Falsa fruit is the fruit of the falsa plant or known as Grewia asiatica. This plant is rich in cyanidin 3- glucoside, minerals and contains high vitamin C, and is known to have many health benefits. Grewia asiatica is native to Asia, to be precise in Pakistan, India and Cambodia. Falsa is also famous in several other countries that have tropical climates.
Grewia celtidifolia also has many other names such as Grewia, Falsa, Parsa Phalsa, Indian Phalsa, Phalsa tree and famous by the name Phalsa berries. When ripe on the tree, the falsa fruit rot easily, which is why falsa fruit is made as a syrup so it lasts longer to enjoy.
Some people have their own way of enjoying falsa syrup, some are adding salt and some are adding a little black paper. Fruit falsas are usually enjoyed to cool off in the summer. Maybe that’s why this plant grows in summer. Apart from being a traditional medicine, it also functions as a body cooler in the summer.
Plant Description
The Falsa Fruit is a woody plant and it spreads, growing to about 8 meters. We can cultivate this plant as a bush plant or as a plant with a single stem. Falsa grows well in areas with winter, and can tolerate a variety of soils, it can grow with sandy soil, lime soil, clay, and it is very good to grow near the sea with clay.
The falsa stem is hard, brittle, and the buds are tomentose. If the stem is dark, the color will appear grayish white, or grayish brown. The branches spread around the stem in a slender, curved shape. Sometimes there are hairy branches and some are not.
Leaves
How do you know falsa leaves? The leaves are 10-18 cm long and 9-14 cm wide. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branch or trunk. Its leaves also have different shapes, some are almost the same as the heart (i.e. cordate), some are almost round (i.e. orbicular) to oval (i.e. elliptic) or some are even oval like an egg (i.e. obliquely ovate). T
The color of the leaves is green and has no hair, the tips of the leaves are pointed or round. While the sides of the leaves are serrated and it is sharp.
Flowers and Fruit
Falsa flowers are small and bright yellow in color, some are reddish purple, and have many stamens (this can be 50 to 100). Each flower has 5 smaller petals about 3-10 mm long. Falsa plants flower in winter and in spring, usually July to November.
While the fruit falsa is small and fleshy. The diameter is about 1.0 to 1.9 cm, with a fruit height of about 0.8 to 1.6 cm. Each fruit weighs about 0.5 to 2.2 g. The fruit when it appears light green, then turns into cherry red or purplish red, then turns into dark purple and even almost black. If it is blackish purple, it means the fruit is ripe. These small fruits are often covered with a white powder, namely pruinose. Falsa fruit appear in late summer into the following spring. Usually in March to November.
Ripe fruit falsa has the characteristics of soft, sweet and acidic. Maybe it tastes almost the same as wine. Usually consumed with a pinch of salt. The fruit is also used in making jams, pies, chutneys and in making squashes. The fruit falsa did not last long, so it was only considered suitable for local marketing. So what are the health benefits of falsa?
This fruit is claimed to have benefits for treating heart disorders, blood and liver disorders, indigestion, anorexia, toxemia, thirst, hiccough, asthma, stomatitis, spermatorrhoea, diarrhea and treating fevers. Also used in the treatment of throat and tuberculosis and is good for those with weak libido.
History
Falsa Fruit is a magical fruit from India and is spread in other Asian countries, especially in Southeast Asia such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In fact, in the 20th century, falsa was thought to have originated from Indonesia and the Philippines. Today, the falsa plant is considered an exotic plant from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Health Benefits of Falsa Fruit
One of the benefits of unripe falsa fruit is treating inflammation. If someone has inflammation of the respiratory system, heart, or a fever, falsa fruit is very good to eat, especially if it’s not ripe.
This fruit is highly recommended for sufferers of asthma, coughing, bronchitis, and inflammation of the throat. Below we take a look at some of the health benefits of falsa fruit.
1. Source of Sodium
Falsa is a great source of sodium so its benefits are great as a replacement for essential ions or electrolytes that are lost in the body, it will promote enzymes and muscles. This fruit is also useful for improving the nervous system and is good for regulating blood.
2. Treat anemia
Falsa fruit is also high in iron content, this suggests that this fruit is very important for the supply of iron which is then converted into red blood cells. If a person is deficient in iron, a person will experience lack of blood or anemia. The bad effect of lack of blood is chronic fatigue and this is quite dangerous.
Also see: Benefits of Eating Papaya
3. Treating breathing
If you suffer from respiratory problems, you should try drinking falsa fruit juice. This fruit is very good for dealing with problems related to breathing such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, and others.
How: Mix the falsa with ginger, and add lemon juice for the best taste. Ready to enjoy, and feel the pleasure and benefits.
4. Builds Muscle
One way to build toto is by consuming protein-rich foods. Falsa fruit is high in protein which can help you increase muscle mass.
5. Prevent diabetes
One extraordinary benefit of falsa fruit is preventing diabetes. Based on research shows that falsa contains ethanolic extract and this has extraordinary effects on hypoglycemic, immune-modulatory and antioxidant. Perhaps this is all due to the presence of several bioactive compounds in this fruit such as flavonoids and phenolic acids.
6. Benefits of falsa fruit to generate energy
Falsa is a fruit with a protein content as mentioned above. So besides being good for building muscle, it is also good for consumption to generate stamina.
7. Get healthy bones
Another benefit of falsa is to build healthy and strong bones. The calcium content in falsa really supports bone strength.
Also read: Health Benefits of Lilac Essential Oil
8. Treating diarrhea
The benefits of falsa are preventing and treating diarrhea. This fruit can treat stomach pain and is one type of stomachache is diarrhea.
9. Heals Wounds
Not only is the fruit useful, but the leaves also have medicinal value. The leaves of the falsa plant can be used as a wound medicine. Take the leaves and mash until smooth, use these leaves on the wound and let stand a few hours.
10. Prevent premature aging
Free radicals in the body that enter through food, or through the air we breathe can become toxins that make the body weak and age quickly. So, by consuming Falsa fruit, free radicals in the body can be released through sweat or urine, so that the body is healthy and free from premature aging.
Also read: Creosote Oil Benefits
Falsa fruit is not only useful for the things mentioned above, but there are also other benefits of Grewia Asiatica fruit, among these benefits are:
- Good for heart health
- Relieves stomach pain
- Prevents certain inflammation because it contains anti-inflammatory properties
- As an anti-microbial
- As an anti-fungal
