Outstanding health benefits of cheeko ( sapota) fruit A series of Presentation By Mr Allah Dad Khan Former D.G. Agriculture & Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar allahdad52@gmail.com

8. Cheeko
The name ‘sapota’ might not be familiar to most
of us. Sapota is another name for the fruit better
known as ‘chikoo’ or ‘chiku’ in Hindi, ‘sapota’ in
Telugu, ‘chikku‘ in Marathi, ‘cappotta‘ in Tamil
and ‘sapeta’ in Bengali. When we say sapota,
we are basically referring to the tropical
evergreen tree that bears this fruit. Sapota is a
delicious calorie-rich fruit belonging to the
category of fruits like mango, banana and jack
fruit. Its other names are nose berry, sapodilla
plum, chickoo sapote et

9. Cheeko
 The sapota fruit has its origin in the rain forests of
Central America, particularly in Mexico and Belize but
it is easily available in India. The fruit is a round or
oval-shaped berry measuring around 10 centimeters
in diameter and weighing 150 grams. It has 2-5 big,
black, shiny bean-like seeds in the centre. The unripe
fruit has a hard surface and white pulp due to its high
content of latex. The latex content reduces as the fruit
ripens and its flesh acquires a brown color. It has a
smooth and grainy texture with a sweet and musky
flavor. It is rich in calories and its sweet flavor can be
attributed to the presence of simple sugars like
fructose and sucrose that replenish energy and
revitalize the body.

12. Sapota fruit helps to make your Skin
glowing
skin glowing, thus
reducing your
requirement of skin care
products to enhance
your natural skin texture
and complexion. The
Vitamin E in this fruit
moisturizes your skin,
thus giving you healthy
and beautiful skin.
Hence, eating sapota
fruit is good for the skin.

13. Sapota fruit is rich in antioxidants
Therefore, it acts as
an anti-ageing agent
by eradicating free
radicals in the body
which are responsible
for enhancing the
ageing process. It is
also effective in
reducing wrinkles.

14. Sapota oil for skin ointment
The seed kernel oil of
sapota is used as a
skin ointment. The
residue of this seed,
after the extraction of
oil, can be applied as
a poultice on painful
skin afflictions.

15. Cheeko removes Warts
The milky sap of the
sapota plant can be
used to remove warts
and fungal growth on
the skin.

16. Cheeko for Skin Beautification
The combination of
Vitamin A and C
beautifies the skin by
imparting it with a
healthy glow.

17. Cheeko Softens Hairs
Oil extracted from
sapota seeds helps in
moisturizing and
softening your hair, thus
making it more
manageable. It imparts
sheen and is
considered excellent for
curly hair. It gets
absorbed easily without
leaving a greasy
residue.

18. Cheeko Seed Nourishes Scalp
 The sapota seed oil
nourishes the scalp
by alleviating irritated
skin conditions and
promotes healthy hair
growth. This oil is
considered to be
effective in treating
hair-fall caused by
seborrheic dermatitis.

19. Cheeko makes Hair Smooth
 The seeds of sapota
can be grounded to
make a paste and
mixed with castor oil.
This mixture should
be applied on scalp
and washed off the
next day. This makes
your hair smooth and
the problem of
dandruff can also be
controlled.

20. Cheeko Good For The Eyes:
Sapota contains a
high amount of
Vitamin A. According
to research, Vitamin A
helps in improving
vision even during old
age. Thus, in order to
get or maintain good
vision, you must try
eating sapota fruit

21. Cheeko rich Source of Energy
 Sapota is rich in
glucose which
provides instant
energy to the body.
Athletes require
loads of energy and
hence, are
recommended to eat
sapota fruit.

22. Cheeko as Anti-Inflammatory Agent
The high content of
tannins makes sapota or
chikoo an important anti-
inflammatory agent. In
other words, it helps in
improving the condition of
the digestive tract through
prevention of diseases
like esophagitis, enteritis,
irritable bowel syndrome
and gastritis. It also
reduces inflammation by
reducing any swelling and
pain

23. Cheeko Prevents Certain Cancers:
The Vitamins A and B help in
maintaining the health of the
mucus lining of the body and
the texture of the skin. The
antioxidants, dietary fiber and
nutrients found in sapota
provide protection against
cancer and tightly bind the
carcinogens (toxins) to
protect the mucus membrane
of the colon. Vitamin A
provides protection from lung
and oral cavity cancers.

24. Cheeko Improves Bone Health:
Sapota juice is a very
effective sedative which
relaxes nerves and
relieves stress. It has
high concentrations of
Vitamin B, which
reduces stress and
helps to overcome
fatigue. It has
an abundant amount of
calcium which helps to
strengthen and improve
bone quality.

25. Cheeko Relieves From Constipation
Sapota fruit provides a
high amount of dietary
fiber (5.6/100g). Thus, it
is regarded as an
excellent bulk laxative.
The fiber content
provides relief from
constipation. It supports
the colons’ membrane
and makes it resistant
to infections.

26. Cheeko for Benefits During Pregnancy:
Having a high dose of
carbohydrates and
essential nutrients,
sapota is extremely
beneficial for pregnant
and lactating mothers. It
helps in reducing
weakness and other
symptoms of pregnancy
such as nausea and
dizziness.

27. Cheeko has Anti-viral And Anti-
bacterial Properties:
Due to the presence of
polyphenolic antioxidants,
sapota is found to have
several anti-viral, anti-
parasitic and anti-bacterial
properties. The antioxidants
prevent bacteria from
entering into the human body.
Vitamin C destroys the
harmful free radicals whereas
potassium, iron and folate,
niacin and pantothenic acid
facilitate proper functioning of
the digestive system.

28. Cheeko as Anti-Diarrheal:
Sapota is regarded as
an anti-diarrheal due
to its purgative
properties. A
decoction made by
boiling this fruit in
water can cure
diarrhea. It also helps
in the alleviation of
piles and dysentery.

29. Cheeko Alleviate Mental Health
Being a potent
sedative, sapota fruit
helps to calm the
nerves and alleviate
stress. Thus, it is
advisable for
individuals suffering
from insomnia, anxiety
and depression.

30. Cheeko for Cold And Cough:
Sapota fruit is effective
in keeping congestion
and chronic coughs at
bay by removing the
phlegm and mucus from
the nasal passage and
respiratory tract. Thus, it
helps in the alleviation
of cold and coughs.

31. Cheeko controls Kidney Stones:
The crushed seeds of
this fruit act as a
diuretic, thus helping
to expel bladder and
kidney stones. It
provides protection
against kidney
diseases as well.

32. Cheeko Aids In Weight Loss:
Sapota fruit indirectly
helps in weight loss
and prevents obesity
by regulating the
secretion of gastric
enzymes, thereby
regulating metabolism

33. Cheeko As a Detoxifying Agent:
Sapota acts as a
diuretic and thus helps
in removing waste
materials from the
body through frequent
urination. It prevents
edemas or water
retention by
maintaining the water
concentration within
the body.

34. Cheeko Fills Tooth Cavities:
The high latex content
of sapota fruit can be
used as a crude filling
for tooth cavities.

36. Cheeko Treats Gastric & Bowel
Disorders:
Chikoo juice contains a
special compound called
tannins, a naturally occurring
polyphenols that neutralize
acids by precipitating
proteins. Tannins also have
anti-parasitic, anti-
inflammatory antiviral and
antibacterial properties. The
anti-inflammatory properties
of Sapota juice prevent health
problems like gastritis and
bowel disorders. It also
assists in removing waste
from the belly.

37. Cheeko Excellent Laxative:
Sapota juice
contains high amounts
of fiber, making it an
excellent laxative. The
juice not just helps to
relieve constipation,
but also protects the
mucous membrane of
the colon from cancer-
causing toxins.