Sugar Apple can Eradicate Hair Lice

Have you ever heard of, seen, eaten or used sugar apple? If yes, what spectacular things about this fruit do you actually know about? If no, just relax and read through this article. But apart from eating the sugar apple as a fruit, are you equally aware that this fruit goes beyond being a normal to a phenomenal fruit? Did you know that you can convert this fruit as your quick homemade herbal fruit for tackling several diseases? Right! Just a little bit of intro into what the sugar apple is all about before shedding more light on the reasons why you constantly need this fruit very close to you.

What then is sugar apple? Sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) is one of the most important fruits among the long lists of medicinal and nutritive fruits. Sugar apple is also known as sweetsop, sugar-pineapple, custard apple (Annona reticulata), aajaa thee, seureuba, plae teib, Gishta (ጊሽጣ), Zimtapfel, foreign lychee, anona blanca, قشطة (ishta), buah nona, noi-na, matomoko, hairico, Khirmish (خرمش), ekistaferi, kachiman, atis, annona guatemala, hvaðerþetta, matopetope, fasadabur, conicony, mãng cầu ta (na) sitaphal, sharifa, sitappalam, fruta-do-conde(fruta-pinha), ata, sitaphal, Katu Atha, srikaya, buah nona, pomme cannelle or pinyin.

The sweetsop is closely related to guyabano (soursop) but a lot more smaller in size without spikes. The fruit is granular in appearance, juicy, soft, sweet and has aromatic flavour. Sugar-apple is a tropical fruit that belongs to the Annonaceae family with a conical shape. The fruit measures approximately 2.4–3.9 inches height, 2.0–3.9 inches in diameter and weighs up to 240 g. The outer skin or rind is very thick with knobby segments that usually separates when ripe. The inner flesh is light yellow to creamy white in colour, tasty and has similar taste to that of custard which suggests why it is also known as custard apple. Each fruit contains up between 15 to 40 seeds depending on the size. Sweetsop is highly medicinal, nutritive and therapeutic in nature which suggests its global high demand. Here are some of the reasons why this fruit is highly sought after.

Nutritional Values of Sugar apple

Sugar apple is an excellent source of essential minerals and vitamins which are needed for the healthy functioning of our bodies and these include; carbohydrates, dietary fiber, protein, thiamine (B1), zinc, riboflavin (B2), potassium, niacin (B3), phosphorus, pantothenic acid (B5), manganese, calcium, vitamin B6, folate (B9), vitamin C, iron and magnesium.

Eradicates Lice

Unripe sweetsop powder can be mixed with coconut oil or water to form a paste which can be applied on the scalp to eradicate lice. Allow the paste to stay for at least 15 to 20 minutes before washing. Repeat the procedure every day until the entire scalp is cleared of lice.

Benefits of Sugar Apple

1. Ideal for Pregnant Women

2. Promotes Healthy Heart

3. Dermatological Benefits

4. Prevents Asthma

5. Regulates Sugar Level

6. Controls the Blood Pressure Level

7. Energy Booster

8. Promotes Healthy Bones

9. Controls the Cholesterol Level

10. Anti-cancer Properties

11. Treatment of Toothache

12. Prevents Anemia

14. Promotes Digestion

13. Promotes Healthy Eyesight

15. Treatment of Infections

16. Detoxifying Properties

17. Eradicates Lice

18. Ideal Treatment for the Hair

19. Ideal for Menstruating Women

20. Healing of Wounds

21. Culinary Purposes

22. Healthy Weight Gain

23. Prevents Asthma Attack

24. Other Uses of Sweetsop

Food Value Per 100 g of Edible Portion* (via Purdue University)

Calories  =  88.9-95.7 g
Moisture  = 69.8-75.18 g
Fat   =  0.26-1.10 g
Carbohydrates**  =  19.16-25.19 g
Crude Fiber   =  1.14-2.50 g
Protein  =  1.53-2.38 g
Amino Acids:
Tryptophan   = 9-10 mg
Methionine   = 7-8 mg
Lysine   = 54-69 mg
Minerals:
Ash  =  0.55-1.34 mg
Phosphorus   =   23.6-55.3 mg
Calcium   =  19.4-44.7 mg
Iron   =  0.28-1.34 mg
Vitamins:
Carotene   =  5-7 I.U.
Thiamine   =  0.100-0.13 mg
Riboflavin   =  0.113-0.167 mg
Niacin   =  0.654-0.931 mg
Ascorbic Acid   =  34.7-42.2 mg

* Minimum and maximum levels of constituents from analyses made in the Philippines, Central America and Cuba.
**The average sugar content is 14.58% and is about 50-50 glucose and sucrose.

Medicinal value of Atis (courtesy of Bureau of Plant Industry)

1) The leaves are applied as a poultice to children with dyspepsia.
2) Crushed seeds with coconut oil are applied on the scalp to rid it of lice.
3) A decoction of the seeds is used as an enema for the children with dyspepsia.
4) Externally the leaves, the unripe fruit, and the seeds (which contain acrid principle) possess vermicidal and insecticidal properties.
5) The crushed seeds, in a paste with water, are applied to the scalp to destroy lice.
6) The unripe fruit is astringent, and is given in diarrhea, dysentery and atonic dyspepsia.
7) The bark, according to Nadkarni, is considered a powerful astringent and tonic.
8) The roots are considered a drastic purgative.

I rarely see an atis tree. Maybe Filipinos are not giving it much attention. Farmers are always focus on planting high value fruits such as mango, lanzones, durian, rambutan, lychee, ponkan and dalandan. I hope we can give this fruit a shot!