Although not so popular, the benefits of bidara fruit for health deserve attention. Besides being able to increase the body's immunity, there are still many benefits of bidara fruit that we can get.
Bidara fruit (Ziziphus mauritiana) or also known as indian jujube is a typical fruit from South Asia that is rich in nutrients. In Indonesia, this fruit is found in Sumba, Java, and Bali.
The benefits of bidara fruit are obtained from the various nutrients and bioactive compounds they contain. This fruit is best eaten fresh when it is half ripe or when it is green with a few red spots. At this stage, the bidara fruit has a crunchy texture and a sweet and sour taste.
The content of bidara fruit
When viewed from the nutritional content, bidara fruit has the potential as a good source of vitamin C for the body. Bidara fruit is also rich in water so it is good for consumption to prevent dehydration. Not only that, this fruit also contains a variety of minerals and bioactive compounds that are beneficial for the body.
In 100 grams of bidara fruit contained about:
- 17 grams of carbohydrates
- 65–75 mg of vitamin C
- 27 mg phosphorus
- 25.5 mg calcium
- 0.8- 1.8 mg iron
In addition, bidara fruit also contains several other minerals which include sodium, potassium, manganese, zinc, copper, as well as various bioactive compounds, such as phenols, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenic acids, and phenols.
Various Benefits of Bidara Fruit
The following are some of the health benefits of bidara fruit that you need to know:
1. Fight free radicals
Bidara fruit has very strong antioxidant activity thanks to the content of various bioactive compounds in it. These antioxidants are needed by the body to counteract the effects of excess free radicals that risk damaging body cells and triggering various health problems, ranging from premature aging to heart disease.
2. Increase endurance
The content of vitamin C in 100 g of bidara fruit can meet almost 100% of daily vitamin C needs. This vitamin plays an important role in supporting the work of immune cells to fight infection or produce antibodies.
Not only against infection, good immunity can also protect the body from chronic diseases, such as cancer. Plus, bidara fruit also contains a lot of triterpenic acid which has been shown to kill melanoma cancer cells. However, this still needs to be investigated further.
3. Lowering blood sugar levels
The content of saponins and tannins in bidara fruit is useful for increasing the production of the hormone insulin and increasing the absorption of blood sugar into the body's cells, especially in diabetic conditions. Even so, the benefits of this bidara fruit are still proven to be limited to animals, so it must be investigated further.
4. Protects the liver from damage
The liver is an organ that is not easily damaged. However, once the damage occurs, the liver tissue cannot return to its original state and its function will decrease drastically.
The benefits of bidara fruit in protecting liver tissue come from the content of bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity of these compounds can protect the liver from exposure to chemicals and inflammation that can cause various liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Although some of the benefits of bidara fruit still require further research, there is nothing wrong with making this fruit a healthy snack to get the nutritional and antioxidant content in it.
Besides being able to be eaten directly, bidara fruit can also be processed in the form of herbal drinks. In some areas, the young bidara fruit is also often enjoyed in the form of salad or sweets.
The bidara fruit itself is quite safe for consumption. However, if you want to take the benefits of bidara fruit to treat certain diseases, you should first consult with your doctor for advice regarding its effectiveness and safety for the condition you are experiencing.