Wood Apple: A Remarkable Fruit with 5 Health Benefits
Wood apple, also known as bael fruit, is a remarkable fruit that offers numerous health benefits. You may have often heard that bitter foods are excellent for your health, just like neem and bitter gourd. Wood apple falls into this category of bitter fruits. While its raw fruit is quite bitter and inedible, you can extract its juice to enjoy its health benefits. Alternatively, for those who can’t access fresh wood apples, there is the option of consuming it in powdered form. You can take 1 tablespoon of this powder, mix it in a cup of water, and drink it. Wood apple can be consumed either fresh or in its powdered form. Let’s delve into the five health benefits of wood apple, backed by research from Jadavpur University of Kolkata, India in 2020.
1. Blood Sugar Regulation:
Wood apple contains coumarins, which play a crucial role in activating the beta cells in the pancreas gland. This activation leads to increased insulin production, helping to keep blood sugar levels in check. As a result, wood apple is particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes. However, it can also be useful for non-diabetics and prediabetics by enhancing insulin activity and regulating blood glucose levels.
2. Antimicrobial Properties:
The presence of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, fatty acids, and organic acids in wood apple contributes to its antimicrobial properties. These compounds help disrupt the cell membranes of harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungi, damaging their DNA. Consequently, wood apple inhibits the replication and spread of these microbes in the body, providing protection against infections.
3. Inflammation Reduction:
Wood apple is rich in tannins, which are beneficial for individuals dealing with obesity. Obesity often results in elevated levels of free fatty acids and lipids in the blood, leading to inflammation. Wood apple has been proven to reduce inflammation in the body, particularly due to lipids and free fatty acids.
4. Blood Glucose Control:
The compound phenylalanine in wood apple plays a pivotal role in facilitating glucose entry into cells by modifying the receptors on the cell membrane. This action helps regulate blood glucose levels effectively, making wood apple a valuable addition to a diabetic-friendly diet.
5. Malaria Prevention:
Wood apple has demonstrated its efficacy in combating the malaria-causing microbe. Regular consumption of wood apple can help protect the body against this harmful microorganism.
Wood apple is readily available in powdered form in the market, making it convenient to prepare a decoction by mixing the powder with honey and water. This simple remedy allows you to enjoy all the aforementioned health benefits. If you have access to fresh wood apples, you can also prepare wood apple juice by mixing 10 to 15 ml of wood apple pulp with water for consumption. Incorporate wood apple into your diet to harness its numerous health advantages and boost your immune system.