Health Benefits of Aratiles

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Jan 06, 2023 • 3 min Read

Part of Pinoy’s childhood is eating aratiles, the organic fruit snack also known as kersen fruit. This is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s a fast-growing tree and has a fruit that resembles a cherry and tastes like a tart.

According to research, a Pinay high school student from Iloilo discovered it as a potential cure for diabetes and won at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Arizona.

The fruit can be consumed plainly but is now also popularly produced as jam, tarts, baking ingredients, and supplements. Aratiles leaves may also be extracted and made into fusion teas.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of one of the least popular fruits:

1. Antibacterial Properties

Aratiles is a natural antibiotic that will fight staph, intestinal bacteria, sepsis, and diphtheria.

2. Huge Source of Vitamin C

One hundred grams of this fruit is equal to 150 mg of Vitamin C. We already know that this vitamin helps prevent flu and colds, has strong antioxidants, and even works to improve some types of cardiovascular disease.

3. Headache Relief

People who suffer severe headaches do so because of blood vessel constriction. Aratiles relaxes the blood vessels and helps to normalize the flow.

4. Helpful for those with Diabetes

Aratiles helps lower blood sugar, and regular consumption may mean less medicine or lower injection doses. Aratiles is used as a preventative against diabetes in some countries.

5. Strong Antioxidant Properties

Damaging free radicals form chains and are considered to cause cancer and other diseases. Antioxidants kill free radicals and aratiles are full of them — 24 different flavonoids and phenolic compounds to be exact.

6. Important Nutrients

It contains fiber, carbs, protein, calcium, phosphorous, iron, and B vitamins (which are some great mood enhancers). With this type of excellent nutritional benefit, aratiles is a staple in other parts of the world.

7. Pain Blocker

While the fruit itself is a pain reliever, the tea blocks pain receptors. Here’s how that works: You have nerve cells (neurons) all over your body. When they receive pain stimuli (a cut, a bee sting, etc.) they send messages to your spinal cord and brain and you feel pain. The tea blocks those messages from being sent, similar to how an opiate does, but without the bad side effects. Just like eating fruit, tea is great for headaches, gout pain, and other arthritic joint pain.

8. Cancer Preventative

Research so far shows promise that the leaves of this tree have properties that act to reduce and prevent cancerous tumor growth.

9. Reduces Blood Pressure

Aratiles tea contains large amounts of nitric oxide, a natural chemical that relaxes blood vessels so that blood can flow freely, thus reducing pressure.

10. Cardiovascular Benefits

The tea has specific antioxidants that prevent types of inflammation that can cause myocardial infarction or a heart attack.

11. Improves Digestion

You can make a soothing drink from aratiles. It is used to calm upset stomachs, gas cramps, and indigestion.

Indeed, there are many health benefits that we can get from this often-ignored fruit.  Next time that you see an aratiles tree, don’t hesitate to try it again, savor the fruit, and reminisce about your childhood.

Stay healthy and safe!