholesome and healthy food. Check out more about the history, heath benefits and storage tips for this fruit.

The native of custard apple is said to be West Indies, but the fruit was carried through Central America to southern Mexico. For a long time, the custard apple was grown and naturalized in countries like Peru and Brazil. Evidence suggests that these fruits have been cultivated in the Bahamas, Bermuda and southern Florida. This fruit quickly spread across tropical Africa around the 17^th century and was grown in South Africa as a dooryard fruit tree. In India, the custard apple was prevalent in parts of Kolkata. Eventually, it gained popularity on the east coast of Malaya, south-east Asia and the Philippines. 80 years ago, custard apples were found in abundance in Guam, a region off the western Pacific Ocean.

Health Benefits of Sharifa (Custard Apple)

• The numerous vitamins and nutrients present in custard apple provide protection from various medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

• If you have a fluctuating blood pressure then a regular intake of this fruit is effective in keeping it under control.

• Being a rich source of Vitamin A, custard apples give the consumer a glowing and healthy skin and shiny and lustrous hair.

• Looking for a natural way to enhance your eye sight? Then the custard apple acts as a storehouse of various vitamins making your vision sharper and brighter.

• Intake of custard apple helps in curing indigestion problems. Since this is indirectly linked to constipation, these fruits inject copper into the body which ensures the production of stools.

• The high amount of magnesium in custard apples maintains water balance in the body. This promotes the removal of various acids from the joints and lowers the risk of rheumatism and arthritis.

• Custard apples are packed with iron and are the simplest and fastest cure for treating anemia.

• For extremely underweight individuals, custard apples are an ideal way to put on a few kilos. Also, the sugar fibers present in them make the making metabolic system more efficient.

• The skin of custard apple is helpful in fighting against tooth decay and gum pain.

• These fruits are excellent in treating vomiting, gout, lice and vitamin B6 deficiencies.

Nutritional Value & Calories In Custard Apple 

Amount: 1 cup

Total Weight: 250 g

How many calories in custard apple (per 100 gm)

• Hold a custard apple in your hand and press it gently. It must feel firm but not hard, as these are still unripe. Soft and squishy custard apples are considered over ripe and are unfit for consumption.

• Observe the colour of the fruit; it should be brownish green or brown but definitely not black.

• Avoid smaller custard apples as they are generally immature. Instead of buying them in bunches, it is advisable to buy single fruits.

Custard Apple Storage Tips

• It is recommended to consume custard apples soon after buying. Meanwhile, wrap them in a plastic bag and place them at room temperature.

• If you have bought a ripe custard apple then you can speed up its ripening process by placing it in a brown paper bag, along with a banana.

• Place the fruits in a refrigerator if you want to store them for longer periods of time.