Atis fruit or known as sugar-apple, swetsop or custard apple is a tropical fruit which native to America and West Indies. Atis is the name of Annona squamosa fruit derived from Philippines word. It is a tall woody shrub plant which can reach 5-6 meters in height and has irregularly spreading branches. Atis fruit has oval, conical or round shape with dark green color and has depressiones mark which give quilted appearance on the fruit skin surface. It has a creamy white flesh with sweet and smooth texture.
People loves to eat the flesh of atis fruit as desert since it also contains some water and sour – sweet flavor which suit to hot weather. They also put the flesh on salad or add it as ingredient on ice cream. Atis fruit is mostly grown in America, India, China, Phillipines, Egypt and Central Africa.
Nutritional facts of Atis Fruit
[table]
[tr][th]Nutrition[/th] [th]Values[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Calories[/td] [td] 91 g[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Water[/td] [td]22 g[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Carbohydrates[/td] [td] 2.0 g[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Total dietary fiber[/td] [td]2.0 g[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fat[/td] [td]0.60 g[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tryptophan[/td] [td]9 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Lysine[/td] [td]60 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Methionine[/td] [td]7.5 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Vitamin C[/td] [td]40 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Thiamine[/td] [td]0.12 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Riboflavin[/td] [td]0.14 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Niacin[/td] [td]0.80 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Carotene[/td] [td]6 I.U[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Phosphorus[/td] [td]40 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Calcium[/td] [td]30 mg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Iron[/td] [td]1.0 mg[/td][/tr]
[/table]
Health Benefits of Atis Fruit for human health is very important, its nutrient could help our body healthy. Atis fruit or sugar apple provides many benefits for your body. Here are some of those benefits :
1. Improve digestion system
Atis fruit contains rich fiber that are commonly know serve many benefits for digestion system. Fiber is subtance which can help bowel movement, and ease the process of digestion in intestine.
2. Prevent from cancer
This is the most fascinating benefits that fruits gives to you. As common fruit, atis contains anti-oxidant, the main factor to combat and neutralizing free radicals that possibly trigger DNA damage and causing cancer. The antioxidant function in atis fruit is served by Vitamin C and beta – caroten. In one single serving of atis fruit, contain 40mg of Vitamin C
3. Maintain healthy heart
Again the fiber contained in atis fruit also play role in keeping healthy cardiovasculary tract. By keeping normal blood circulation and blood vessel, consuming atis fruit regularly can help you to keep your heart healthy and reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Atis fruit also contains amounts of potassium which important in keeping regular heart beat.
4. Calming nerve
The sweet scene of atis fruit may relax your feeling and you will be better when you eat it. Atis fruit contains magnesium that are very important in neural function. It hepls to calming nerve and induce neurotransmitter in brain that may affect to your mood.
5. Alleviate stress
As it has calming nerve effect, means that by consuming atis fruit you can reduce your level of stress. Take some amount of atis fruit and eat it with ice cream that will do to help you remove stress.
6. Keep beauty skin
Everyone loves beauty skin especially woman, atis fruit contains high number of Vitamin C which acts as antioxidant that protect the skin from free radical exposure. Vitamin C also responsible to brighten your skin and make it glowing. Some women even made atis as face mask to lighten up the skin and remove dullness.
7. Cure constipation
Drinking atis fruit juice will not only quench your thirst but also prevent and cure constipation. Atis fruit contains fiber which promote healthy bowel movement and increase digestive function, and reduce the risk of developing constipation. Atis fruit also contain copper, a mineral which help to reduce constipation.
8. Relaxing muscle
Feeling tired and stiff after gym or working? Dont worry. Atis fruit may help you to relax your muscle. High amount of magnesium contained in atis fruit will help you to relax your muscle and it also remove the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle that caused fatigue.
9. Help in weight loss
Curvy waist line and losing body fat is a dream for some people. Atis fruit can help you to make it real. Consuming atis fruit regularly can help you increase bulk in the stomach and prevent you from hunger. It is also reduce the fat cell in the body so if you are in a diet program, you can include atis fruit into your meal.
10. Prevent from scurvy
Health benefits of atis fruits is for preventing scurvy. Scurvy is a health problem which occur in mouth. It is usually caused by bacteria infection. Atis fruit contains Vitamin C that may help to prevent scurvy and inhibit the bacteria growth in mouth.
11. Maintain healthy metabolism and provide energy
A group of Vitamin B complex is contained in atis fruit. Vitamin B complex are required in the body metabolism process. They are the component of enzyme and cofactor which undergo the metabolism process. Metabolism is important for the body to provide energy and maintain organ, cells and tissue function.
12. Lowering cholesterol level
Fiber has potential effect in lowering blood cholesterol serum and prevent it from blocking the blood vessel. Atis fruit rich in fiber and it also contains niacin, one of Vitamin B type which has significant effect in increasing good fat or HDL ( High Density Lipoprotein ) in the body.
13. Prevent atherosclerosis
As mentioned before that fruit has significant effect in in lowering cholesterol level, it may help the body to block it from entering blood vessel and developing atherosclerosis. Atheroscleoris is a condition where the blood vessel become thicker than normally. This thickening of blood vessels wall may lead to high blood pressure.
14. Boost immune function
Vitamin C in atis fruit can boost the immune system function and help to combat disease. When your body lack of immune such as having cold or flu , you can just consume atis fruit to boost your immune system and heal faster.
15. Prevent anemia
Most important atis benefits is for anemia preventing fruit. Atis fruit contains some amount of iron that important in the red blood cell production. Lack of iron may cause anemia (a condition where the body lack of red blood cell ). Anemia make your body weak, since the red blood cell is required in delivering oxygen and nutrition to your body.
16. Keep strong bones
Calcium has been linked to keep healthy strong bones. Atis fruit contains calcium which are important to keep bone mass. It also contain magnesium that has same importance in keeping strong bone. Without magnesium, calcium cant be absorbed by the body to build strong bones.
17. Promotes healthy hair
Vitamin A is not only important in maintain healthy vision. Its also can keep healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Atis fruit also help to nourish the hair roots and make it moist and smooth.
18. Prevent New born baby disorder
Atis fruit contains Vitamin B9 or folate that are important in developing fetus in womb. Pregnant woman should consider to fulfill the needs of folate to prevent disorder such as neural tube damage in her new born baby. Consuming atis fruit can help to fulfill the rocomended daily allowance of folate.
19. Maintain thyroid function
Thyroid is a gland of hormone that control some body or organ function such as growth and metabolism. Copper which contained in atis fruit can help the body to maintain healthy thyroid function.
20. Prevent asthma
Atis fruit is good for people who are suffering asthma. By consuming atis fruit you deliver some amounts of vitamin C to your body which are potetial antioxidant substance that may reduce the risk of developing asthma and decrease inflammation on the respiratory tract.
21. Prevent from Diabetes
Diabetes is one of degenerative disease that has become epidemic nowadays. Diabetes may cause several health problem and even death. Lack of consuming fiber is one of the cause of diabetes. Dietary fiber contained in atis fruit can slower sugar absorption in the body and reduce the risk of developing diabetes especially type 2.
22. Treat pre-menstrual syndrome
Pre-menstrual syndrom is a condition which occur on the woman body during menstrual period. PMS may cause several problem such as weakness, bad mood, cramping and fatigue. It is believed that consuming atis fruit can treat and reduce the symptoms of PMS.
23. Reduce inflammation
Vitamin C contained in atis fruit also effective in reduce inflammation such as in people who suffer arthritis.
24. Increase concentration
Not many people know that atis fruit can provide this benefits. Yes, atis fruit contains several types of amino acids such as trypthopan and lysine which is important in keeping brain function.
25. Cure morning sickness
It is believed that atis fruit can cure morning sickness in women and it can be alternative to of milk be consumed by pregnant women who are allergic to diary product.
26. Fights acne
Not only brighten the skin, atis fruit can be used to treat acnes and pimple. Just rub some of smooth flesh of atis fruit and let it for some minutes. Atis fruits contains some substance which can reduce inflammation.
Those are the benefits of atis fruit that you should know. If you want to purchase it on market, make sure you choose only fresh fruit and avoid to buy the ftuit if you find it moldy and the skin are no longer green. There is no health side reported by eating atis fruit but you can limit it by two fruits maximum a day. Go get the atis fruit and grab the benefits.