Palm seeds are obtained from the palmyra trees. Palmyra trees are found in the dry, tropical regions of mid and southern India -Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala. The ripened pulp of the sugar palm is jelly-like tender, flat and round with a light brown skin.
Nungu is a low calorie fruit with 87% moisture and fairly good amounts of vitamin C. This makes it a hydrating and nourishing fruit for the summers. The inner portion is a juicy socket structure with a mild sweet taste. The pulp or the seeds become harder as they grow older.
Health benefits
- Traditionally, the fruit is used to treat digestive issues and stomach ailments such as constipation and acidity.
- Extracts from the root may have antidiabetic potential based on their ability to decrease blood sugar levels and improve glucose tolerance when tested in rats. (Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2013)
- It may also be useful in treating skin problems such as dermatitis or heat rash
It is known as taadgola in Marathi and Gujarati, nongu or nungu in Tamil, thaati nungu in Kannada, paal nongu in Malayalam, thaati bonda in Tulu, and thaati munjalu in Telugu.
Examples of palm fruit products include jaggery, a type of sugar made from palm fruit; and a sweet alcohol known as toddy, or, arrack. Jaggery, the sugar made from palmyra, has Ayurvedic benefits as well. Often the fruit pulp is blended with coconut water to make a refreshing drink!
References:
http://theindianvegan.blogspot.in/2013/01/all-about-nungu-ice-apple-or-taal.html
https://hubpages.com/food/Sugar_Palm_fruit_and_its_health_benefits
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