Persimmon, with its sweet taste and tangy flavor, has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. But did you know that this popular fall fruit can also provide some incredible health benefits? From making you feel full to improving your heart health, persimmon contains plenty of valuable nutrients that are worth knowing about. Read on to discover the top 10 health benefits of persimmon and how to incorporate this delicious fruit into your diet to get started today!
Improves Digestion
The high fiber content of persimmons can help with constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. The insoluble fiber in persimmons is both metabolically and mechanically effective at relieving constipation. With regular consumption, you may find yourself going to restroom more often—which means a healthier digestive system. Those who suffer from chronic constipation should consider adding a daily portion of persimmon to their diet. A study on rats revealed that consuming persimmons alleviated chronic constipation by stimulating intestinal motility as well as increasing fecal volume and weight.1,2,3
Supports Heart Health
This fruit is high in antioxidants, helping to reduce inflammation and supporting heart health. Antioxidants are responsible for neutralizing free radicals which otherwise attack healthy cells, changing their DNA and creating dangerous mutations. In particular, persimmon's calcium and magnesium help to lower blood pressure while its potassium promotes a healthy metabolism and reduces high blood pressure as well. Eat your persimmons!
Keeps Skin Glowing
One large persimmon has almost double your daily recommended amount of vitamin A, which means it’s great for your skin. By keeping a healthy intake, you’ll keep your complexion fresh and glowing. Plus, it can lower levels of cholesterol in your blood. If you want to take full advantage of its effects on the body, eat it before going to bed at night. Its antioxidant properties can get right to work while you sleep and wake up with soft and glowing skin!
Reduces Risk of Some Cancers
Research has shown that persimmons have powerful anti-cancer properties and can significantly reduce your risk of some cancers. According to a study published in Food & Function, persimmon leaf extract exhibits substantial cancer preventive activity by suppressing [HepG2] cell proliferation, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. The results have also been replicated in colon cancer cells as well. Consuming persimmons (particularly raw or as dried slices) regularly is an excellent way to decrease your risk of certain types of cancer and keep them at bay.
Boosts Immunity Against Bacteria and Viruses
Diets rich in vitamin C, such as persimmons, help boost your body’s immune system and give it a greater ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. By keeping your body healthy and protected from infections, you’ll be able to get more out of every day. While many fruits contain vitamin C, there are some that stand out for their high levels of antioxidants. Persimmons offer an excellent source of vitamin C—one cup provides as much as twice as much vitamin C than oranges do!
Helps Treat Diabetes
In addition to lowering blood sugar, persimmon also improves insulin sensitivity. An increased capacity for better regulation means persimmon can play a role in preventing or fighting diabetes. This effect seems to be attributable to several polyphenol antioxidants including gallic acid and arbutin. Some research suggests that these compounds lower blood glucose levels by increasing cells' absorption of glucose and their ability to use it as fuel, and by inhibiting production of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which helps regulate metabolism in your liver. GLP-1 is also used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, because it slows release of sugar into your bloodstream after meals, thereby helping control blood sugar levels.
Fights Inflammation
While inflammation is a normal immune response to some stimuli, chronic inflammation can contribute to a number of health issues and diseases. The active compounds in persimmon pulp have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in animals. A 2006 study published in Phytotherapy Research found that these compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on COX-2 enzymes, which are responsible for producing inflammatory prostaglandins. This could help explain why persimmons are linked with increased heart health, as well as improved vision and lower blood pressure levels.
Protects Eyesight
Persimmons are rich in vitamin A, which helps protect against macular degeneration and cataracts. The antioxidants and carotenoids found in persimmons support eye health as well. For example, Japanese researchers at Kagoshima University found that eating a persimmon could help reduce UV damage to cells by as much as 85 percent. If you enjoy eating persimmons, it's recommended that you eat them raw—cooking reduces their beneficial effects on your eyes.
Aids in Pregnancy
According to a report published in 2011, women who consumed high levels of antioxidants were found to have a lower risk for preeclampsia—an extremely dangerous complication during pregnancy. The report even suggests that mothers-to-be who ate these high antioxidant foods had babies with higher birth weights, which could be due to an increase in placentas and amniotic fluid, meaning more nutrients are available to your baby. That’s good news considering babies born prematurely often have low birth weights and other complications. Additional research has shown that antioxidants may also help prevent premature births.
Promotes Bone Health
It is well known that calcium and vitamin D are essential for strong bones. It might be surprising to learn, then, that consuming persimmons can help increase your body’s absorption of calcium by as much as 54%. This makes it easier for you to get all of the bone-building benefits from a balanced diet. If you have trouble with osteoporosis or conditions like rickets, drinking fruit juice from persimmons might help improve your health more quickly than other forms of supplementation. Just be sure to avoid too much sugar and other processed foods—the persimmon effect won’t work if you’re not getting enough nutrients from elsewhere in your diet.