Cotton fruit, Sandoricum koetjape, is believed to be native to former Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia, and mostly grown in Southeast Asia. The pulp of this fruit is eaten raw, but you can also combine it with spices.
Before we explain one way to prepare it, we explain its general nutrients as well as the main health benefits it provides.
General Nutrients of Cottonfruit
This fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals. Vitamin B it contains is essential for brain function, improving thinking, learning, and memory. Another important vitamin in its content is vitamin C – a vitamin that boosts the immune system and promotes the function of collagen.
Collagen preserves the skin’s elasticity and protects it from aging and sagging thanks to its ability to bind together loosely connected cells and tissues.
When it comes to minerals, this fruit contains calcium, phosphorus, and iron – minerals which are crucial for bone health and blood oxygenation. Moreover, calcium contributes to proper heart contraction, so it helps prevent arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.
Health Benefits of Cotton Fruit
Neuromuscular Health
This fruit is beneficial for your muscle and nerve health. It contains one of the key elements of the human body – potassium. This mineral helps muscles and nerves perform their proper function, contributing to proper muscle contractility. As the heart is also a muscle, it contributes to proper cardiac contractility.
If you have a potassium deficiency, your muscles will become weaker which will affect your movement and increase the risk of injuries.
Anti-Diabetes
The sour taste of cotton fruit is not what makes this fruit good for people with diabetes. It is actually its low glycemic index and the high levels of fiber it contains. The fiber slows down cotton fruit digestion, thus normalizing or preventing a rise in blood sugar levels. Fiber reduces sugar absorption in the blood, which is why this fruit is recommended for diabetics and those who want to lose some extra pounds.
Fiber also helps our body flush out toxins and free radicals, which are known for their ability to cause cancer. What’s more, cotton fruit pulp includes sandorium and bryonic acid which help prevent allergies. By preventing allergies, cotton fruit prevents diabetics from scratching their skin which might result in wounds and infections. In addition, the astringent properties of cotton fruit will help your skin look younger.
Sample Recipe
You can add this fruit to a variety of Oriental dishes, and here you’ll learn one way to prepare it.
Ingredients:
- 400 gr. of peeled, seeded, and finely chopped cotton fruit;
- 250 gr. of cube slide pork;
- 2 tbsp. of crushed garlic;
- 1 tbsp. of cooking oil;
- ½ a cup of sliced onions;
- 1 ½ cups of coconut milk;
- 2 pieces shrimp broth cube;
- 3 pieces chili;
- ½ a cup of coconut cream – optional.
Preparation:
Soak the cotton fruit pieces in salted water for at least half an hour. Drain and squeeze them dry. Heat the oil and add the garlic and onion. Sauté them until they turn limp. Stir in the pork and shrimp broth cubes, and cook for 3 minutes, or until they change their color.
After that, add the drained cotton fruit pieces and cook for another 5 minutes. Pour the coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat. Then, add the chili and coconut cream (optional), and cook until the coconut fruit softens. Enjoy!
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