How many calories are in persimmon and why is it useful?
Fruits are traditionally considered a healthy product, but each variety for one person can become only a tasty vitamin supplement to the diet, and for another it turns out to be literally necessary because of its properties. At the same time, we should not forget that excessive consumption of any fruit can lead to certain negative consequences. For this reason, it is worth taking a closer look at what a persimmon is - a bright orange fruit from the tropics, familiar to everyone since childhood.
Chemical composition
Many modern consumers perceive fruits as a source of a huge amount of vitamins and useful trace elements, and persimmon, of course, is no exception to the rule. When considering its composition, the most impressive thing is the huge amount of vitamins A and C contained here, the first of which helps to preserve and even improve vision, and the second is known to everyone as an excellent tool for strengthening immunity.
Manganese present in the composition strengthens the mucous membranes and prevents cancer. The abundant fiber content contributes to the rapid saturation of the product with a relatively low calorie content, so that a person looks slim and fit. Copper, phosphorus and vitamin B help to improve the overall metabolism in the body.
Persimmon can also be of great importance in the diet due to the fact that it contains numerous antioxidants that help the body resist the aging process:
- catechins are known as a natural antibiotic, aimed at counteracting inflammation and preserving the integrity of blood vessels;
- betulinic acid and lycopene prevent the development of cancerous tumors, and the latter also has a beneficial effect on the state of the heart;
- lutein helps to avoid the occurrence of cataracts;
- zeaxanthin is of complex importance for maintaining normal visual functions.
The high content of potassium in persimmon helps to maintain the work of all the muscles of the body at the proper level. In addition, the fruit in question also has a high content of iodine, which helps prevent problems with the thyroid gland.
The nutritional value
Persimmon is used in various forms, but it is quite logical that, like most other fruits, it is consumed mainly fresh. However, there are exceptions when the product can be found dried. As an ingredient, it can even be found in some compotes and jams, and if we consider the use of persimmon not only in the context of food, but in general, then women often use it as a cosmetic product.
If we talk about the composition of the fruit in the context of BJU, then the absolutely predominant part of the volume is occupied by fiber and other plant fibers. Of the “main” components, carbohydrates are the most here, but their share is relatively small 15.2%. Proteins and fats in this product are approximately equal, but even together they do not gain even 1%.
calories
For those who are trying to lose weight, the calories contained in each consumed product are also very important. Persimmon, like many fruits, is considered a dietary product, but here you need to understand that it all depends on the form in which the fruit is consumed.
Despite the fact that persimmon is a sweet fruit, its calorie content is relatively low and is approximately 55-65 kcal per 100 grams. It is impossible to specify the calorie content more precisely, since everything here depends on the particular variety, however, even with a possible maximum of calories, the product remains dietary, if only it is the main dessert.
As for each individual berry, the weight of 1 piece is on average 150-200 grams, and therefore the calorie content is in the range of about 130 kcal, while in some cases it can be quite modest 75 kcal.
We rarely meet such a product, however, in our homeland, a curious dried fruit is also made from persimmons, which tastes very much like dates. You need to understand that during the drying process, only water leaves the fruit, but all the nutrients, as well as calories, remain in a concentrated form. Because of this, the calorie content of dried persimmon is a very impressive 270 kcal per 100 grams, and therefore such a delicacy is usually contraindicated for diabetics. Women who follow the figure can use this product, but only with strict planning of their own diet.
As a kind of processing, persimmons are often frozen. This is done not so much for long-term storage, but to eliminate the characteristic astringent aftertaste, which disappears under the influence of quick freezing.
However, frost does not affect the calorie content in any way, so it remains at the same level - about 60 kcal per 100 grams on average.
Due to the velvety pulp of ripe persimmon fruit, they often make amazingly tasty jam, but you need to remember that it just differs in a huge amount of calories.Here, of course, it all depends on the type of persimmon used and on the amount of added sugar, however, the calorie content of jam is usually estimated at no less than 300 kcal. It is quite obvious that such a product is contraindicated for diabetics and overweight people, but the guardians of a slender figure will have to decide for themselves whether they are ready for such a risk.
Canned persimmon not in the form of jam is relatively rare and can be made by radically opposite methods - both by quick freezing in sugar syrup, and by boiling without a lot of sugar. Dessert does not absorb sugar much, so fruit without syrup contains about 85 kcal for every 100 grams. Another thing is that, together with syrup, the calorie content can increase so much that it becomes comparable to jam.
Persimmon can not only be eaten, but also drunk. You can hardly find persimmon juice in supermarkets, but you can squeeze it at home - it is both tasty and healthy just like the original product. But the calorie content of such a solution will surely please those who are afraid of being overweight - it is only 48 kcal.
Properties
All substances contained in persimmons that are beneficial to the body must be consumed in a certain amount. An overdose of any of them can lead to unexpected and not very pleasant consequences, since, as you know, there is medicine in a spoon, and poison in a cup.
Therefore, in order to better understand how much persimmon should be consumed by each individual person, it is necessary to determine the potential benefits and harms.
Benefit
Each person would prioritize the usefulness of persimmons in their own way, but most modern admirers of this fruit appreciate it as an excellent weight loss product.The fact is that persimmon refers to products that take more energy to digest than they bring to the body - the high fiber content simply does not allow the stomach to quickly cope with such a task. It turns out that the stomach is not empty, and the calories did not particularly arrive. At the same time, persimmon also cleanses the intestines of toxins.
With its low calorie content, persimmon contains a fairly high percentage of sugars, which will help in another aspect of the fight against excess weight. It is enough to eat such a small fruit before training, and an abundance of useful energy for dropping kilograms is provided.
A significant content of antioxidants allows us to speak of persimmon as a product that effectively fights aging. True, this is not about external signs, but rather about the general state of the body, but this is also a very useful property. The components that make up the berry help protect DNA from damage, thereby minimizing the likelihood of cancerous tumors. In addition, it has been proven that the fruit effectively prevents numerous senile eye diseases.
The high content of vitamin C improves immunity, which is critical in the cold season. However, not everyone knows that the beneficial properties of such a vitamin do not end there, because, for example, it is involved in the production of collagen, which prevents wrinkles.
Moreover, the consumption of a trace element such as iron is very beneficial for health, but without sufficient vitamin C, the body is unable to absorb it normally. At the same time, iron is a key building material for bones and muscles, as well as the circulatory system.
The potassium contained in persimmons is an excellent remedy for suppressing muscle pain - it helps them relax and recover faster. However, then the fruit should be appreciated not even for this, but for its ability to normalize excessively high blood pressure, because the effect of muscle relaxation is most clearly manifested in the expansion of blood vessels.
Women highly value persimmon not only as food, but also as a cosmetic product. The effect of rejuvenation is much more pronounced if you not only eat the fruit, but also use it as an ingredient for various face masks. As a result, a noticeable lifting effect is achieved, and the arsenal of anti-acne products is also expanding.
Persimmon is recommended for pregnant women as a valuable source of many vitamins and minerals. Given that another, completely new organism is being built inside my mother’s, all these useful components will not be superfluous.
Not only for women, but also for men, persimmon is very useful. Experts say that its composition helps the body fight potential prostate adenoma. In addition, by improving blood flow, potency also increases significantly.
At the same time, persimmon has a beneficial effect even in the field of bad habits. For example, it contributes to the fastest possible decomposition and removal of alcohol from the human body, due to which it is even professionally recommended to people suffering from alcoholism. If busting with alcohol is of a single nature, the berry will help to overcome a hangover faster.
As for smoking, persimmon, oddly enough, has a relatively similar tonic effect on the human body and improves mood, so it can be used as a distraction for those who decide to quit.
Harm
Any product can theoretically be harmful if used incorrectly. At the same time, persimmon is a fruit so specific that it is by no means difficult to make a mistake in the features of its intake.
First you need to understand that this useful product is not for everyone. It does not look quite logical, but pregnant women can eat this fruit, but it is risky for lactating women. Although this berry is a very valuable source of vitamins and minerals, it can also provoke an allergic reaction in a child.
It is practically contraindicated for children to give persimmon at all. Unlike most other fruits, persimmon has an astringent effect, and in a child's body, where the digestive system has not yet been debugged, this can cause serious problems. For this reason, they begin to introduce fruit into the diet no earlier than the age of three, and then in small pieces, gradually increasing the dose, if everything is fine. However, some experts advise even with this to wait up to ten years.
For the same reason, persimmons should be used very carefully by those who already suffer from constipation and intestinal obstruction, as well as some other problems of the digestive tract.
In the postoperative period, the berry can provoke a divergence of the seams due to its astringent effect.
With a diseased liver, persimmons cannot be eaten. The fact is that diseases of this organ lead to an increased content of potassium and phosphorus in the body, and it is these microelements that the berry is very rich in.If diseases of the urinary system are observed, then persimmon is also dangerous, since it has a diuretic effect and is guaranteed to increase the frequency of urination.
It cannot be said that persimmon is directly contraindicated for diabetics, but its glycemic index is very close to dangerous. This means that the use of even one persimmon berry can lead to an aggravation of the patient's condition.
Usage Tips
It is advisable to use persimmon not as a dessert, but separately from any other products - as an independent meal. Otherwise, a slowly digesting fruit can form phytobezoars - stones that remain forever in the digestive tract. The risk of such a pathology is especially high in people with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Unripe berries contain tannin - a substance that provokes an astringent effect - even more than ripe ones. Accordingly, from such a treat, the risk of developing pathologies only increases.
In some cases, ripe persimmon has a laxative effect, which is why it is recommended for constipation. You can’t call such advice wise, because constipation can be caused by serious obstruction, and then there’s still the question of whether the intestines can withstand the pressure that has increased due to persimmons.
Persimmon and milk are incompatible products. Their incompatibility is so high that many experts recommend completely abandoning the consumption of milk on the day when the orange berry was eaten.
For information on how to speed up the ripening of persimmons, see the following video.