Sapodilla

Scientific Name: Manilkara zapota

Bahasa Indonesia: Sawo

Batak: Sau

Basic Information: The sapodilla is an upright, slow-growing, long-lived evergreen tree. It is strong and wind-resistant and rich in a white, gummy latex. It can grow more than 30 meters tall but is usually only about 9-15 meters. The leaves are highly ornamental, medium in size, green, glossy, and alternately spiraled at the tip of forked twigs. The flowers are small, bell like flowers and are born on slender stalks in the axil of the leaves. The fruit is round to egg shape, 2-4 inches in diameter and brown and scruffy when ripe. The flesh can be yellow, brown, and sometimes reddish-brown and may be smooth or a granular texture. The flavor is sweet and pleasant, ranging from a pear flavor to crunchy brown sugar. The sapodilla is believed to be native to southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Health Benefits:

  1. Helps Keep Your Bones Strong – high levels of calcium can effectively promote bone density and ward off factors that contribute to bone diseases.
  2. Prevents Iron Deficiency – consuming sapodilla promotes red blood cells and produce required levels of hemoglobin effectively.
  3. Helps with Stomach Health – high levels of dietary fiber help maintain your digestive system. This can help relieve constipation, vomiting, and bloating.
  4. Great Source of Magnesium – this can ease body pain and alleviate major and minor health problems.
  5. Helps your Metabolism – the nutrients found in sapodilla help to prevent damaging factors and increase your metabolic rate naturally.
  6. Boosts Energy – the healthy nutrients found in sapodilla help to increase energy levels.
  7. Helps Eye Health – high levels of vitamin A helps maintain your eyesight and delay age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration.
  8. It’s a Diuretic – the diuretic properties in sapodilla help maintain healthy kidneys, help your body flush out toxic substances, chemicals, excess salts, and water.
  9. Treats Cough and Cold – the anti-inflammatory properties help relieve congested chest, phlegm, and mucus production.
  10. Helps Psychological Health – sapodilla contains sedative properties that can relax stressed nerves. The minerals and vitamins present can also alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  11. Helps Oral Health – sapodilla is said to help with oral issues including cavities and tooth decay.

Fun Facts:

  • The latex of the sapodilla plant is the source of chicle, the chewing gum of the Aztecs
  • The intake of unripe sapodilla causes irritation in the throat, breathing problems, and mouth ulcers
  • In Chinese, the name is mistakenly translated by many people roughly as “ginseng fruit,” though that is also the name used for the pepino, an unrelated fruit

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota

https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/sapodilla.html

https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-health-benefits-sapodilla/

http://tonsoffacts.com/23-interesting-fascinating-facts-sapodilla/