What are the health benefits of medlar?
Medlar is a naturally fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free fruit, making it a healthy choice for consumption, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation. It is also known to contain several vitamins and is used as an ingredient in several everyday products such as liqueur, notes VanDusen Botanical Garden.
A primary ingredient found in medlar is thiamine, which aids in digestion of food and is a part of a healthy diet, explains WebMD. Medlar also contains ascorbic acid, which functions as a naturally occurring antioxidant and supplements a healthy immune system. Ascorbic acid helps boost vitamin C and aid iron absorption. It is also used to ward off the common cold and other ailments.
Medlar's health benefits go beyond the actual fruit itself. The pulp can be used as a laxative. The leaves are considered astringent and have been used in mouthwash. Even the bark of a medlar tree has been used as an anti-inflammatory replacement for quinine, according to VanDusen Botanical Garden. Medlar can be consumed in a variety of ways. It can be eaten raw with cheese as a dessert. The pulp can be made into a cheese by combining it with eggs and butter. It has even been used in the making of wine.
Health Benefits of Medlar Fruit
 The main ingredient in medlars is thiamine, or B1 vitamin, which is involved in many body functions including the nervous system, heart and muscles. It is also important for the flow of electrolytes in and out of nerve and muscle cells, enzymatic processes and carbohydrate metabolism.
 Medlars pack only 47 calories per 100g; on the other hand, they are abundant in insoluble dietary fiber, pectin, which preserves moisture in the colon, thus acting as laxative. By reducing exposure time to toxic substances as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon, it helps to protect the colon mucous membrane.
Pectin is also beneficial for reducing blood cholesterol levels due to its ability to decrease cholesterol re-absorption in the colon by binding bile acids, thus excreting it from the body.