Medlar: 10 properties and benefits of this healthy fruit

In general, the medlar appears to be an unpopular fruit. With an acidic but very rich flavor, it is also nutritious. However, it is not as consumed as others. It is easy to find in the months of April and May, and you really should consider including it in your diet.

Small in size, a large seed inside, with intense color and flavor, the medlar can be eaten alone or added to some recipes and desserts to take advantage of its peculiar flavor. It comes from a tree that is also not difficult to cultivate and grow in the right environment.

Know all the properties of the medlar

The medlar has several seeds inside. They are usually between two or four. It is important to note that this part of the medlar should not be eaten as it contains some toxic substances that are not good for the body.

But there is no reason to be scared, just cut the medlar in half and remove the seeds before eating. This will suffice. For the rest, you have to enjoy the flavor and benefits of the medlar, which is a very healthy fruit.

• In case you didn't like loquats: "Kiwi: 10 benefits and properties of this exotic fruit"

1. Fiber

Fiber is present in this fruit in a significant amount. Among the many benefits and properties of Medlar is its considerable fiber content. This makes it an ideal food to help regulate intestinal transit.

Its regular consumption can help in episodes of constipation, always accompanied by abundant hydration and a little exercise. Consuming it regularly helps traffic to be normal.

2. Vitamin A

The medlar is high in vitamin A. Among the properties and compounds that this fruit has, vitamin A is the one with the highest concentration. This makes it an excellent fruit for skin care..

It also helps to strengthen and maintain good vision. And in general to the good maintenance of soft tissues and bone tissues of the body. For this reason, consuming medlars on a regular basis can help overall good health.

3. Help with various stomach problems

The astringent properties of medlar are ideal for treating various gastric problems. This fruit is an excellent assistant in gastritis treatments, heartburn and even gastric ulcers.

The medlar has the property of contracting the tissues in an anti-inflammatory action, in addition to healing and also extracts water from the stool. For these reasons, if you suffer from gastritis or heartburn, as well as episodes of diarrhea, the consumption of loquats can be of great help.

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4. Potassium

Another component of the medlar is potassium. And like vitamin A, it has it in significant amounts. For this reason it is considered that loquat is a fruit that can help regulate functions such as blood pressure.

So if there is a tendency to have problems with blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, then It is a good idea to include a quantity of medlars in your daily consumption to have the necessary consumption of potassium.

5. Radiant skin

The medlar is a natural aid to have a beautiful skin. Among its compounds is carotene, it also has a moderate amount of antioxidants, and as already mentioned, it also has vitamin A in a significant proportion.

All of these compounds are great for the skin. They hydrate it, protect it from free radicals, help cell regeneration and therefore, make the skin look hydrated and nourished as well as fight the signs of aging.

6. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also present in loquats. Among other benefits, vitamin C allows you to fix iron, which is why it helps prevent anemia. Since the medlar contains this vitamin in a significant amount, it is recommended to consume medlars frequently.

In addition, the medlar itself contains iron, so in a normal situation (that is, the person does not present iron deficiency or severe anemia) consuming medlar regularly helps to stay healthy and with nutrients enough.

7. Cholesterol in check

Pectin, present in medlar, helps control cholesterol levels. Although this fruit by itself could not lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, it is an excellent ally to achieve this purpose.

If there is no history of cholesterol levels out of range, then medlar helps keep it that way. On the contrary, if you are in a treatment to reduce these levels, then the recommendation is to include medlars in the diet along with other necessary and urgent measures to attack this situation.

8. Assistant in the treatment of diabetes

Medlar leaves are used in patients with diabetes. This specific part of the medlar fruit has the property of stimulating insulin production. Due to this, this leaf has the power to regulate blood sugar levels.

Although the fruit itself also has this ability, it has been shown that the concentration of bioactive elements that help regulate blood sugar is in the leaves. So that an infusion with medlar leaves can be included in the usual diet of a diabetic person.

9. Take care of the liver

Loquats they are a fruit considered hepatoprotective. This means that they take care of and strengthen the liver. When “fatty liver” has been diagnosed, an auxiliary food in the treatment is the medlar, because its components act on this organ.

However, even if there is no discomfort in the liver, its consumption benefits us by strengthening the detoxification functions that it carries out. So eating loquats regularly can help very effectively to this end.

10. Diuretic

Another of the properties and benefits of medlar is its diuretic effect. This is because it stimulates the kidney, which directly intervenes in fluid retention, which thanks to the proper functioning of the kidney we can discard through urine.

Even its daily consumption helps prevent this fluid retention, but in case you already suffer from swelling due to this retention, consuming medlar helps with this problem, acting on the kidney to release water.

Bibliographic references

• Liu, Y., Zhang, W., Xu, C., & Li, X. (2016). Biological Activities of Extracts from Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.): A Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 17 (12), 1983.
• Tan, H., Sonam, T., & Shimizu, K. (2017). The Potential of Triterpenoids from Loquat Leaves (Eriobotrya japonica) for Prevention and Treatment of Skin Disorder. International journal of molecular sciences, 18 (5), 1030.