38 Major Benefits of Wood Apple
Wood apple or Bael is an edible fruit that belongs to the genus Aegle of the Rutaceae family. This delicious fruit is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and has a slightly pear-shaped appearance. It has a thick rind that doesn’t split open on ripening. Being an excellent source of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fibers, etc, they provide many health and beauty benefits.
Health Benefits of Wood Apple
Some major health benefits of wood apples are as follows.
(1) Improves Digestive Health
Wood apples are good for the stomach and improve our digestive health. Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds like flavonoids, etc in wood apple protects our digestive system from free radical damage. This reduces the risk of stomach cancer, intestinal cancer, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer, etc.
Dietary fiber in wood apple is a natural laxative that improves bowel movement, relieves constipation, and other digestive problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and flatulence, etc.
Because of their antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, they help in getting rid of intestinal worms and associated digestive disorders.
“Feronia gum” present in the trunk and branches of wood apples are used for treating chronic dysentery and diarrhea.
Tannin, a phenolic compound in wood apple reduces stomach inflammation. It reduces the risk of peptic ulcers and piles and helps in treating the same.
(2) Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Dietary fibers, vitamin C, tannin, and other inflammatory compounds in wood apple reduces pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid, gouts, asthma, and bronchial asthma, etc.
(3) Make Our Bones Stronger
Wood apple strengthens our bones and teeth as they are loaded with bone-strengthening minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium, etc.
Calcium is needed for the growth and development of the bones, and deficiency of this mineral may increase the risk of bone disorders like osteoporosis.
Potassium neutralizes acid load, reduces loss of calcium from the bones, and improves bone density.
Magnesium also improves bone density and contributes to better bone health.
Manganese in wood apple increases calcium absorption and improves the bone mineral density of the spinal column.
Vitamin C, an anti-inflammatory compound in pumpkin minimizes pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis, a condition in which protective tissues at the ends of bones wear down.
Other nutrients like zinc, phosphorus, and folate, etc also aid in making our bones healthier.
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(4) Aids In The Treatment of Anemia
Wood apple helps in treating iron-induced anemia, a blood disorder mainly caused by a deficiency of iron in our body. It gives rise to symptoms like fatigue, weakness, pale skin, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and cold hands or feet, etc.
Iron, a vital mineral present in the wood apple increases the production of red blood cells that carries oxygenated blood to cells and tissues, and provide nourishment to them.
This minimizes the risk of anemia.
Vitamin C in wood apple enhance iron absorption and benefit against anemia.
(5) Helps In Curing Tuberculosis
As per anecdotal evidence, regularly drinking wood apple juice ( with added honey) before bedtime helps in curing tuberculosis.
The antimicrobial properties of a wood apple protect our lungs and abdomen from the mycobacterium tuberculosis ( bacteria that causes tuberculosis).
Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds like phytonutrients in wood apple protect the digestive system and respiratory system from free radical damage.
Vitamin C, tannin, and other anti-inflammatory properties of wood apple reduces lung inflammation, and help in treating tuberculosis.
Vitamin B complex, zinc, iron, and protein in wood apple also helps.
(6) Regulates The Secretion of Thyroid Hormones
Wood apple reduces the risk of hyperthyroidism as it controls metabolism and regulates the secretion of thyroid hormones.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which an overactive thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormones and may cause health problems like sudden weight loss ( due to high metabolism), rapid heartbeat, increased appetite, nervousness, tremor, sweating, increased sensitivity to heat, fatigue, and muscle weakness, difficulty sleeping, etc.
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(7) Aids In Treating Sexual Problems
Because of its aphrodisiac properties, wood apple helps in treating various sexual problems like sexual dysfunction, spermatorrhea, impotence, and premature ejaculation.
Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds protect sperm cells from free radical damage and improve their efficiency.
Iron and potassium in wood apple enhance blood circulation and improve penile erections.
(8) Manages Cholesterol Level
Dietary fibers in wood apple reduce LDL cholesterol and minimize the risk of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis hardens and narrows our arteries due to the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits within the arterial walls. It is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease.
(9) Regulates High Blood Pressure
Wood apple helps in regulating high blood pressure or hypertension as the potassium in them is a natural vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels and improves blood circulation.
However, a high amount of potassium may drop the blood pressure below the healthy level, and give rise to symptoms like
Eat wood apples in moderation to minimize the risk.
If you take blood pressure medication, eat wood apples only after consulting with your doctor as the potassium in wood apples may interfere with blood pressure medication.
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(10) Promotes Cardiovascular Health
Wood apple improves our cardiovascular health as vitamin C and another antioxidant compound in wood apple protect our cardiovascular system from free radical damage.
Antioxidants and the dietary fibers in wood apple reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular problems.
Potassium in wood apple relaxes blood vessels and provides relief from hypertension or high blood pressure.
Zinc, iron, magnesium, and manganese, etc in wood apple also helps in improving our cardiovascular health.
(11) Reduces The Risk of Various Cancer(s)
Wood apple contains several antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidant compounds that protect our cells from free radical damage, and reduces the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer, etc.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.
(12) Prevents Radiotherapy Side Effects
Radioprotective elements like phytochemicals in wood apple protect against the common side effects of radiotherapy such as nausea, skin problems, tiredness, and fatigue, etc.
(13) Regulates Acidity And Soothes Mouth Ulcers
Because of its calm and soothing effect, wood apple provides relief from mouth ulcers.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants in the wood apple protect the digestive system from free radical damage and helps in managing mucosa imbalance.
(14) Helps In Treating Menstrual Problems
Because of their anti-inflammatory properties, wood apples ease pain and discomfort experienced during the menstrual period.
The hemoglobin level decreases during the menstrual period, and iron in wood apple helps in increasing hemoglobin level.
It also controls excessive bleeding.
(15) Good For Blood Purification
Wood apple helps with blood detoxification ( or purification) as dietary fibers and antioxidants like vitamin C in wood apple remove toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our body. This also reduces the burden of detoxification from our vital organs like the liver and kidneys and allows them to focus on other functions they need to perform.
Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds in wood apple protect our vital organs like the liver and kidneys from free radical damage and improve their efficiency.
For blood detoxification, add some sugar and warm water to wood apple fruit juice, and drink it on an empty stomach.
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(16) Helps In Relieving Earaches
Wood apples are very beneficial for relieving earache. This benefit of wood apple is mainly because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties that reduce the spread of infections responsible for causing ear problems.
The anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C in the wood apple also play a significant role in providing relief from pain and discomfort associated with ear problems.
For this, take some fresh wood apple juice and heat it. Put two drops of this wood apple juice in your ear, and with regular use, it will provide the needed relief.
Make sure that the juice drops that you put in your ear are not too hot. It should be just warm enough to feel warm.
(17) Reduces The Risk of Scurvy
Because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties, wood apple reduces the spread of microbes responsible for causing ear infections.
vitamin C and other anti-inflammatory compounds in wood apple reduce pain and discomfort associated with ear problems.
As per anecdotal, putting one or two drops of warm and fresh wood apple juice in the ears relieve earaches.
(18) Strengthens Our Immune System
Our immune system is the defense mechanism of the body that prevents and treats various microbial infections, diseases, injuries, and wounds.
Wood apple strengthens our immune system as vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidantal compounds like flavonoids, etc protect the immune cells or the white blood cells from the free radical damage.
Because of its antimicrobial properties, wood apple reduces the risk of various bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Vitamin C also enhances the production of white blood cells and further strengthens our immunity.
With stronger immunity, we are less likely to get a cough, cold, fever, and flu, etc.
Other nutrients like zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, and folate, etc, also contribute to stronger immunity.
(19) Control Diabetes
Wood apple helps in managing diabetes as it has a low glycemic index and releases sugar into the bloodstream at a slow pace. This prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar levels.
Dietary fibers in wood apple slow down sugar absorption by the bloodstream and help in regulating blood sugar levels.
“Feronia gum” found in branches and trunks of wood apples regulates the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream and counteracts the severity of diabetes.
It maintains glucose and insulin level and is used for medicinal benefits.
If you take diabetic medication, consult your doctor before eating wood apples to ensure there’s no food-drug intolerance.
Eating too many wood apples or interacting with the diabetic medication may drop blood sugar levels below the normal level and cause symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, excessive sweating, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat, confusion, and irritability or moodiness.
(20) Improves Respiratory Health
Wood apple improves our respiratory health as vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidant compounds like phytonutrients, etc them protect our respiratory system from free radical damage.
Anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, etc, in wood apple, protect against lung inflammation and reduces the risk of asthma and bronchial asthma.
Vitamin A reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections and improves our respiratory health.
Potassium, zinc, magnesium, and manganese, etc, in wood apple also contributes to better respiratory health.
(21) Wonderful Energy Booster
With a high calorific value of 140 calories per 100 grams, wood apple is a wonderful energy booster that keeps us energetic throughout the day.
Unlike caffeinated energy drinks, wood apple provides actual nourishment to the body, and not just false calories.
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(22) Enhances kidney Health
Wood apple helps in maintaining our kidney health as Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidant compounds in wood apple protect our liver and kidneys from free radical damage and improve their efficiency.
Dietary fibers and antioxidants in wood apple eliminate toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our body. To some extent, it reduces the burden of detoxification from the kidneys and allows them to focus on other functions they need to perform.
Some important functions of kidneys are regulating blood pressure, controlling pH level, maintaining bone health, synthesizing vitamin D, maintaining electrolyte balance and fluid balance, and production of red blood cells.
(23) Maintains Liver Health
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidantal compounds in wood apple protect our liver from free radical damage and helps in maintaining our liver health.
Anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, etc in wood apple protects our liver from inflammation.
Dietary fibers in wood apple also contribute to the healthy liver as they eliminate toxins, and reduce the detoxification burden.
(24) Relieve Snake Bites Inflammation
As per Ayurveda, branches and trunks of wood apple can ease pain and inflammation caused by snake bites.
Because of their antimicrobial properties, wood apples can fight off infections associated with snake bites.
Vitamin C, beta-carotene and other anti-inflammatory compounds in wood apple relieve pain and inflammation.
(25) Natural Mosquito Repellent
Because of its antimicrobial properties, wood apple protects against malaria and dengue.
Wood apple pulp is a common mosquito repellent in the Thani-Myanmar region, an area frequently affected by dengue and malaria.
Beauty Benefits of Wood Apple For Skin
Some major beauty benefits of wood apple for skin are as follows.
(1) Aids In Keeping Premature Ageing At Bay
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidantal compounds like flavonoids, etc in wood apple protects our skin cells from free radical damage, and keeps various signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, dark spots, and skin blemishes, etc, at bay.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecules, and in doing so they cause oxidative damage to them.
Vitamin C enhances the production of collagen, an amino acid that maintains skin elasticity and prevents wrinkles and saggy skin.
(2) Treats Pigmentation of Skin
Wood apple aids in treating skin pigmentation as vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidantal compounds protect our skin from free radical damage and keep various signs of premature aging at bay.
Essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals, etc in wood apple provide nourishment to our skin and bring out the natural glow of the skin.
It nourishes our skin and makes it soft, supple, and radiant.
(3) For Skin Detoxification
Wood apple helps with skin detoxification as dietary fibers in them eliminate toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our body. When there are fewer toxins, they are less likely to accumulate in the skin pores, and this minimizes the risk of skin problems like acne and pimples.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants also contribute to skin detoxification.
(4) Effective Against Skin Rashes And Eczema
Because of their antimicrobial properties, wood apples fight off against the bacterial and fungal infections responsible for causing skin problems like skin rashes and eczema.
(5) Effective Against Acne
Acne is a common skin problem that mainly occurs due to the accumulation of toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances within the skin pores.
Detoxifying compounds like vitamin C and dietary fibers in wood apple remove toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our body.
When there are fewer toxins, they are less likely to accumulate in our skin pores, and thus reduces skin problems like acne and pimples.
Dietary fibers also regulate the secretion of excess oil from skin glands and prevent acne from worsening.
(6) Protection From UV Rays
Exposing the skin to the sun’s harmful rays for a long period may damage the skin, and cause wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, and solar elastosis.
Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like flavonoids, etc in wood apple protects the skin from harmful UV rays of the sun and reduces the risk of skin cancer.
It can also be used topically.
For this, apply mashed wood apple pulp on sunburn area, and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with cold water.
Regular use soothes the skin as it reduces redness and inflammation caused by sunburn.
(7) Maintains Skin Health
Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc in wood apple provide nourishment to the skin and keep it healthy.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants in wood apple protect our skin from free radical damage and reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of premature aging.
Dietary fibers in wood apple remove toxins and other impurities from our body and reduce the risk of skin problems like acne and pimples.
Nutrients in wood apple make our skin soft, supple, and radiant.
(8) Skin Moisturization
Because of its high water content, wood apple moisturizes our skin and prevents skin dryness.
Essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, etc in pumpkin nourish our skin and improves skin health.
Beauty Benefits of Wood Apple For Hair
Following are the major beauty benefits of wood apple for hair.
(1) Promotes Hair Growth
Wood apple promotes hair growth as the nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, etc them nourish our hair follicles and scalp, and keep them healthy.
Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidant compounds in wood apple protect the hair follicles from free radical damage and reduces premature greying of hair, hair fall, dryness of hair, split ends, and other signs of premature aging at bay.
Zinc, iron, folate, and B vitamins in wood apple promote blood circulation in the scalp and encourages the growth of new hair follicles.
(2) Reduces Hair Loss
Wood apple reduces hair loss as the nutrients in them strengthen our hair follicles, and make them less prone to damage.
They contain several antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other antioxidantal compounds that protect the hair follicles from free radical damage.
These antioxidants reduce premature greying of hair, hair loss, and split ends, etc.
Other nutrients like zinc, folate and B vitamins in wood apple also helps.
(3) Strong And Lustrous Hair
Wood apples make our hair strong and lustrous as they are loaded with essential nutrients that benefit our hair follicles and scalp.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants in wood apple protect the hair from free radical damage.
Other nutrients like vitamins and minerals make our hair strong, and add shine to our hair.
(4) Treats Scalp Acne
Acne is a common skin problem mainly caused by the accumulation of toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances within the skin pores.
They can also breakout on the scalp, and are known as scalp acne.
Dietary fibers and antioxidants like vitamin C in wood apple remove toxins and other unwanted substances from our skin pores. When there are fewer toxins in our body, they are less likely to accumulate in our skin and scalp pores.
This reduces the risk of acne and scalp acne.
Dietary fibers regulate the secretion of excess oil from skin glands and prevent scalp acne from worsening.
(5) Good For Treating Dandruff
Wood apple improves our scalp health and helps in treating dandruff and other scalp problems.
They contain antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and, phytonutrients, etc, that protect our hair follicles and scalp from the oxidative stress of free radicals.
Nutrients in wood apple nourish our scalp and improve scalp health.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about the topic and is not be taken as medical advice or as an alternative to medical advice, treatment, and/or diagnosis. Always consult with your doctor before trying out any of the remedies/recipes suggested in the blog post.
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