African Pear/ Ube: Nutritional and Health Benefits

African pear is a delicacy widely eaten in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. It is that popular part of life that goes unnamed, like an aglet. Dacryodes edulis or safou is a fruit tree native to Africa, sometimes called Atanga (Gabon), Ube (Nigeria), African or bush pear or plum, Nsafu, bush butter tree, or butterfruit. The African pear is associated with pregnancy, weight loss, health benefits and it grows on an evergreen tree attaining a height of 18–40m in the forest but do not exceed 12m in plantations. The unique African pear tree that produces this popular pear has a has a relatively short trunk and a deep, dense crown. The bark is pale grey and rough with droplets of resin. The leaves are a compound with 5-8 pairs of leaflets with a glossy upper surface of the leaves. The tree also spots the most beautiful yellow flowers. Farming the African pear tree is very possible and is largely practiced. Many people do not know but the African pear is a fruit, dark purple or violet in colour and bright or pale green on the inside. The African pear grows in a shady, humid tropical forest however it adapts very well to variations in soil type, humidity, temperature and more. The natural range extends from Angola in the South, Nigeria and Sierra Leone in the West and Uganda in the East. It is also cultivated in Malaysia. This African pear is a popular Nigerian street food roasted and eaten with corn and a pinch of salt. It has a heavenly flavour that is plain but not so plain. The African pear is packed with nutrients and health benefits that consumers are not even aware of. The average Nigerian just eats the violet beauty as part of street bites. For once, street bites are going to benefit your health.  The uses of the African pear are many, from the flesh down to the African pear seed.

Here are amazing nutritional and health benefits of the African pear.

1. Table of Contents

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   Medicinal

The African pear is medicinal. It is known to have medicinal properties that have been used for years as traditional herbal medicine in some African countries. It is used to treat various ailments such as a wound, skin diseases such as ringworms and body rashes, dysentery and fever. The extracts and secondary metabolites have been found to show biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-sickle-cell disease. A wide range of chemical constituents such as terpenes flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins have been isolated from the plant.

2. Soluble fibre content

African pear is rich in soluble fibre which prevents constipation, improves bowel movement. Soluble fibres protect the heart by helping the body remove cholesterol, it protects the body from type 2 diabetes because it is not easily absorbed thus it can’t cause sugar spikes in the blood and it also helps with weight loss. Soluble fibre makes you feel full causing you to eat less.

3. Rich in vitamin C

African pear is a vitamin C rich fruit. Vitamin c not only prevents scurvy, it gives you radiant skin. vitamin c is also an active agent in boosting the immune system protecting the body from diseases. This is because vitamin c is an anti-oxidant, fighting free radicals from damaging the body and skin. vitamin c will also make your skin glow.

4. Rich in vitamin B5

African pear is rich in vitamin B5 which is very essential in the body. This vitamin is responsible for hormone stimulation, heart health, boost one’s stamina, amazing skin care and hair health, it also boosts the immune system. Along with all these benefits, vitamin B5 helps to increase the body’s metabolic rate which can be crucial to weight loss, relieve stress, boost haemoglobin generation, prevent arthritis and even heal wounds.

5. Reduces blood pressure

African pear is a good source of components that aid the reduction of the blood’s pressure. A high blood pressure can lead to many health issues like stroke or a heart attack. This is because the high blood pressure places stress on your arteries which is a very dangerous thing to have.

6. Reduces risk of stroke

African pear amongst many other benefits reduces the risk of stroke. In Africa, stroke is the most underrated illness. The African pear reducing the risk of stroke is wonderful because stroke is an ailment that can render you disabled, in so much pain and anguish and surely prevention would be better than cure.

7. Rich in calcium

African pear is rich in calcium which is essential for strong bones and teeth. Calcium also prevents osteoporosis in women. Calcium also aids the proper functioning of the heart, nerves, and muscles.

8. Rich in phosphorus

Phosphorus is another essential mineral required for bone health in the body. The phosphorus rich African pear can provide the daily requirement of this mineral making it easy to never be deficient in it. Phosphorus is also essential for the repair and growth of cells in the body, balance hormones, prevent arthritis, nutrient absorption, weight loss, healthy brain function and it

9. Body cleanser

The African pear is a natural body cleanser. Believe it or not, African pear contains antioxidants that cleanse the body of germs and other unwanted elements that can cause harm to the body. Cleansing the body is important because it keeps the body healthy, safe from diseases and the oxidation of other molecules in the body.

10. Great for pregnancy

African pear contains a lot of nutrients that are essential for a pregnant woman. The presence of vitamins C and B5, essential minerals, amino acids and more, make the fruit very rich and beneficial to the health of a woman and the unborn baby.