Health Benefits Of Bel Fruit- Health Benefits Of Bel Fruit- Bel fruit, a very common fruit that we all have been hearing about from our parents and grandparents since our childhood, holds a significant place in most of our lives because of the importance of this fruit in worshipping lord Shiva. Whenever it is the time of Maha Shivratri, we go to the temple and offer bel fruit, bel leaves and other fruits to lord shiva to seek blessings from him as it is believed that Lord shiva blesses us with happiness if we offer him bel leaves.
Health Benefits Of Bel Fruit:
Since it is related to Lord shiva, it is considered to be sacred and hence worshipped by every Indian. It is also believed that planting Bel tree around your house is equivalent to worshipping Shiva .The Bel fruit has trifoliate leaf or tripatra that is believed to symbolize the three purposes of the Lord-the creation, conservation and destruction. It also symbolizes the three eyes of Lord shiva. In our sacred book of Shiv purana as well, it is mentioned that one who worships the shiva while sitting under the Bilva attains the state of Shiva. It is also believed that washing the head by this tree is as pure as bathing in all the sacred rivers and one who performs Bilva pooja with flowers attains purity and has happiness and prosperity showered upon them.
Other than the ritualistic importance of the bel fruit, the Fruit is also very beneficial for the health. The Bel fruit is also known as the wood apple because of its hard wooden shell. The fruit is 5 to 9cm in diameter and has brownish pulp and small white seeds inside. The tree of this fruit grows up to 30 feet in height. Bel fruit is also called as elephant apple because it’s well liked by elephants. In India, the Bel season is from February to May.
The Bel fruit has various nutritional qualities. It has various vitamins, organic compounds and nutrients, including calcium, phosphorous, protein, fiber and iron. It has many health benefits such as relief from various stomach related problems such as constipation, peptic ulcer, diarrhea, indigestion and piles. It also kills the worms in the intestine. Since it is rich in Vitamin C, it also helps in curing scurvy. Other than this, it also improves the immune system and also fights with bacterial and viral infections and respiratory problems including cold, cough and sore throat as well. It is very effective in reducing inflammation and other inflammatory conditions. Cancer, that has become a major disease now days, can also be prevented by consuming this fruit. It also helps in increasing the production of milk for nursing mother and helps in preventing various sexual dysfunctions. Beside all of these, it also helps in curing diabetes, snakebites and acts as a good blood cleanser. It also makes our skin rash-free and helps in preventing white patches, skin redness and itching problems.
The pulp of this fruit can be eaten up in a raw form and can also be scooped out and made into jam. It works really well if mixed with coconut milk that is not only healthy but very delicious.
We can also consume it in the form of tasty murrabba that is not only delicious to have but also very easy to make.which is as follows ;-
- Wash the fruit thoroughly and peel out the outer layer of the fruit.
- Cut down the fruit into small slices
- Cook and steam it in the pan for 3-10minutes until the pieces becomes soft.
- Add these slices in the sugar syrup. You can also add cardamom to it.
- Finally, your special bel murabba is ready to consume!
Bel Murabba not only enhances our immune system but also acts as a body coolant. It also helps in curing stomach and respiratory problems. It is also good for pregnant and breast feeding mother.
But, as we know that everything has advantages and disadvantages both, Bel fruit too can have some disadvantages if not consumed in an appropriate quantity. One should not consume more than 50 grams of bel fruit products as it can cause bloating, stomach pain,constipation and flatulence in the abdomen. Especially, the people who suffer from gastric troubles should be careful. Also, if one is consuming the bel fruit for the first time, try a small amount and see how your body reacts so as to check if it causes any allergy. So it is better to start small and lead your way up to larger proportions once you get to know that your system handles it well. The person who has diabetes should be careful while consuming Bel Murabba as it contains large amount of sugar that can be harmful.
