The sugar-apple, or sweetsop, is the fruit of Annona squamosa, the most widely grown species of Annona and a native of the tropical Americas and West Indies. The Spanish traders of Manila galleons brought it to Asia, where its old Mexican name ate may still be found in Malayalam and Odia Aata, Bengali aataa, Nepalese aati, Sinhalese mati anoda, Burmese awzar thee, Indonesia “Srikaya” and atis in the Philippines. It is also known as Shareefa in India and Pakistan and in the Philippines and in Australia. The name is also used in Portuguese as ata.
The fruit is spherical-conical, 5 – 10 cm (2.0-3.9 in) in diameter and 6 – 10 cm (2.4 – 3.9 in) long, and weighing 100-240 g (3.5-8.5oz), with a thick rind composed of knobby segments. The color is typically pale green through blue-green, with a deep pink blush in certain varieties, and typically has a bloom. It is unique among Annona fruits in being segmented, and the segments tend to separate when ripe, exposing the interior.
The flesh is fragrant and sweet, creamy white through light yellow, and resembles and tastes like custard. It is found adhering to 13-to-16 millimetre-long (0.51 to 0.63 in) seeds forming individual segments arranged in a single layer around a conical core. It is soft, slightly grainy, and slippery. The hard, shiny seeds may number 20-40 or more per fruit and have a brown to black coat, although varieties exist that are almost seedless.
There are also new varieties being developed in Taiwan. The atemoya or “pineapple sugar-apple,” a hybrid between the sugar-apple and the cherimoya, is popular in Taiwan, although it was first developed in the US in 1908. The fruit is similar in sweetness to the sugar-apple but has a very different taste. As its name suggests, it tastes like pineapple.
☆ Nutritional Facts of Atis Fruit
It’s sugar content ratio is also rated at 50% sucrose and 50% glucose.
☆ Other Micronutrient that the atis fruit has include;
● Vitamin A
● Vitamin B1
● Vitamin B2
● Vitamin B3
● Vitamin B6
☆ Health Benefits of Atis Fruit
● May help to prevent asthma attacks
~ About 1 in 12 Americans suffer asthma attack. People with asthma may benefit from atis fruit due to its high vitamin C content.
~ Vitamin C can be taken to minimize the risk of having asthma attacks by clearing the airways and keeping it open.
~ Bronchial inflammations can also be reduced by the presence of vitamin B6 present in the sugar apple/atis.
● Help to improve the Health of the Heart
~ The presence of magnesium in the fruits helps to calm the muscles and the nervous system. Not only that, it also helps to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
~ Other benefits of the atis fruit is the abundance of vitamin B3 and fiber as it helps to improve high-density lipoprotein (good HDL) cholesterol and minimize low-density lipoprotein (bad LDL) cholesterol.
● Helps to Boost the Immune System
~ Atis fruit is a rich source of antioxidant vitamin C, which contains immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties. The vitamin B present in the fruit also help to minimize fatigue by flooding the body with enough energy to last the say.
● Help to Lower High Blood Pressure
~ The arterial walls get thick when the blood pressure is raised. This causes the heart to be stressed beyond normal.
● Improves Brain Health
~ The vitamin B complex present in atis fruit can be used to control the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid present in the body. This also helps to minimize tension, irritability, depression, and stress.
● Has Anti-cancer properties
~ Atis fruit has been blessed with active anti-cancer properties. The custard apple has alkaloids and acetogenin that helps to reduce the risk of cancer.
● Helps to Control the level of Blood Sugar
~ Diabetes is a condition that is known to be caused by a high level of sugar present in the blood.
~ 90 to 95% of Americans are affected by type 2 diabetes. The fiber in the custard apple helps to slow down, how the body absorbs blood sugar that can equally minimize the risk of type 2 diabetes.
● Helps Pregnant Women
~ Atis fruit is rich in folate, which is very vital for pregnant women. The essentials nutrient will help develop the immune system, nervous system, and immune system of a fetus.
~ Regularly consuming atis fruits may be used to minimize the risk of miscarriages and reduce labor pain during childbirth.
● Helps to Reduce the Risk of Arthritis
~ Arthritis is considered a degenerative disease that affects the joints, causing pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types of arthritis.
~ Atis fruits contains magnesium that can be in controlling and balancing the water in the body, which works to eliminate acid from the joints. This can in turn be used to minimize symptoms associated with rheumatism and arthritis.
● Helps to Improve Skin and Health of Hair
~ The vitamin C present in the custard apple can be used in the treatment of skin infections and diseases, including eczema, boil, abscesses, and psoriasis.
~ The fruit’s antioxidants are equally great for skin rejuvenation.
~ Your hair can benefit from the iron, copper, and vitamin C present in the fruit.
References: wikipedia.org / healthtian