There used to be a very fertile custard apple (hoong mo lai cee in Cantonese) tree that my late maternal grandma planted decades ago that bore us lots of fruits for many years. We had so much that my brothers and I got fed-up of eating them. There was also a huge guava tree that also bore loads of guavas and my brothers and I used to climb that tree to pluck ripe guavas.

The other day, hubby bought a huge custard apple that cost RM5 each. It tasted a tad different from the ones bore by the custard apple tree that my grandma planted. It was more fleshy, did not have a ‘sandy’ texture and there were not as many seeds as the ones that I used to eat when I was little. It was really sweet and really tasted like custard (well of course, that’s why it’s called custard apple).

I did a google search and found out that the custard apple has many nutritional and health benefits.

Given below is nutritional value per 100 gm of custard apple:

* Thiamine (B1) – 0.05 to 0.08 mg
* Vitamin A -1 mg
* Riboflavin (B2) – 0.08 to 0.1 mg
* Natural Sugar – 14 to 18 gm
* Niacin (B3) – 0.5 to 0.8 mg
* Carbohydrate – 23.71 gm
* Iron – 0.7mg
* Total Acidity – 0.4 mg
* Energy – 76 to 96 cal (310 to 420 kJ)
* Protein – 1 to 4.3 gm
* Zinc – 0.2 to 2.7mg
* Magnesium – 32 to 88 mg
* Copper – 2.4mg
* Potassium – 250 to 578 mg
* Sodium – 4 to 14 mg
* Calcium – 17 to 22 mg
* Vitamin C – 22 to 43 mg
* Fibre – 1 to 3.2 g
* Total Soluble Solids (Brix) – 22.3%

Health & Nutritional Benefits of Eating Custard Apple

* Custard apple is a storehouse of Vitamin C, which is an anti-oxidant and helps in neutralizing free radicals.
* Vitamin A present in the fruit is good for hair, eyes and healthy skin.
* Custard apple contains magnesium, which plays vital role in relaxing muscles and protecting heart against diseases.
* Potassium and Vitamin B6 are also present in custard apple.
* Copper is yet another useful ingredient of custard apple.
* It is a rich source of dietary fiber, which helps in digestion.
* As it contains low fat levels, it is good for maintaining optimum health.
* The paste of the flesh of the fruit can be used for local application on ulcers, abscesses and boils.
* The fruit, in its unripe form, can be dried, crushed and used for treating diarrhea and dysentery.
* Custard apple serves as an expectorant, stimulant, coolant and haematinic and is even useful in treating anemia.
* The seeds of the fruit have insecticidal and abortifacient properties.