Health Benefits of African Pear

African Pear, Dacryodes edulis, is an evergreen tree that grows in the humid and sub-humid regions o f the tropics.  It is grown in countries like Angola, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Malaysia for the many uses that can be derived from its leaves, trunk, and fruit. The tree grows to a height of up to 40 meters in the wild but when cultivated, it does not exceed 12 meters.

The health benefits of African Pear are gotten majorly from its fruit and seeds. The fruit is high in vitamins, minerals, and oil. These nutrients are beneficial to cellular processes of the body. Its seed, not commonly consumed by humans, contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and many more nutrients. The seed is known to have vasomodulatory properties as it is also known for Piperine.

The African pear fruit is a drupe that is usually violet in color and is eaten raw or cooked. It could be cooked mildly in hot water or hot ash and consumed alongside roasted maize.

Nutritional Information on African Pear

Carbs                                                     10 g

Dietary Fiber                                      1 g

Sugar                                                     -- g

Fat                                                          18 g

Saturated                                            -- g

Polyunsaturated                              -- g

Monounsaturated                           -- g

Trans                                                     -- g

Protein                                                 2 g

Sodium                                                 -- mg

Potassium                                           550 mg

Cholesterol                                         -- mg

Vitamin A                                            -- %

Vitamin C                                             22 %

Calcium                                                50 %

Iron                                                        -- %

The above nutritional information on African pear represents only 100g of the fruit. It contains no sugar and 1g of dietary fiber. No saturated or Trans-fat, and 2g of protein. It contains high level of vitamin c, potassium and calcium. Also note that 100g of African pear contain 409 calories.

Health Benefits of African Pear

The African Pear has been researched and known to be rich in all major nutrients when the seeds and pulp is combined. The pulp, apart from the seed, is also rich in protein, fiber, and essential amino acids. These nutrients aid some health improvements and some of the health benefits are highlighted below.

1. Prevents Skin Irritation

African pear is abundant in vitamin c. it contains more vitamin c than fruits such as oranges, mangoes, and lemons. With its abundance of vitamin c, it helps to get rid of free radicals and repair damaged dermal cells.

It also improves skin texture by removing wrinkles and promotes anti-aging by strengthening the skin cells.

The oil gotten from African pear has low viscosity and also contains antibacterial agent. This oil can be added to creams as a stabilizer to lock in moisture and consequently keep the skin smooth.

2. Prevents Vascular Diseases

Vascular diseases have been on the rise in Nigeria. It is a relief that there is a fruit that has been proven to help with curbing such diseases. African pear is abundant in soluble fiber that reduces the absorption of bile acid from the intestine thus eliminating vascular disturbance.

The presence of Linoleic acid in African pear, known to help in preventing vascular diseases as it is an important polyunsaturated fatty acid. Its oxidative stability, which determines how easy it is to breakdown the constituents of the oil is high, meaning it is easier to break down the African pear oil than it is to break down some other alternatives.

It contains little calories and consequently discourages the build up of fats in the vascular tissues, thereby reducing the pressure the heart requires to circulate blood through these vessels.

3. Improves Teeth and Bone Health

African pear contains a high level of calcium and potassium. These minerals are important parts of building stronger bones and teeth. This means that since African pear contain both minerals, they are directly responsible for improving and strengthening the bones and teeth of those who regularly consume it.

Halitosis, which is a medical condition that many people combat in silence is also treated using African pear. It has antimicrobial qualities that combats microbes responsible for the foul odor that escapes the mouth after some period of inactivity.

4. Improves Bowel Movement

The high amount of fiber that African pear contains ensures the ease movement of bowel by adding mass to the fecal matter and putting pressure on the colon to make it exited easily. It also helps you feel full faster.

5. Cures Dysentery

Dysentery is an intestinal infection that is characterized by stooling, vomiting, and constipation. Sometimes, it may be accompanied by fever, and blood in feces. The symptoms are mostly mild but the disease is taken more seriously when the affected person is dehydrated.

It is usually caused either by a bacterium, Shigella bacillus, or by an amoeba, Entamoeba histolytica.

Africa pear contains a substance called pectin. Pectin is a known substance that is used to make bowel movement easier. It is used to work against constipation and diarrhea, two symptoms of dysentery. This substance is also present in some medications used to treat dysentery

Conclusion

African Pear is an indigenous deciduous tree that has so many useful attributes. It grows more luxuriantly in the forest where there is shade and the atmosphere, humid. However, it can be domesticated and cultivated and it will produce its fruits abundantly.

Its fruit is made of the pulpy part, the part that is commonly consumed. It is rich in proteins, oil, and minerals that are beneficial to the body. Its seed also contain more oils that influences the medicinal value that it has.