Custard Apple, otherwise known as Cherimoya or Sitapal, is a green cone-shaped fruit with sweet, creamy flesh and leathery skin that is quite popular and has a sugary taste similar to other lush fruits. It is used in desserts, such as ice creams, milkshakes, and kheers, because of its sweet flavor. It is high in vitamins and minerals and low in saturated fats. However, some parts of those fruits comprise toxins that can damage your nervous system if consumed in high amounts (1). This delightful winter fruit’s leaves are used as an insecticide and in the healing of bleeding wounds. In addition, its seeds are more effective in treating antitumors and various types of cancers.

Nutritional value per 100 g

Source: Wikipedia

Energy	313 kJ (75 kcal)
Carbohydrates	17.71 g
Sugars	12.87
Dietary fiber	3 g
Fat	0.68 g
Protein	1.57 g
Thiamine (B1)	0.101 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	0.131 mg
Niacin (B3)	0.644 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.345 mg
Vitamin B6	0.257 mg
Folate (B9)	23 μg
Vitamin C	12.6 mg
Vitamin E	0.27 mg
Calcium	10 mg
Iron	0.27 mg
Magnesium	17 mg
Manganese	0.093 mg
Phosphorus	26 mg
Potassium	287 mg
Sodium	7 mg
Zinc	0.16 mg
Water	79.4 g

Health Benefits of Custard Apple

1. Enhances Vision

This delicious fruit offers many health benefits. For instance, this fruit is packed with high amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, and riboflavin is more beneficial for good vision health (2). These essential nutrients enhance eyesight and decrease the possibilities of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts (3). It also helps in allowing your eyes to function properly by preventing them from drying out.

2. Aids in Weight Gain

For those who want to gain weight, eating more custard apples is the best option because this sugary fruit motivates your appetite level that increases your metabolic rate, which results in good weight gain.

3. Improves Heart Health

There are very few fruits with an actual amount of magnesium and potassium present, and this fruit is one of them. Therefore, it protects our cardiovascular from the risk of heart diseases due to potassium and magnesium, which help us endure the fluctuating blood in the body. Besides, it allows us to have a regular heartbeat and keep the proper functioning of the nervous system. Furthermore, since custard apples are rich in iron, they are extremely useful in upping your hemoglobin levels.

4. Ease Labor Pain

Consumption of custard apples during pregnancy may help them cope with morning sickness, numbness, and mood swings. Moreover, regular consumption can increase their breast milk production and reduce labor pain; it helps in the proper development of the fetus as well.

5. Battles Cancer

Custard apple acts against cancer-causing cells in the human body without affecting the healthy cells. It helps treat numerous types of cancers and tumors as it is rich in flavonoids (4). This fruit has a few elements like acetogenin and alkaloids that have anti-cancer and anti-helminths properties, reducing the risk of cancer growth. So, include this fruit in your diet to avoid cancer and tumor growth. 

6. Reduces the Possibility of Arthritis

Magnesium in custard apple helps equalize the water balance in the human body, thus eradicating acids from the joints and reducing the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. In addition, calcium is vital for bone health, and custard apples contain plenty of calcium. Moreover, regular consumption may help reduce muscle weakness. 

7. Ensures Smooth Digestion

The actual amount of dietary fibers in cherimoya is excellent for gut health (5). When consumed cherimoya regularly, it helps stimulate metabolism and ensures smooth digestion. In addition, the custard apple prevents ulcers, gastric problems like heartburn, acidity, indigestion, and acidic reactions within the body due to its anti-inflammatory property. 

8. Skin Health

Custard apple keeps skin youthful and delays aging by stimulating and increasing collagen production in the body because it is rich in antioxidants. Collagen is an essential protein for maintaining skin elasticity. Besides, its production becomes slow as per age, which results in the formation of lines on the skin. So, increasing the consumption of cherimoya can prevent aging and keep the skin looking youthful.

The Easiest Way to Prepare Custard Apple Ice Cream

Follow the below steps to prepare

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vanilla essence
• ¾ cup deseeded custard apple
• 1 banana
• 2 cups of milk
• 100 g fresh cream
• 1 cup milk powder

Methods

Step 1 - Add all ingredients to the blender together with ½ cup of custard fruit and blend until it becomes smooth. 

Step 2 - Mix well until no lumps are formed. Then, put the remaining fruit into the blender and mix them well. 

Step 3 - Take a container and pour the mix. Then cover it with foil paper and refrigerate it for a few hours.

Step 4 - After few hours, your ice cream is ready. Now, serve and enjoy!

Note: Before eating this fruit, it comprises a small amount of toxic compound in the seeds and skin. Hence, peel off the skin and remove the seeds before having the fruit. 

Summary

Custard Apple - otherwise known as Cherimoya or Sitaphal or Sugar apple - is a sweet and delicious tasting fruit. It is not a very famous fruit, especially in India. It helps greatly during pregnancy. You can eat custard apple daily as it provides so many health benefits like helping to increase body weight, improving heart health, enhancing vision health, fighting cancer growth. However, its skin and seeds contain small amounts of toxic compounds. So, be careful while eating this fruit.