Ever heard of Loquat fruit? This pulpy, sappy, tangy fruit is not only delicious but healthy as well. This egg-shaped Loquat fruit carries various health benefits. The fruit is generally orange in color. The botanical name of this fruit is Eriobotrya japonica. It is popularly known as Japanese Plum and Chinese Plum. Being closely related to the family of apples it is quite similar in taste and texture, although ripped fruits are softer and smoother in taste instead of crispy.
The fruit grows on an evergreen shrub or small tree 5–10 meters (16–33 ft) tall, but often found to be smaller about 3-4 meters. Loquat fruits are quite special owing to the fact that the flowers start appearing in the autumn or early winters, but the fruits ripen at the time of onset of spring and summer.
The fruit has very many health benefits. Its advantages are as unique and special as the fruit itself is.
Life has no meaning if you do not follow a healthy lifestyle. Mental and physical health must top everybody’s list of priority. After all, it is worth it.
Adding this yellow-orange pulpy Loquat fruit to your diet will help you gain more nutrients and less fat.
Loquat fruit benefits
Loquat fruits carry a lower amount of calories, say, 47 calories per 100g. Rich in insoluble dietary fiber, Pectin, the fruit seems to be effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels.
The fruit is a great source of vitamin A and various phenolic flavonoid antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid, neo-chlorogenic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, feruloyl quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, coumaric acids and ferulic acid. Ripped fruits have more chlorogenic acid concentrations.
Vitamin A helps in maintaining the integration of mucosa and skin. As per the lab studies, consumption of natural fruits carrying rich amounts of vitamin A and flavonoids can prove to be helpful in protection from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Potassium and some amounts of vitamin B-complex and vitamin C are present in fresh fruits. Having said that, Potassium is an essential component of cell and body fluids that helps in regulation of heart rate and blood pressure.
Adding further, these fruits are an amazing source of iron, copper, calcium, manganese and other minerals. While, copper is important in the production of red blood cells. Manganese is a rare element needed for the metabolism of our body which is working as a co-factor for the proper functioning of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Anyhow, Iron is also needed for the Proper action of cellular oxidation and is also essential in red blood cell production.
Potassium is found in abundance in Loquat fruit. Potassium works as a vasodilator and hence is good for the cardiovascular system. It helps to reduce the pressure on the arteries and the blood vessels, thus helps in lowering the blood pressure. Thus, it helps to protect the health of the heart. Potassium is also good for the brain. It boosts the working of the brain as it helps in increasing the blood flow to the brain’s capillaries, increasing the cognition.
The tea of Loquat is very much good for the treatment as well as prevention of diabetes. The level of blood sugar is seen to decrease when a person affected with diabetes consumes Loquat tea on a regular basis.
We find that corosolic acid and laetrile, which are antioxidants, can help in neutralizing the body’s free radicals leading the cells that are healthy to mutate. This can lead to cancer. Loquat tea is seen to decrease the chances of oral cancer as well as lung cancer.
Serving and Storage
You can eat it fresh after washing with cold water or mix it with other fruits and prepare salad after peeling it off.
Also, they can be used in preparing fillings for pies or used in preparing the sauce.
Syrups are made with the pulp of loquats while jam and jellies are prepared with sugar.
Natural fruits generally do not have pitfalls or drawbacks, but over eating anything can affect your health seriously. The seeds of Loquat fruits are toxic in nature, containing toxic alkaloids like cyanogen-glycosides. Consumption of these toxic seeds can lead to fatal consequences, thus, children are advised not to chew the seeds and adults must supervise them.
Be safe and stay healthy. Eating healthy is easy so why not do it today.
