What is sapodilla?

Sapodilla is the fruit of the sapodilla tree, a species belonging to the Sapotaceae family. It is believed that this plant is native to the forests of Central America. Today its main producers at a commercial level are India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

What are the nutritional properties of sapodilla?

100 g of sapodilla bring in approximately 83 calories and:

  • 0.44 g of protein
  • 1.10 g of lipids
  • 19.9 g carbohydrates
  • 5.3 g of fiber
  • 0.540 mg of niacin
  • 0.252 mg of pantothenic acid
  • 0,200 mg of vitamin C
  • 0.058 mg of thiamin
  • 0.037 mg of pyridoxine
  • 0.020 mg of riboflavin
  • 14 micrograms of folate
  • 60 IU of vitamin A
  • 193 mg of potassium
  • 21 mg of calcium
  • 12 mg of phosphorus
  • 12 mg of magnesium
  • 12 mg of sodium
  • 1.10 mg of zinc
  • 0.086 mg of copper
  • 0.80 mg of iron
  • 0.6 micrograms of selenium

The sapodilla is a source of tannins.

 

When should you not eat sapodilla?

There are no known conditions where sapodilla could interfere with the intake of drugs or substances. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.

 

Seasonality of sapodilla

Sapodilla is available on the market during the whole year .

 

Possible benefits and drawbacks of sapodilla

Sapodilla is a good source of minerals. In addition it brings a healthy dose of dietary fiber, which act as a laxative and can be useful in cases of constipation. The action of the fibers protects the cells of the colon from prolonged contact with toxins that may be present in the food that can promote the onset of cancer. Tannins can exert a rather astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic action. This can be useful in cases of diarrhea, bleeding, hemorrhoids, gastritis, reflux esophagitis, enteritis and intestinal irritation. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and promotes a good immune response, and vitamin A protects sight and reduces the risk of tumors to the lungs and to the oral cavity.

Consuming sapodilla unripe can cause oral ulcers, itchy throat and difficulty breathing, especially in children.