With the temperature rising, it is essential to keep ourselves cool and hydrated. Health experts advise consuming fruits with a high-water content. Fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, mangoes, apples, papaya, and others help to get rid of toxins and regulate body temperature. Among all these fruits, what deserves special attention is the ice apple, or tadgola.
Ice apple is known for its natural cooling properties, making it an ideal choice to fight dehydration in the summer months. Ice apple is the sweet jelly seed socket of the fruit derived from the doub, or sugar palm tree. It has a high-water content of around 95 percent. The fruit keeps the body cool and maintains electrolyte balance with the presence of essential minerals like potassium and magnesium.
Ice apple is a low-calorie fruit and is rich in calcium and phytonutrients, apart from sodium and potassium. The juicy fruit prevents dehydration and fatigue in the summer. Besides, it is very useful in relieving skin issues like heat rashes and itchiness caused by exposure to heat. However, one should avoid consuming overripe ice apples, as they can cause stomach aches.
Ice apples can be consumed either in their raw form or in the form of squash juice, sharbat, kheer, peda, and others. Chopped tadgola pieces pair beautifully with vanilla or tender coconut ice cream as dessert too. Apart from being an excellent coolant, ice apple is a fruit that is a must for summer consumption owing to its health benefits. Take a look at some of them:
1. Boosts the Immune System
Owing to the presence of vitamin C and vitamin B complex, ice apples can be regarded as one of the best fruits to boost the immune system and provide an energy boost. The vitamins support the cellular function of the immune system, boosting its ability to fight disease-causing pathogens.
2. Helps In Weight Loss
If you’re into weight loss management, ice apples are the best fruit for you. The presence of water in the fruit helps the body sustain the feeling of fullness and helps to avoid overeating. Also, the presence of low-calorie foods provides the body with essential nutrients without adding to the calorie count.
3. Cures Stomach Ailments And Digestive Problems
As ice apples are rich in dietary fibre, they help to cure stomach ailments like constipation, bloating, and nausea. If you are suffering from such stomach and digestive problems, you must consume ice apples regularly.
4. Slows Down Aging
Due to the presence of phytochemicals that possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that slow down ageing. It also helps the body fight off the action of free radicals.
5. Good For Skin Health
Vitamin C, present in ice apples, is beneficial for good skin health. The nutrient helps the skin produce collagen, a protein that helps maintain the form and structure of the skin. Vitamin C also fights free-radical damage.
6. Promotes Liver Heath
Rich in potassium, ice apples help prevent liver damage. Additionally, it also helps to clean the toxins out of the body, thereby promoting liver health.