Autumn generously bestows its beneficial fruits. At this time, it is time for a real well of vitamins - persimmon, which helps strengthen the immune system on the eve of winter. In the botanical classification, the fruit is a berry, but in cooking it is called a fruit. Let's try to find out what valuable elements are contained in the fruit, what benefits and harm brings its use.
Calorie, Vitamins and Minerals
Despite the high sugar content and satiety, the calorie content of persimmon is relatively low — 100 grams of the product, depending on the variety, is contained in 55 to 70 kcal. The pulp contains vitamins A, B, C, PP, as well as minerals:
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- iron;
- sodium.
They are useful for stomach disorders, normalize metabolism, remove toxins from the body. Persimmon has a high iodine content, which is a useful prevention of thyroid disease.Did you know? Today, more than 700 species of persimmon grow in different parts of the world, and all of them do not necessarily have an orange coloration. For example, in the African savanna you can see purple persimmon with a diameter of up to 3 cm. The center and shell of the berry can be brown: these varieties are called "kinglet".
What is useful persimmon
Eating ripe fruits helps fight off many diseases and even prevent some of them. We find out how the persimmon is useful for the female and male body, and what it treats.
Translated from the Persian "persimmon" means "date plum". Some types of persimmon with edible fruits are also called "wild dates".
For women
The fair sex highly appreciate persimmon for its preventive properties and ability to improve general well-being. 
So, the berry is useful:
- for the kidneys, because it removes excess salts from the body;
- as a tonic product;
- for vision, as it contains vitamin A;
- for the prevention of heart disease;
- to maintain youthful skin;
- with diarrhea, due to its astringent effect.
Important! Persimmon - a great preventive against cancer, because it contains a lot of beta-carotene.
For men
One of the main effects for the body from eating berries - increase performance. Vitamin fruits are also beneficial for the stronger sex. Thus, the regular replenishment of the diet with persimmon strengthens the nervous system and makes the symptoms of alcohol intoxication less pronounced. But the most valuable property of the fruit for men is the prevention of prostatitis. Otherwise, persimmon is just as useful for the male body as it is for the female. 
Persimmon during pregnancy
Many are concerned about the benefits and harms of persimmon during pregnancy. The answer to this question is positive, because the berry has a beneficial effect on the entire body. During pregnancy, women often suffer from stress and depression, with which persimmon is actively fighting. It also supports the balance of trace elements in the body of the future mother and baby, helps to eliminate excess fluid and harmful substances from the body.
In particular, the fruit replenishes the reserves of iron and calcium, which are useful for the formation of the child's bone system. Nursing mothers persimmon is also not prohibited, but in small quantities. In this case, the mother should pay attention to the reaction of the baby to this fruit, and in case of allergy, consult a doctor.
Important! Supplement the children's diet with useful persimmon is possible when the child reaches the age of three. Experts recommend and begin to use the fetus at all only 10 years old.
Application
Persimmon has taken pride of place not only in the ranking of products with a high content of fortified substances, but also in cooking, nutrition, cosmetology and traditional medicine. 
In cooking and nutrition
For a long time, the fruit of persimmon remains a self-sufficient dish in cooking. Snacks, alcoholic beverages (wine, cider, beer), jelly, and marmalade are made from its pulp. Today, culinary experts skillfully experiment, creating new tastes that are in harmony with the sweetness of the berries. For example, slices of berries sprinkled with lemon juice, wrapped in a slice of grilled chicken fillet, served with lettuce leaves.
Low calorie and the ability to quickly satisfy hunger made persimmon one of the most popular foods in diet and vegetarian diets. The fibers of the berries contain pectin, which controls a person’s appetite. This substance also contributes to the treatment of stomach disorders. The very same fibrous structure of the berry does not damage the mucous membrane and protects against food accumulations in the digestive tract. 
In cosmetology
When the skin loses its tone and fresh appearance, it will help to normalize its condition. persimmon face masks. One of the recipes is suitable for combating porous skin and acne and will be to the liking of pregnant women. To prepare the mask you will need to mix the pulp of one berry and one egg yolk. After attach the received content to problem areas for 15-20 minutes. The procedure can be carried out 1-3 times a week.
Did you know? For many nations of the world, persimmon is not just a useful fruit. For the Japanese, it is a symbol of victory. For the peoples of the Middle East - this is the identification of wisdom and prophecy. Arab legends say that genies live in persimmon trees.
If you add lemon juice to the pulp of the fruit and the yolk, you get a great anti-aging mask. The fruits are also actively used in the fight against the "orange peel". To do this, mashed berries and freshly ground coffee make a scrub. The resulting mixture is carefully rubbed into steamed skin with signs of cellulite. The course lasts three months with 2-3 scrubbing massages per week. 
In folk medicine
The fruit is actively used in traditional medicine. According to adherents of non-traditional methods of treatment, diuretic properties remove harmful salts from the body no worse than medications. A 100 g fresh berries per day will reduce the risk of arterial disease.
Persimmon helps fight off catarrhal diseases. It is enough to rinse your throat with a drink from 3.5 tbsp. l warm water and juice of one fruit until recovery.
Important! Remember, these recipes are not a guarantee for curing diseases. Be sure to consult with a specialist.
With hypertension The following recipe is recommended. The flesh is interrupted with the addition of 200 ml of milk. Consume 3 times a week.
With hemorrhoids advised to prepare a drink infused with warm water and 12 g of dried fruit. After waiting 10 minutes, it can be consumed. 
How to choose when buying
Only the correctly chosen berry can bring pleasure and great benefit to the organism. Therefore, in order not to feel the tart taste of an unripe fruit, it is important to learn how to choose a persimmon correctly.
When choosing, you need to pay attention only mature fruitswho managed to become honey and juicy. The main signs of ripeness are bright orange color, softness of the fruit and leaves of brown color. The presence of black dots should be alerted, as this may indicate a spoiled product.
Learn more about the beneficial properties of fruits: fig, kumquat, feijoa, longan, medlar, kivano, guava, pineapple, papaya, lychee, arbutus, yoshta, goji, mulberry, chokeberry, cherry, strawberry, raspberry (black), currant (red, white, black), plum, cherry plum, nectarine, peach, apricot, pear, apple, mandarin.
How to store at home
The key to successful and long-term storage of fruits is the care in their regard. The slightest damage to the shell of persimmon provokes damage to the entire fetus. According to experts, the best way to store fruit is freezing, which can preserve the taste and beneficial properties of the fruit for up to six months. 
Freezing for several hours will also help get rid of the tart taste. A similar effect is achieved if you leave the fruit in a container with warm water for 10-12 hours.
Did you know? Chinese peach, plum of the gods, winter cherry, heart apple are just a short list of persimmon names in the world. At the cut of this berry come from China, you can always see the flower.
Contraindications and harm
As already noted, persimmon has a number of useful properties, but along with them there are some contraindications to its use, namely:
- diabetes and obesity (due to the high percentage of easily digestible sugars);
- excessive amounts of fruits in the diet provoke constipation, and over time - hard stones (bezoara) and intestinal obstruction;
- pancreatic diseases.
