What Are the Benefits of Persimmons?

By David Harris, eHow Contributor

(No article date)

Persimmon consumption dates to ancient China. The round fruit with a glossy, orange-red skin arrived in the United States in the 19th century. Persimmons have many health benefits since they are rich in fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.

A Healthy Snack

• Rather than reach for a snack full of calories, eating a persimmon ( like most fruit), is a low calorie way to munch between meals and feel satisfied. A typical persimmon contains 70 calories per 100 grams, is very low in fats and rich in fiber. According to the CDC, one persimmon contains more than 20 percent of your daily fiber. Eating fiber helps regulate and normalize your bowels, helps you lose weight and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Vitamins A and C

• One persimmon contains about 50 percent of your daily allotment of vitamin A and 20 percent of your vitamin C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (CDC). Vitamin A is helpful for fighting age-related eye ailments such as macular degeneration. It is also helpful for fighting cancer, enhancing the immune system and for people with skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and sunburn. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system so you can better fight off infectious agents.

Antioxidants

• Fresh persimmons also provide numerous other important nutrients. Many of the nutrients in persimmons are considered antioxidants, such as manganese. Antioxidants work by eliminating free radicals, atoms that destroy cells, potentially leading to cancer, aging and other disease. Other antioxidants in persimmons include lycopene and beta-carotene. Persimmons are also rich in copper, which promotes red blood cell health.

Warnings

• Although persimmons are full of good nutrients, eating too many can be harmful to your health. Persimmons contain a compound called shibuol. Shibuol can react with the acid in your stomach and create another sticky compound known as bezoar. If you eat too many persimmons, the bezoar created in your stomach can eventually lead to intestinal blockage. In some severe situations, people who eat too many persimmons have required surgery to remove the obstructions. Only eat persimmons on a full stomach to avoid this issue.

References

• CDC: Fruit of the Month: Persimmons
• Health Mad; The Many Health Benefits of Eating Persimmons; K. Leong; November 2008
• Nutrition and You: Persimmon Fruit Nutrition Facts
• Rice University: Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Resources

• Mayo Clinic: Dietary Fiber
• eMedTV: Benefits of Vitamin A

• Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images                      

Source: What Are the Benefits of Persimmons?