Sapodilla

About sapodilla tree (chiku):
It is known as "chiku" in Northern India. It is also available here in Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

Sapodilla can grow to more than 30 m tall with an average trunk diameter of 1.5 m. The average height of cultivated specimens, however, is usually between 9 and 15 m with a trunk diameter not exceeding 50 cm. It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm long, with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla. An unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white chicle from its stem. A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.

The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments, dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round. The fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth. The fruit is a large berry, 4–8 cm in diameter. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture skin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each fruit contains one to six seeds. The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.

Health benefits of sapodilla(chiku):

1. Vitamin-A&c: vitamin A does keep our eyes healthy, and you might see the benefits of it when you're a lot older. And as for vitamin-c its benefits are best known. It keeps your immunity strong, skin in good condition, kills free radicals, prevents heart disorders.
2. Helps in Digestion: the dietary fibers make the sapota a laxative, therefore helping to fix constipation problems.
3. Control blood pressure: It's also good to treat anaemia with, as it's also rich in iron. The magnesium in sapota keeps the blood vessels up and running, and the potassium regulates blood pressure and circulation.
4. Controls weight: If you're on a diet, a sapota might work to rid your body of water retention. It regularises your metabolism, and works to your advantage if you're trying to lose weight.
   
5. Energy provider: The natural fructose and sucrose content in sapota  can give your body a lot of energy.
6. Good for bones: This delicious fruit is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and therefore keeps your bones strong. It is a good source of minerals like iron, folates, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, phosphorous, selenium etc which are very essential for facilitating various body functions including proper bone growth.
7. Beauty benefits: Eating the sapota regularly helps to remove toxins from your body. It keeps them healthy and moisturised. instead of putting it on your face or in your hair, unless you're doing it every day. It helps promote the production of collagen, and prevents the growth of deep wrinkles.
8. Sources of Antioxidants: Sapota prevent certain types of cancer such as oral cavity cancer. Apart from being rich in dietary fiber, vitamins-A, vitamins-B & vitamins-c. the sapota is also packed with anti-oxidants. 

Click here to read this article in Hindi. 

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