Huaya: characteristics and benefits of this fruit

What is huaya? Let's see what are the properties and benefits of this American fruit.

In recent years it has become viral on social networks images in which some kind of exotic fruit appears, accompanied by messages in which they claim that this fruit is 10,000 times more powerful than radiotherapy or that they have some miraculous property.

One of the protagonists of this type of images has been the huaya, a bitter-sour fruit. the huaya, a bittersweet and fleshy fruit native to Central and South America..

It has been attributed both anti-infectious and anticarcinogenic properties, even occupying the space of more than one media.

To what extent is this true, and does this fruit really have healing properties? Here, in this article, we are going to explain what is huaya, what are its properties and what relation it may have with oncological diseases.

What is huaya?

The huaya is a well-known fruit in several countries. Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador ... are just a few names of the many places where this fruit can be obtained as a regular product in the greengrocers. There are several names with which this delicacy has been baptized: guaya, mamoncillo, quenepa, chupalotes, güevillos and many others that allude to what they resemble.

The word "huaya" probably comes from the Nahuatl word "hueyona", composed of "hue-i", "hueyona", "hueyona" and "hueyona".composed by "hue-i", "big" and "yona-catl", "pulp".

This fruit grows on the top of the tree with the same name (Melicoccus bijugatus), in bunches that can measure up to 10 centimeters. The tree can reach heights of up to 30 meters. The fruit consists of a drupe covered with a green shell, whose interior houses the bittersweet fleshy part and the seeds, which occupy most of the edible part. In itself, the huaya looks like a kind of peach about 2 to 4 cm in diameter.

Benefits of this fruit

Since pre-Columbian times, the huaya fruit has been attributed with immunological properties, and it is believed to combat problems associated with the entry of bacteria and viruses into the body. In addition, the acids that the fruit possesses have been related to benefits for pregnant women, contributing to the production of proteins and increasing the defenses for the fetus.

It contributes to protect the epithelia against harmful factors, such as tobacco consumption.such as tobacco consumption (although it does not reverse the damage caused by smoking). In addition, it has been related to avoid kidney discomfort.

The fruit is an important source of nutrients, such as iron, phosphorus, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12 and C, which could play a beneficial role in combating urinary and bronchial conditions, such as fever and colds.which could play a beneficial role in combating urinary and bronchial affections, such as fever and colds. Its frequent consumption can be an important source of vitamins, as well as minerals, essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic.

Uses and consumption

The huaya is used both as food and as a natural remedyThe wood of the tree can also be used as a material for making furniture.

In the food industry, huaya can be found in canned food. can be found in cans, juices, consumed fresh or also fermented to make beverages such as huaya beer or huaya water. beverages such as huaya beer or aguardiente made from this fruit. The huaya stone can also be eaten if roasted.

The leaves of this plant are attributed with antiparasitic properties, in addition to acting as a natural insecticide and as a bat repellent.

As for natural remedies, the huaya leaf is attributed with the ability to calm the nerves and improve fever symptoms. Its infusion is used to fight throat infections if used as a rinse, and the syrup of the fruit is used as a syrup.and the syrup of the fruit is used to combat diarrhea.

Risks

No side effects have been found associated with the huaya nor that it can become toxic, however, it can involve certain risks both its collection and its use. may involve certain risks both its collection and consumption of the fruit..

Due to the fact that this fruit is at the top of 30-meter trees, there are many people who, without having the proper professional climbing knowledge or the appropriate equipment, have tried to climb to the top of the tree. This entails the risk of falling and breaking a bone or, in the worst case, dying.

The main risk of consuming the fruit is that, having a seed of considerable size inside, it can slip out while the fruit is being ingested and obstruct the larynx, causing suffocation, especially in small children.

Relationship with cancer

In recent years, the image of this fruit has been widely shared on social networks with the claim that it cures Cancer or that it is 10,000 times more potent than chemotherapy. These claims, besides being a terrible lack of respect towards people suffering from oncological diseases and the professionals who treat them, are false, there is no study to date that confirms this..

This does not mean that the fruit itself does not have beneficial properties for health. In 2012, Cornell University, New York, conducted a study in which it found some gastrointestinal benefits caused by huaya. However, consuming huaya could prevent cancer in an indirect way, because it is argued that diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to be a protective factor against oncological diseases.

What should be clear is that huaya, although it can exert some type of effect on the development of cancer, is not a substitute for the treatments used to combat this type of disease..

The possible preventive effects against cancer may be due to the fact that this fruit activates the immune system, preventing infections in the organism. In addition, it has been related to a better health of the epithelia against unhealthy habits such as smoking, which could also be beneficial in the face of the appearance of carcinogens.

It has also been hypothesized that it has certain nutrients that are capable of inhibiting the proliferation and growth of cancer cells, however, this is neither assured nor confirmed. is neither assured nor confirmed..

It should be said that it is not the first time that a fruit or any other type of plant, simply because it is a vegetable, must be inherently good for any type of disease, especially cancer, without having the proper evidence to prove it. To give some examples: broccoli, coffee, pomegranates, plums, peaches, oregano?

Returning to the same point as before, the fact that no clear evidence has been found that all these vegetables and fruits are potent anticarcinogens does not mean that they do not play a role in preventing the disease, only that they are not miracle treatments nor do they seem likely to become so.

Bibliographic references:

• Bystrom, L. M. (2012) The potential health effects of Melicococcus bijugatus Jacq. fruits: phytochemical, chemotaxonomic and ethnobotanical investigations. 83(2). 266-271.