Interesting Health Facts On Kokum Fruit

The outer cover of the fruit is dried in the sun to get what we call as kokum or aamsol. After drying they yield blackish purple color.They are sour to taste and have a sweetish aroma . This dried kokum is used to sour curries ,dals and veggle dishes in the maharashtrian, Gujarati, konkan, kerala and goan cuisine.

Native of kokum:
Kokum,Garcinia indica, is a fruit tree found in Western Ghats of South India.

Family of kokum:
The genus Garcinia, belonging to the family Clusiaceae

Another name for kokum: Garcinia indica

Variety:
Varieties of kokum in india konkan Amruta and konkan Hatis are two released varieties of kokum.

Common usage:
Garcinia indica, also known as Kokam, is a rich anti-oxidant and a widely consumed Summer drink. It is also known as Vrikshamla in Ayurveda, the Kokum plant is found in Western Ghats of India.  This plant in the mangosteen family, commonly known as kokum, is a fruit-bearing tree that has culinary, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses

Taste of kokum:
It has a sweet, tangy taste, and is used to flavour curries, and to make a popular drink called Sol Kadhi that’s made with a coconut cream base. It’s also used to flavour sherbets, which are consumed especially in the summer.

Nutritional Value of kokum:
The kokum fruit is a powerhouse of rich nutrients. Kokum is packed with many essential vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, potassium and zinc. It also contains a good amount of folic acid, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, hydroxycitric acid and fibre. It contains malic acid, citric acid and carbs. Health benefits of kokum are great for pregnancy and the developing baby.

100 grams of Kokum contains:

• Calories: 60
• Fiber: 1.8g
• Carbohydrates: 14.3g
• Fats: 0.1g
• Protein: 0.5g

Interesting Health Facts On Kokum Fruit

Kokum Can Elevate Your Mood
The simple kokum fruit has a wonderful health benefit of easing your anxiety.calming your mid and uplifting your mood when you are feeling low.consuming kokum helps increase the level of serotonin in your body. The mood enhancing hormone which is responsible for making you feel positive and cheerful.

Kokum Is Beneficial For Diabetics
Kokum helps in mananging blood sugar level because it contains antioxidant and antidiabetic properties.it is therefore able to restore certain enzymes in the body that get reduced in the case of those who have type 2 diabetes.

Kokum is good for digestion
Kokum is good for improving the digestive system.Taking kokum juice corrects the digestive fire and helps in easy digestion of food because of its Ushna (hot) nature.This helps in managing acidity due to indigestion.

Kokum Can Be Helpful For Weight loss
Kokum or the herb of garcinia cambogia is said to lead to significant loss in weight and in the fat accumulated in the body. Here are some reasons that make it great for weight loss. kokum is said to be great for your digestion,and is known to fight conditions like flatulence, acidity and constipation.

Good for the brain
Kokum is found to exert positive effects on the brain by helping in the neuronal growth process. It also prevents damage to the brain by nullifying the action of the free radicals.kokum is rich in dietary fibre and low in calories and contains absolutely no cholesterol and saturated fats.

Kokum fruit has anti-inflammatory properties
Health benefits of kokum also include some amazing anti-inflammatory properties. The fruit can be used for the treatment of sores or can be applied directly for dealing with allergies, rashes and burns.

Use It For Hair and Skin
Kokum can be directly applied all over your face and body like a moisturizer. Cracked heels and lips can be easily cured by it. Also kokum is used to nourish hair from the roots which makes hair shiny, soft, smooth and easily manageable.

Immunity Booster
Kokum has garcinol, which boosts up the immunity system of the body.In Ayurveda, kokum is used for the treatment of cracked heals. It can help in reducing rheumatoid pain. Health benefits of kokum are good for people dealing with bowel problems, ear infections, sores, menstruation delays, intestinal parasites and inflammatory issues.