What You May Not Know About The Taste And Benefits Of Persimmon Fruit

The persimmon fruit is native to Japan, Korea, China, and other East0-Asian countries, and there are over 350 persimmon tree options. This brightly-colored orange fruit with a delicious, rich, and flavorful taste is packed with many beneficial nutrients. Because of this, the persimmon fruit is sometimes referred to as “The Divine Fruit,” and you’ll most likely find it at the exotic section at your local grocery store.

Despite having many health benefits, persimmon fruit isn’t as common as other fruits such as apples, berries, or citrus fruits. Due to this, the immense benefits the persimmon fruit has aren’t well-known by many. If you also find yourself in such a position, here’s a guide highlighting everything you most probably don’t know about the taste and benefits of the persimmon fruit.

What Does A Persimmon Taste Like?

The persimmon fruit is a reddish-brown or orange fruit with a shape similar to that of a small, flat tomato. This fruit comes in two types, the non-astringent, and astringent varieties. These two varieties have different tastes, and knowing a fruit’s flavor is undoubtedly one of the first things you want to know before deciding whether to try it out.

The astringent persimmon variety, such as the most common hachiya persimmons, have an unpleasant and bitter taste if consumed before they’re ripe. This is usually because of the high concentration of tannins. However, they eventually have a sugary and sweet taste once they mature fully. In contrast, the non-astringent variety, such as the fuyu persimmon, doesn’t contain too many tannins, hence still enjoyable even before becoming fully ripe with a somewhat crunchy and sweet taste. Both these varieties can be eaten dried, cooked, or raw.

What Are The Benefits Of The Persimmon Fruit?

Now that you know the persimmon fruit does indeed have a tasty and sweet flavor, does eating one have any health benefits? Yes, it has thanks to the many nutrients it contains, such as copper, magnesium, zinc, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, calories, and vitamin B6. Therefore, this fruit will no doubt have immense benefits to your health, including;

Reduces Your Body’s Cholesterol Levels

While the body needs cholesterol, too much of it does have an adverse effect on your overall health. This is because cholesterol is a fat-like substance, and too much of it causes it to start accumulating around your arteries. Over time, it begins to harden and narrow the arteries’ space, necessitating your heart to work harder when pumping blood across your body.

Eating the persimmon fruit helps lower blood cholesterol levels because its rich dietary fiber binds bile acid and increases its excretion. The increased excretion of bile acid leads to reduced blood cholesterol levels. Thanks to these reduced cholesterol levels, you’re less likely to suffer from different cardiac-related conditions due to high blood pressure.

Promotes Good Heart Health

The prevalence of heart-related conditions has skyrocketed due to inactive lifestyles and bad eating habits. To reduce the chances of experiencing this, then consider making persimmons part of your diet. This fruit effectively reduces the chances of heart disease thanks to being rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids like kaempferol and quercetin. These antioxidants are very effective at fighting oxidative damage and lowering the chances of chronic infections, including heart disease.

In addition, persimmons are excellent sources of gallic and tannic acid, both known to effectively reduce high cholesterol levels, inflammation, and high blood pressure. Therefore, you’re less likely to suffer from heart disease by reducing these known causes of heart diseases, all thanks to the persimmon fruit.

May Improve Your Eye Health

Persimmon contains the essential ingredients needed to boost your eye’s health. This is because these fruits contain high vitamin A content, which is required to boost your eye health. In addition, it contains zeaxanthin and lutein, carotenoids needed to prevent age-related macular degeneration. Zeaxanthin achieves this due to its antioxidant properties, hence why it’s effective in alleviating night blindness and cataracts.

May Help Reduce The Risk Of Cancer

The persimmon fruit has anti-cancer properties because it contains high levels of carotenoids and flavonoids such as beta-carotene. It also contains many phytochemicals that play a vital role in killing cancer-causing cells, preventing cancer cells from growing, and hindering the spread of cancer to other body parts. This anti-cancer attribute of the persimmon fruit can be linked to the high levels of flavonoids, beta-carotene, vitamin A and C, plus phenolic compounds such as gallocatechin and catechins. And with cancer today, one of the main causes of death, incorporating persimmon into your diet will undoubtedly be a move you won’t regret.