Cherimoya: Benefits, Properties and Uses

Appearances are deceiving; this seems to apply very well to the case of the custard apple ( Annona cherimola ) because, under its rough skin, it hides a juicy, creamy pulp with a high content of nutrients.

In general, in autumn and winter, important crops can be found on the coast of Granada,

phosphorus, iron, potassium, and zinc make an essential contribution to fructose, fiber, and water. It is pleasant to the palate and beneficial to health. This post will give an exciting walk to meet the custard apple.

  • Scientific name : Annona cherimola
  • Familia: Annonaceae
  • Species : A. cherimola; Mill., Gard. Dict., ed. 8, 5, 1768
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • Order: Magnolias
  • Reino: Plants

Nutritional value of cherimoya

In a 100 g portion of cherimoya, the following nutrients are present:

  • Energy (Kcal) : 48.1
  • Carbs : 14.1g 
  • Proteins : 1.6 g
  • Dietary fiber: 3 g 
  • Carbohydrates: 14.7 g
  • Potasio: 382 mg
  • Vitamina A: 0,01 mg
  • Vitamin B3: 1.21 mg
  • Vitamina C: 14,18 mg 
  • Calcium: 21.2 mg
  • Sodio: 4 mg
  • Folic Acid: 23 mg
  • Iron: 0.43mg

Custard apple properties

  • It makes an essential contribution of minerals to the body.
  • It is a good antioxidant.
  • It has a high fiber content.
  • Helps increase cellular energy.
  • It has digestive properties.

Health benefits of cherimoya

Since it is not that difficult to grow and is highly demanded nutrition and health, many agricultural experts favor it.

On the other hand, its aroma and flavor are an invitation to enter its nutritional and medicinal properties world.

Below, some benefits of eating cherimoya are analyzed, which will surely convince you of the advantages of including it in your daily diet.

can regulate digestion

Due to its digestive properties, it can regulate intestinal transit and bacterial flora. In addition, as it is high in fiber and low in fat, it contributes to eliminating lousy cholesterol and the absorption of bile acids, which is very advantageous for people who suffer from gallbladder disorders.

On the other hand, since its enzymes auto-digest the pulp, it becomes an easily digestible fruit, so it is recommended for convalescents, the elderly, children, and pregnant women.

Contributes to better cardiovascular health

A study carried out by the Las Condes Clinic in Chile suggests that, given its high potassium content, cherimoya is an ally of heart health. In this sense, it is considered a natural regulator of blood pressure.

As it is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C and, in contrast, has low proportions of sodium and fat, it helps control cholesterol levels.

Helps fight infections

Because it is a natural antimicrobial, given its fiber, niacin, and cytotoxins composition, cherimoya helps the body protect itself from parasites.

In another sense, having a composition rich in vitamin C, which has antioxidant virtues, provides the body with more excellent resistance to infections.

It offers a tremendous nutritional contribution.

Dr. Sudhakar Kokate from India, a scientific researcher and author of books on natural medicine, has carried out studies that confirm the multiple nutritional benefits of cherimoya, as it is a fruit abundant in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.

As for the B complex vitamins that this rich food has, such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), and pyridoxine (B6), they provide benefits to cells of the neurological system and stimulate the formation of red blood cells in the body.

Beneficial for skin and bones

In a 100-gram portion, cherimoya provides 32% of the vitamin C that the body requires daily. Therefore, this fruit can be considered an important ally in maintaining youth and beauty.

However, the effects of its mineral elements such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus also influence the formation and strengthening of bones, which is why it fights osteoporosis.

Ideal for pregnant women

Custard apple is a natural gift for future mothers due to its high nutritional value and its content of nutrients that contribute to the development of the fetus’s brain and its immune systems, such as vitamins, proteins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates.

Uses of cherimoya

In many fields of medical science, the therapeutic benefits of custard apples have been used. But, of course, if, apart from eating it naturally, you want to give it a medicinal use, the correct thing to do is to request the assistance of a nutritionist or a health professional.

Some of the most frequent uses that have been given to the custard apple are:

  • In pediatrics. It has dietary applications, in the form of purees or juices, due to its content of minerals, vitamins, proteins, and sugars. 
  • Personal hygiene. The seeds are often used as a treatment for dandruff and have been successfully applied in research to treat head lice.
  • Aesthetics. Cold-effect creams with cherimoya extract are an essential element in the skin’s PH balance, as it improves its appearance and reduces itching and stinging.

Recommendations for the consumption of cherimoya

To enjoy its sweet taste and its health benefits, the following recommendations must be taken into consideration:

  • It is not advisable to eat it as a dessert after a copious meal. It produces an intestinal reaction effect in the stomach due to its richness in sugars, generating an excess of intestinal peristalsis and gas.
  • It must be incorporated into the diet without overdoing it because it has a high sugar content, so it is better to limit yourself to one serving a day and not every day of the week.
  • The intake of cherimoya in diabetic patients is not recommended.

There is evidence that the ancient Peruvians valued the custard apple, as evidenced by ceramic pieces from the Mochica culture. Upon arrival in America, the Spanish conquerors called it the white delicacy.