Persimmon: the benefits and harms of "food of the gods"
Diospyros - The name of persimmon in Latin means divine fire or food of the gods. Both interpretations are correct, because persimmon, the benefits and harms of which have been known for many centuries, are incredibly tasty and bright like a flame.
Today, the qualities of fruits are judged not only by their appearance and sweetness, but also by their biochemical composition, nutritional value and ability to influence health.
Read also the article: useful properties of cherries!
Why is persimmon useful?
- 0.5% protein;
- 0.4% fat;
- up to 3% dietary fiber;
- a small amount of organic acids;
- 81.5% moisture.
Carbohydrates rank first on this list. Large orange persimmons provide 10-12% of the daily requirement. How many calories are in persimmons? 100 grams contains 67 kcal, which is less than 5% of the daily value.
Persimmon is a storehouse of such important substances for humans as vitamins C, A, E, PP, and B.
The average fruit fulfills almost a quarter of the body's needs for vitamin A, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid. What else is persimmon useful for? Rich in mineral composition, the main place in which is occupied by iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sodium.
Knowing the composition of the fruits, you can eat persimmons with benefit and without harm to health, enjoying it as an excellent fruit dessert.
Useful properties of persimmon
The medicinal properties of persimmons are determined by the high concentration of vital vitamins, macro- and microelements, as well as the abundance of sugars and fiber.
Vitamin C is extremely important as an element of redox reactions in the body. Ascorbic acid is an energy source and a natural antioxidant that protects cells from premature aging and destruction. A deficiency of this substance negatively affects the immune defense and the state of blood vessels, leads to chronic fatigue, lethargy and makes the body vulnerable to all kinds of infections.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene are responsible for:
- skin health;
- visual acuity;
- the functioning of the reproductive system;
- immunity.
Vitamins E and B play an equally important role in the beneficial properties of persimmons, contributing to the speedy regeneration of the hair skin, supporting the health of the nervous system.
Magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium, like other trace elements, are essential for the body. They are involved in processes in the urinary and nervous system, bones, tendons and other tissues. Phosphorus supports mental performance. What persimmons are useful for is their iron content, which determines the quality of blood.
Fiber activates the gastrointestinal tract, helps the intestines to effectively get rid of toxins and toxins. The carbohydrates contained in persimmon quickly saturate, providing the body with a powerful charge of energy.
This is most important during recovery from illness and when following a low-calorie diet. Persimmon and the beneficial properties of the fruit can be successfully used:
- for the prevention of eye diseases;
- with iron deficiency anemia;
- as a mild natural diuretic;
- as an excellent antidepressant, improving mood and fighting depression;
- with constipation and other digestive disorders.
When applied topically, fruit pulp will soften the skin, saturate it with energy and nutrients, relieve puffiness and improve complexion.
The healing properties of persimmons during pregnancy
If there are no contraindications, persimmon will support a woman expecting a baby. Ripe fruits full of vitamins and microelements contain everything you need to:
- strengthen the immune system of the expectant mother;
- increase blood hemoglobin;
- remove excess fluid, eliminating edema and delicately normalizing blood pressure;
- cheer up and eliminate the risk of developing depressive conditions;
- strengthen the skeletal system of the fetus and mother;
- take care of the heart and blood vessels;
- protect the body from colds and seasonal viral infections;
- prevent constipation and establish regular bowel movements.
Due to the sweetness and abundance of dietary fiber, persimmon during pregnancy quickly saturates, relieves hunger and morning sickness. Regular consumption of a couple of fruits a day helps to quickly normalize bowel movements.
Ripe, soft fruits relieve constipation. If persimmon knits, on the contrary, it strengthens and even stops diarrhea.
Contraindications to the use of persimmon
Both the benefits and harms of persimmons depend on the properties inherent in the fruit. Coarse fiber not only helps cleanse the body. Excessive consumption of persimmons can lead to the fact that dietary fiber accumulates in the intestines, thickens and clogs it. Obstruction is most likely from overuse of unripe fruit. You should not eat such a persimmon with a tendency to constipation.
Persimmon is contraindicated when it comes to gastritis, colitis and other diseases of the digestive tract in the acute stage. Unripe persimmon is the cause of heaviness in the stomach, soreness and difficulty with defecation. With an individual predisposition, minerals in the composition of the fruit can cause the formation of kidney stones.
And although allergy to persimmon is not common, before introducing it into the diet, it is better to make sure that there are no skin and respiratory reactions. It is especially important to know in advance that there is no harm from persimmon during pregnancy, it will not worsen the well-being of a nursing baby or a child over 3 years old, trying this tasty and healthy fruit for the first time.