8 Popular Health Benefits of Ice Apples

Ice apple or sugar palm fruit is one of the exotic fruits of Southeast Asia. In India, it is known as 'tadgola' in Maharashtra, 'taal' in West Bengal, 'nungu' in Tamil Nadu and ‘munjaal’ in other parts of the country.

From being an excellent source of hydration to weight loss, there are many benefits of ice apples. This superfood has a litchi-like texture and a subtle taste like coconut.

There are various health benefits of eating ice apples. They are as follows:

1. Maintains Hydration

One of the most important benefits of sugar palm fruit is that it is a coolant fruit which is excellent for hydration. Summer in Southeast Asian regions can be very uncomfortable and cause severe dehydration. Consuming it can help keep an individual hydrated naturally.

2. Cures Digestive Problems

It is a popular belief that constipation, nausea and bloating can be cured if a person eats ice apples regularly. The plant-based compounds of this fruit contain properties that have proven effective in curing issues related to digestion.

3. Contains Anti-aging Properties

Popular health benefits of ice apples include anti-ageing because of its phytochemical content. The antioxidants in palm fruit consist of anti-inflammatory properties. These can result in a gradual but visible anti-ageing effect.

4. Assists in Weight Loss

Ice apple is low in calories and high in fibre and vitamins. It is helpful for people struggling with slow weight loss. Since this fruit has water content, it can keep the appetite full, minimise cravings, and help manage weight.

5. Good for Skincare

Among the other benefits of ice apple, its effective impact on skincare is the least popular. Nevertheless, since the fruit is rich in antioxidants, it is certainly good for skin care. You can simply rub the skin of an ice apple on your skin and naturally hydrate it.

6. Cure Rashes

It is quite common to develop rashes on the skin in summer. Rubbing the skin of an ice apple is known to clear all such irritations and soothe the area of infection. From its skin to the core, the entire fruit is beneficial.

7. Improves Liver Health

Another notable health benefit of ice apples is that they are high in potassium. Thus, it can help treat irregularities related to the liver. In addition, this fruit can remove all the toxins from our body. Therefore, it can be an alternative for cleansing our liver and promoting liver health.

8. Boosts Immune System

One of the most important fruit benefits of an ice apple is its ability to boost immunity. This low-calorie fruit packed with innumerable nutrients can help prevent many diseases. Therefore, including palm fruit in your diet can make some life-altering changes.

The easiest way to incorporate ice apples into your daily routine is to peel and eat them as it is. Moreover, it is easily available and affordable.

Here are additional ideas for consuming palm fruit.

1. Ice Apple Mocktail

You can blend the fruit with some sweetener, mint and some ice. You get your ice apple mojito. This is a very refreshing drink to enjoy in summer. If you want to elevate its taste, you can add some watermelon.

2. Palm Fruit Vada

Making fritters with palm fruit is very popular in West Bengal. The process is a bit lengthy but easy. You just need to make a puree of the fruit and sieve it carefully so that there are no lumps. Then add jaggery and cardamom powder with flour to make a batter. Drop a spoonful of the batter in oil or ghee and deep fry it.

3. Nungu Payasam

This is a common dessert popular in Tamil Nadu. You just need to dice some ice apple and blend it with some milk and almonds to make a paste. Cook this paste with milk and sugar until it thickens. Take it out and garnish it as per your choice.

4. Ice Apple Rose Milk

Another satisfying drink for this summer is ice apple rose milk. This is also a very easy recipe. Simply add some chopped ice apple and milk with rose essence. Once you get the desired texture of the drink, add sugar or sweetener and some ice to enjoy in the summer.

Ice apples are very tasty, so anyone can overeat them, which can later cause some health issues. Even though it is a superfood, consuming too many ice apples can lead to severe stomach aches and irritation in bowel movements. Hence, it is necessary to keep a check on the amount of its consumption.

For every individual, it is essential to track whether they are getting enough nutrients. One of the easiest ways to maintain this is to find superfoods. So that one can get a lot of nutrients from one single source. One such superfood is palm fruit or ice apple.

There are so many benefits of ice apples; consuming a single serving can help gain several vital nutrients.