Persimmon Fruit: Nutritional Facts and Health Benefits

Pomegranates and oranges have caught all the attention as fruity tasty fruits, but you always ignore the persimmon in your shopping cart. That’s not fair! There are multiple health benefits of persimmons.

Persimmons are small, flat tomato-shaped orange or reddish-brown fruits. They are known for their sweet and textured taste.

Persimmons usually come in two varieties: According to conducted research, astringent and non-astringent varieties. Astringent is high in phytochemicals known as tannins. They tend to give the immature fruit a bitter and dry taste. Before eating, you need to wait until the astringent persimmon ripens. On the other hand, the non-astringent variety is rich in tannins but can be eaten unripe.

Let’s unhide all the interesting facts about persimmon including benefits, nutritional content, and how to eat it in your daily life.

Persimmon is a wealth of nutrition

Nutritional Content:

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, “Persimmons are highly rich in vitamins A, vitamin E, vitamins C and B-vitamins (particularly vitamin B6), as well as dietary fiber, manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, potassium.”

Persimmons also contain other organic compounds, according to a report published in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Sciences. These mainly include carotenoid compounds, which take part in providing health benefits.

Similarly, according to the National Library of Medicine, “the persimmon has all the nutrients that our body needs for proper functioning”. Have a look at the nutritional value of persimmon.

Did You know: Persimmon is known as a Japanese fruit because it was first introduced in Japan in the 14th Century?

Thought- Provoking facts:

• A high level of beta-carotene is present in the flesh of persimmon, which aids in the prevention of cancer, strengthens eye vision, and slows aging.
• Persimmon can be used as a tonic to function against asthenia when it is soaked in alcohol.
•  The amount of organic sugar inside the persimmon is highly beneficial to all cardiovascular patients.
• You do not need to take medicine if you are eating four to five persimmons per day because it helps to maintain blood pressure.
• It has a strong bactericidal effect as you can put the persimmon on the injury, burns, or wounds in order to heal quickly.
• Persimmons have a great amount of pectin and tannin which are responsible to tighten up the intestinal mucosa and also affect the peristalsis movement of the intestines.

Tip: According to the National Library of Medicine, “ You should not eat persimmon with high protein foods as it affects the process of digestion.”

Comprehensive Benefits of Persimmon for Health:

Here you will be going to find out the possible health benefits of persimmon in detail.

1. Boost your immune system:

Everyone wants to know the best ways to increase immunity nowadays. Surprisingly, persimmon is best to boost immunity due to the presence of vitamin C. Comparatively to other fruits, it has higher quantities of Vitamin C which is one of the beneficial nutrients.

According to a study reported in the Journal of food quality, “persimmon increases the synthesis of white blood cells and effectively stimulates the immunity which helps to fight against the microbes, viral pathogens as it is the primary line of defense” 

There are antioxidants in persimmon which helps to minimize the chances of many diseases. Such antioxidants reduce inflammation and fight against free radicals. One bite of persimmon gives an energy booster to your immune system.

1. Anti-cancerous properties:

These delightful little fruits contain antioxidants and anti-cancer properties, which can help fight free radicals, improve overall health, and boost your body’s ability to prevent many diseases. Free radicals are byproducts of cellular metabolism that can mutate healthy cells into cancer cells and damage various organ systems.

Does persimmon really stop the growth of cancer? According to the reported study, “the persimmon has potential benefits to static the growth of 6cancerous cells and helps to prevent further proliferation to other healthy cells.”

A study published in the Journal of the Korean Nutrition Society investigated “the anticancer effect of persimmon leaf extract on human gastric cancer cells. It was concluded that persimmon leaf extract showed strong anticancer potential. However, more research is needed on the effectiveness of this fruit.”

1. Promotes Good Vision:

The compounds in persimmon may also benefit the health of the eyes! A joint compound, the carotenoid alcohol zeaxanthin, is found in B-complex vitamins. Persimmons are known to contain these types of vitamins.

According to Dr. Lam Wai Kwok, “Zeaxanthin is directly linked to improved eye health due to its action as an antioxidant. He also says that this compound has the potential to help reduce related conditions such as night blindness, macular degeneration, and cataracts.”

As concluded by the 2017 research, “The persimmon has shown positive results to reduce the symptoms of eye infections.”

1. Regulates Circulation of Blood:

The exciting characteristic of persimmon is to make new red blood cells. Persimmon provides an essential element such as copper which maintains blood pressure.

According to the National Library of Medicine, in the absence of copper, you will be unable to take the healthy nutrients to make hemoglobin.

Similarly, another essential element is potassium present in the persimmon to control blood levels. It acts as a vasodilator which is greatly responsible to lower blood pressure.

In a 2012 study, researchers examined “the antihypertensive effect of unripe persimmons in impulsively hypertensive rats. Studies have revealed that when rats ate the persimmon for 3-4 days, blood pressure dropped. Though, the initial results were promising.”

How to Eat Persimmon?

You can eat the persimmon in fresh, cooked, raw, or dried form, but it always gives you a sweet and pulpy flavor.

You may blend them into smoothies and dehydrate them to make fruit snacks. You can consult with a nutritionist to include the amount of persimmon to be added into your diet especially when you’re a diabetic. 

In a Nutshell…

The benefits of persimmon are praiseworthy to the health of humans. If you have not tried this fruit yet, then next time you stock up whenever you see it at the grocery store. It will be tastier for both taste buds and the body.

FAQS:

1. Can a diabetic patient eat a persimmon?

Yes, Persimmon contains bioactive molecules such as proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins, and more, which fight against diabetes.

2. What are the side effects of eating persimmon?

Persimmons do not show serious side effects when consumed in moderation. Yet, certain individuals are allergic to these fruits and should not eat persimmons as they can cause indications of stomach upset, vomiting, or anaphylactic shock in severe circumstances.

3. Is it OK to eat the skin of Persimmon?

Yes, the peel of persimmon is edible.