Thinking of juicing persimmons and wondering if there are any persimmon juice benefits that come along with the tasty drink? You’re one of the wise ones.
Bewilderingly, the vivid-hued and uniquely-flavored persimmon juice is somewhat underrated in the West. In fact, we’re willing to bet there are a good number of people who’ve never juiced – let alone tasted – one of these succulent fruits. You’re in luck, we have some great free persimmon juice recipes prepared for you.
But while it remains in obscurity in the Western world, the persimmon fruit is very popular in Asian countries not just for their taste, but also for its huge range of health perks.
The Japanese, for example, adore the persimmon so much that they made it their national fruit! So what’s all the brouhaha about over these sweet fruits? Let’s find out!
7 Persimmon Juice Benefits
Persimmon juice is still under-consumed in the west but we predict that once everyone knows how delectable these fruits are and the wide array of health benefits they come packed with – it’s all going to change.
So jump on the bandwagon before it’s cool, okay? Plus, you have ample reasons to do so…
Keeps your eyes healthy
Loaded with more than half of the average person’s recommended daily dietary requirement of vitamin A, juicing persimmons on a regular basis can help prevent various illnesses of the eyes like macular degeneration and conjunctivitis.
The extra dose of antioxidants like cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein and lycopene also inhibits age-related deterioration of the eyesight like blurriness and tunnel vision.
Great for your heart
You know how they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away? That’s ’cause they didn’t know about persimmons.
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared apples and persimmons for their effects on a number of factors that influence heart health and found that persimmons come out on top. Yup, these underdog fruits are significantly richer in dietary fiber, minerals and phenolic compounds – all of which are crucial in warding off atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
Not to mention that persimmons were shown to improve lipid metabolism, a huge factor in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
How many persimmons a day helps boost heart health? Just one medium-sized persimmon is enough to help fight atherosclerosis. Even the busiest of us can get that quota in.
Boosts your immune system
Persimmons are loaded with very high levels of potent antioxidants, in particular polyphenols and catechins, which help ward off viruses that can set off infections in the body. These antioxidants fight oxidative damage and inflammation and have even been found to significantly reduce the pain brought on by rheumatoid arthritis and similar joint problems. It also comes with a big load of vitamin C.
Keeps your brain young
Persimmons are known in some countries as the “fruits of the gods” and are believed to help delay the effects of aging like wrinkles and saggy skin. But the anti aging benefits of persimmon go deeper than the skin.
One study found that persimmon extract was able to extend the lifespan on mice. Even more interestingly, the results showed that these extracts improved spatial and object recognition memory, leading the researchers to conclude that persimmon could act as a protective aid against memory impairment caused by aging.
Improves digestive function
Persimmons are rich in soluble fiber (and yes, you get that from juicing) which comes with a number of benefits for your gut, like helping to soften stool so it can move through the GI tract with more ease. On top of that, soluble fiber is even known to boost the population of good bacteria in the gut which improves overall health.
But it doesn’t stop with the gut – soluble fiber also acts as a sort of garbage man, picking up cholesterol particles and removing them from the body. It even serves a buffer role, helping to slow down the absorption of sugar in the blood.
And it’s not just the soluble fiber that’s awesome about persimmon – the significant amounts of tannin that give this fruit (mostly the peel) its rather astringent bite when consumed in its still unripe state also has the ability to prevent the onset of diarrhea as well as to kill off intestinal parasites!
Protects against tumors and disease
Persimmons contain an active compound called betulinic acid that has been shown to be one potent aid against warding off a whole lot of bad stuff. For example, betulinic acid has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and anthelmintic properties and has even been shown to be effective in inhibiting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as killing off various human cancer cells.
And apart from inhibiting the growth and development of tumors in the body, betulinic acid acts as a potent antioxidant and helps get rid of harmful free radicals that can potentially trigger cancer in the long run.
Helpful for diabetes
There are phytochemicals in persimmons that help pick up the pace on the body’s metabolism of sugar in the bloodstream. Just to make things even more interesting, these phytochemicals also have the ability to keep blood sugar levels up to par when ingested by the system, which makes them ideal for diabetics and those who are vulnerable to the disease.
3 Delicious Persimmon Juice Recipes
Ready to get started juicing persimmons? Here are some of our favorite persimmon juice recipes!
Warming Persimmon Juice Recipe
Here’s an absolutely delicious, creative persimmon juice recipe that’s perfect for the autumn:
- 1 sweet potato (peeled)
- 6 tangerines (peeled)
- 1 or 2 persimmons
- Cinnamon powder and/or a cinnamon stick
- 1 spoon of lemon juice
This is probably one of our favorite juice recipes – its taste is ideal for the autumn months and so is its nutritional content! As we approach the changing of the seasons, it’s all too easy to pick up the sniffles or worse.
Thankfully, this juice recipe is jam-packed with immune-boosting Vitamin C from the tangerines and persimmons as well as a huge load of Vitamin A from the sweet potato. The yummiest flu shot you’ll ever get!
Earthy Persimmon Juice Recipe
You know we couldn’t leave out a green version of persimmon juice, right? Thankfully, Dance to the Beet has created a recipe for the yummiest of its kind:
- 2 ripe Fuyu persimmons
- 1/2 cucumber
- 5 green leaf lettuce leaves
- Slice of ginger
- 1/3 medium beet
- 2 carrots
- 1 spoon of lemon juice (as per your taste)
This delicious juice is packed with disease-fighting antioxidants, minerals that are great for your hair, skin and nails, circulation-boosting ginger, Vitamin A-rich carrots and blood flow-improving beets. A cornucopia of health perks in one yummy juice!
Parasite Cleanse Persimmon Juice
Here’s a beneficial – but intense – persimmon juice recipe that’s not for the faint of heart (but will provide a darn good cleanse):
- 2 unripe persimmons, quartered
- 1 large green apple, cored
If you’re struggling to clear out intestinal parasites – without compromising your good gut bacteria – persimmons provide an all-natural way to do so. Check out Healthy Blender Recipes for how and why it works!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put persimmons in a juicer?
Yes, absolutely. Persimmons are delicious and juicy, so it’s no wonder why they’re often used in juices. You’ll find a couple of recipes right here on this page.
What can persimmon be used for?
There are so many things you can do with a persimmon! You can make desserts, jams, or even have them as a snack. Lots of people love to eat them while they’re still warm. You can also juice them for a healthy drink. Persimmons are usually eaten but can also be used for skincare, you can make a facial mask out of them too!
What goes well with persimmon?
With persimmon, you can use any fruit or vegetable. I recommend strawberries, blueberries, and bananas! Persimmons also go well with cream cheese. The citrus and tartness of the persimmon work really well with creamy cheeses like brie or goat (but maybe not for Juices 😉 ).
Is persimmon high in sugar?
Yes, I would say so. Persimmons are one of the fruits that has the highest sugar content. One of the best fruits for a sweet tooth as persimmon is easy to find in any supermarket.
Is persimmon good for diabetes?
As it is a fruit with a very, very high sugar content I would not recommend it for anyone who is suffering from diabetes. Sure, a bite here or there in moderation will be alright, but it should not be a part of a regular diet.
