Custard apple also known as cherimoya is a fruit is known for its creamy texture with a sweet taste similar to other tropical fruits, such as banana and pineapple. At Kimironko Market, a few vendors have them with a kilo going for Rwf2, 500. The fruit, nutritionists say, is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and that this unique fruit may support immunity, reduce inflammation, and promote eye and heart health. Custard apple, Joseph Uwiragiye, head of nutrition Department at University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), also says is loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body. It is known that high levels of free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which is associated with many chronic illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Certain compounds in custard apple including kaurenoic acid, flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C have powerful antioxidant effects. Uwiragiye says custard apple’s carotenoid antioxidants, such as lutein, may be particularly powerful. Research shows that foods rich in carotenoids may boost eye health and reduce your risk for heart disease and certain cancers. Custard apple is also an excellent source of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). In fact, one cup (160 grams) of the fruit contains 24% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI). Erick Musengimana, a nutritionist working with Rwanda Diabetes Association-Kigali says vitamin B6 plays an important role in the creation of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, which help regulate one’s mood. Inadequate levels of this vitamin may contribute to mood disorders. In fact, he says low blood levels of vitamin B6 are linked to depression, especially in older adults. One study in older adults found that vitamin B6 deficiency doubled one’s chances of depression. By boosting levels of this important vitamin, eating foods like custard apple may help reduce your risk of depression related to vitamin B6 deficiency. Meanwhile, the fruit is also rich in the carotenoid antioxidant lutein, one of the main antioxidants in your eyes that maintain healthy vision by fighting free radicals. Several studies associate high lutein intake with good eye health and a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition marked by eye damage and vision loss. Lutein may also protect against other eye issues, including cataracts, which is a clouding of the eye causes poor eyesight and vision loss. Uwiragiye says for this reason, consuming lutein-rich foods such as custard apple may support eye health and reduce the risk of conditions like cataracts. Cherimoya is high in nutrients that help regulate blood pressure, such as potassium and magnesium. The fruit has also known to boost digestion. For instance, one cup (160 grams) of custard apple offers almost five grams of dietary fibre. Because fibre cannot be digested or absorbed, it adds bulk to stool and helps move it through your intestines. In addition, soluble fibres, like those found in custard apple, nutritionists say can feed the good bacteria in your gut, as well as undergo fermentation to produce short-chain fatty acids. These acids include butyrate, acetate, and propionate Another benefit of consuming custard apple is that it has been linked to containing compounds that may help fight cancer. It contains flavonoids including catechin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin, which have been shown to stop the growth of cancer cells. What’s more, studies suggest that individuals who consume diets rich in flavonoids have a lower risk for developing certain cancers, such as those of the stomach and colon than people whose diets are low in these compounds.
