techroki.com – Here are 4 Benefits of Harp Fruit for Body Health. Santol fruit alias harp may not be included in a row of popular fruits in Indonesia.
In fact, this fruit which is also dubbed as wild mangosteen has various properties. What are the nutritional content and benefits that you can get from the fruit of the harp?
Nutrient content of harp fruit
The harp is an exotic fruit that thrives in Southeast Asia and parts of South America. The shape is round the size of an apple, with white flesh that at first glance is similar to mangosteen.
There are two types of harps, namely red and yellow harps. The type of harp that is more commonly consumed is the red harp. Inside the reddish-colored skin, there is a smooth-textured fruit flesh that tastes sweet and sour.
Not only delicious, the harp also contains a variety of nutrients. Below is a list of nutrients that you can get from consuming 100 grams of harp fruit.
Benefits of the fruit of the harp for health
Behind its small size, the fruit of the harp turns out to have various benefits which are described below.
1. Lowering bad cholesterol
The fruit of the harp contains a fiber called pectin. Pectin is a soluble fiber found in vegetables and fruits. In your intestines, this fiber will bind to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and prevent it from being carried by the blood.
LDL is the ‘bad’ cholesterol that can form plaque in blood vessels. This over time can cause heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. The bond between pectin and LDL will help prevent the formation of vascular plaque.
2. Good for diabetics
Harp can be a good choice of fruit for diabetics. The reason is, this fruit named Latin Sandoricum koetjape has a low glycemic index. Foods with a low glycemic index will not increase blood sugar quickly.
Animal studies have also shown that pectin has the potential to lower blood sugar and improve the function of hormones that control blood sugar. Even so, the benefits of this one harp fruit still need to be studied further in humans.
3. Lose weight
If you’re looking for fruit to lose weight, the harp could be one of them. The high fiber content in this fruit provides a feeling of fullness for longer so it is useful for those of you who are on a diet to lose weight.
According to an animal study, pectin supplements also help burn fat and lower calorie intake more than a high-protein diet. Similar studies also found that pectin increased the satiety hormone in mice.
4. Helps overcome digestive disorders
The fruit of the harp also has benefits for people with digestive disorders. The fiber of this fruit can turn into a gel when it meets water in the digestive tract. The gel can make the stool soft so that it is easier to pass.
In addition, the water-soluble fiber in the fruit of the harp also includes prebiotics that increase the number of good bacteria. According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, the good bacteria in the gut can help treat constipation and inflammation naturally.
