Digestive Bliss: Sapodilla's Role In Gut Health 

Introduction

Brief overview of digestive health importance

Digestive health is super important to live a healthy life. It digests food and absorbs nutrients but also keeps our immune system strong. If you are facing digestive problems, it can also hamper your mood and hormones and affect how your body gets rid of waste.¹ Common problems which result from unhealthy digestion include:

• Long-lasting pain
• Mental health problems like depression and anxiety
• Losing weight unintentionally
• Frequent migraines
• Diabetes
• Trouble sleeping
• Swelling and inflammation
• Feeling tired or lacking energy

Did you know that more than 90% of the "feel-good" hormone serotonin is made in the gut? So, taking care of your digestive health is important for overall well-being.²

What is sapodilla?

Description and origin

Sapodilla is a tropical tree with fruits like potatoes which are sweet. Although It originated from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.³ Its cultivation has spread across the tropical belt and has successfully grown as a major commercial crop as far as India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Malaysia.⁴ It can be grown from seeds but vegetative propagation like grafting or ground-layering is preferred. Sapodilla trees can have flowers all year, but they usually only produce fruit twice a year.³ Sapodilla fruits are oval-shaped large berries of diameter around 4-8 cm. As mentioned before they look like potatoes. Each fruit has 2-5 black bean-like seeds on one end having a hook-like structure. Its colour varies from pale yellow to earth brown colour and has a grainy texture like a pear.³

Nutritional profile

According to the US Department of Agriculture food composition database, the Following table displays the nutrient content of sapodilla fruit.

• Energy: 83 Kcal
• Protein: 0.44 grams
• Total Fat: 1.10 grams
• Dietary Fiber: 10.9 grams
• Folate: 14 Mcg
• Niacin: 0.2 mg
• Pantothenic Acid: 0.252 mg
• Pyridoxine: 0.037 mg
• Riboflavin: 0.020 mg
• Thiamine: 0.058 mg
• Vitamin A: 60IU
• Vitamin C: 14.7 mg
• Potassium: 193 mg
• Sodium: 12 mg
• Calcium: 21 mg
• Copper: 0.086mg
• Iron: 0.80 mg
• Magnesium: 12 mg
• Phosphorus: 12 mg
• Selenium: 0.6 mcg
• Zinc: 0.10 mg

Culinary and other uses 

Generally, sapodilla fruit is consumed as a fresh dessert due to its pleasant flavour and smell. However, its flesh is sometimes used to prepare sherbets, ice cream, jam or eaten as dried fruit in India. Some people use sapodilla juice to make syrup and vinegar. Latex produced by the sapodilla tree called 'chicle' was the main ingredient of chewing gum for many years. This has been majorly substituted by synthetic gums, but still, countries like Mexico, Guatemala and Belize use natural chemicals. The Wood from the sapodilla tree is used for railway cross-ties, flooring, tool handles and furniture.⁵ 

Previous studies reported that consumption of sapodilla fruit leads to numerous health benefits in treating indigestion, diarrhoea, dysentery and haemorrhage and also exhibits antispasmodic and anti-cancer properties. Along with this, it is also reported to have higher biological potential as an antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and cardioprotective property.⁶

Understanding gut health

Importance of gut health

The gut refers to the stomach our large and small intestines. Our gut is a vital part of our digestive system where a microbiome of trillions of microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts, viruses and fungi lives. They collectively work as our "friend" when kept in balance. They ensure proper absorption of nutrients along with preserving a robust immune response. However recent research suggested their action beyond that focusing towards the gut-brain axis. It is a two-way communication system between our digestive system and our brain. This communication influences every aspect of your health.⁶

Factors influencing gut health

Different external factors influence these trillions of microbes living in our gut. This is a good thing because by tweaking these factors we can make positive changes. Breastfeeding babies have a better makeup of gut microbes due to the prebiotic properties of breast milk. By early childhood, our gut microbes become relatively stable but we have opportunities to alter them as we age. Exercise is one of the independent factors that can affect our gut microbes, as it increases our microbial diversity. As our gut and brain chat all the time, stress is the mental state which has a direct effect on our gut. Our environment and where we have travelled also have a direct impact on our gut bacteria. Along with this use of medicines, recreational drugs, cigarettes and alcohol alter our delicate gut microbes. Diet is one of the most important factors, We all must know that the food we eat can have a huge impact on microbes living in our gut.⁷

Role of diet in gut health

The human diet generally consists of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The type and quantity of these components are greatly influenced by the community and diversity of the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in the prevention, management and treatment of diseases like cancer and diabetes. Degradation of protein produces amino acids, ammonia, amines and short-chain fatty acids. High ammonia concentration is responsible for malignant growth. However, a diet containing fat alters gut microbial composition which results in many changes like lowering of the microbial production of short-chain fatty acids and antioxidants. Consequently, metabolite changes include signs of diseases. 

A diet containing complex carbohydrates is slowly digested by the gut microbiome. Digestion of plant fibres increases the symbiotic microbiota, which plays a role in energy supply and human health. Studies suggested a correlation between a higher fibre diet intake and reduced risk of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer.⁸

Sapodilla and gut health

Sapodilla fruit is rich in dietary fibre, which promotes smooth digestion and prevents constipation. The fibre content also supports beneficial gut bacteria, which results in better nutrient absorption and overall intestinal health. Regular sapodilla consumption contributes to a happier and healthier digestive system by alleviating symptoms of digestive discomfort, bloating and gastrointestinal issues.⁹ The tannins plant compounds present in fruit neutralize acid secretion in our intestinal tract. Additionally, it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antiparasitic properties which can calm the gastrointestinal tract and also treat gastritis.¹⁰

Research evidence

Sapodilla holds an important place in the traditional system of medicines. The current pharmaceutical industry signifies the plant's potential due to its antidiarrheal, antisecretory, antispasmodic, and antiulcer effects. Sapodilla plant extract possesses a new therapeutic approach towards the management of inflammation-induced gastric mucositis.11 Plant constituents: Caffeoylquinic acid and methyl 4-O-galloylchlorogenate strongly bind to histaminergic H2 receptors, H+/K+ ATPase pump, and voltage-gated L-type calcium channels. They moderately bind to histaminergic H1, muscarinic M1, muscarinic M3, and mu-opioid receptors, and have lower affinities for calmodulin, adrenergic α1, phosphodiesterase enzyme, and dopaminergic D2 receptors. However, lupeol-3-acetate and β-amyrin-3-(3’-dimethyl) butyrate have weak affinities for these targets.¹²

Tips for incorporating sapodilla into the diet

Sapodilla plum is not only nutritious but also very delicious in taste. So sapodilla plum itself is a refreshing snack with a unique taste profile, although there are a number of ways to incorporate the fruit into our diet. Adding sapodilla plum to smoothie or juice recipes as a natural sweetener boosts nutritional value. Toss slices of fruit into salads to improve flavour and texture. Various desserts can be prepared by using sapodilla plum. Baking it into pies, tarts or crumbles creates a unique twist. You can enjoy fruit's sweetness throughout the year by using it in jams, jellies or fruit compotes. Sapodilla plum complements spicy or tangy flavours in chutneys and salsas. 

By incorporating sapodilla plum into your healthy diet, you can enjoy its unique taste while reaping the nutritional benefits it offers.

Potential risks or considerations

Sapodilla may lead to digestive problems if consumed in excess. The astringent effect of tannin present in the fruit may cause itchy sensations in the mouth especially if consumed in raw form. Children can feel breathing troubles if raw sapodilla fruit is consumed due to irritation and inflammation of the throat. Seeds of sapodilla are hard, so their ingestion can cause abdominal pains and vomiting.¹³

Summary 

Recap of sapodilla's role in promoting digestive health: The sapodilla fruit is abundant in dietary fibre, aiding in smooth digestion and the prevention of constipation. Its fibre content fosters the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, improving nutrient absorption and intestinal health. Regular consumption of sapodilla contributes to a happier and healthier digestive system by relieving symptoms of discomfort, bloating, and gastrointestinal issues. The presence of tannins, a plant compound, in the fruit neutralizes acid secretion in the intestinal tract. Moreover, the fruit's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties can soothe the gastrointestinal tract and treat gastritis.

Get health & wellness advice into your inbox

Enter your email *

Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers. If you do not agree to these placements, please do not provide the information.

Vipul Malik

Master of pharmacy - MPharm, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana

He is a registered pharmacist with expertise in both academic and professional settings. He has served as an assistant professor with college of Delhi Technical Board and also contributed to pharmacovigilance efforts, ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. With several years of hands-on experience as a practicing pharmacist.

Other posts by the same contributor Linkedin profile page