Bael is a common fruit and its trees have been considered sacred in Hinduism. This fruit can be eaten raw and also consumed in the form of juice. It has several health benefits and provides a cooling effect to the body. The bael is also known as golden apple, bitter orange, stone apple or wood apple. Many nutrients are found in bael which help in curing diseases like obesity, diabetes and cancer. Hence, it is used in many Ayurvedic medicines.

What is a Bael?

Bael is a nutritious, aromatic, sweet and a fruit with fibrous pulp. The outer cover is very rigid and round. Till raw, this fruit remains covered with a hard layer of green color and turns yellow when ripened. While its outer layer remains hard.

Bael's scientific name is Aegle Marmelos. It is a unique gift provided by mother nature because every part of its tree is used for medicinal and Ayurvedic medicine.

Benefits of bael

For gastric ulcer-

Eating bael is a good option to cure gastric ulcer because bael has natural antioxidant properties which help in healing gastric ulcer.

For cholera-

Cholera is considered to be the main cause of diarrhea which is a bacterial infection. Bael is considered to be good at defending this because it has anti-diarrheal activity which effectively reduces the risk of cholera.

For Headache-

Bael contains a good amount of vitamin-C which works to reduce neurogenic inflammation in migraine (a condition of headache) patients. Therefore, eating bael is considered good for headaches.

For vomiting-

In case of vomiting, decoction (Kadha) made from bael root should be taken because the decoction of bael root has antibiotic action which proves helpful in the treatment of nausea and vomiting.

For eyes-

Consuming bael is beneficial to keep eyes healthy for a long time because a good amount of Vitamin-A is found in the bael which helps to improve eyesight.

For cardiovascular health-

Bael acts as a cardioprotective agent and works to protect the heart from all diseases. Therefore, pulp of bael fruit must be consumed for good heart health.

For diabetes-

It is good to drink bael juice during diabetes because bael has anti-diabetic properties which proves helpful in reducing diabetes and risks associated with it.

For hair-

According to scientific opinion, the problem of hair loss starts due to lack of iron and zinc in the body. Since iron and zinc are present abundantly in the bael, its use can help reduce the hair fall.

For dandruff-

To reduce the problem of dandruff, eating bael is a good remedy because it contains zinc which is considered an essential element to reduce the problem of dandruff. Therefore, the use of bael can eliminate hair dandruff.

For inflammation-

Sometimes, swelling starts in any part of the body due to injury which can be prevented with the use of bael because bael has anti-inflammatory properties which work to reduce inflammation and its effect.

For jaundice-

Liver inflammation is the main cause of jaundice. Therefore, bael is considered good for prevention of jaundice because according to a scientific research bael has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce inflammation in the liver.

For hemorrhoids-

Constipation and low fiber diet are the main causes of hemorrhoids. Since bael has been known to treat constipation and is a good source of fiber, its intake has the power to reduce the risk of hemorrhoids.

For anemia-

In anemia, there is a deficiency of red blood cells in the blood of the body. The main cause of anemia is lack of iron in the body. Since there is a sufficient amount of iron in the bael. Therefore, it is considered good for consumption in anemia.

For TB disease-

According to medical research bael has anti-microbial action which works effectively in the body of a TB patient by reducing M. tuberculosis (bacteria responsible for TB disease) and its side effects. 

Side effects of Bael

• Since there is a lot of sugar in the bael. Therefore, its excessive intake can cause type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Bael contains sufficient amounts of phosphorus. Therefore, people suffering from kidney disease should not consume it without consulting a doctor.
• Since calcium is abundant in bael. Therefore, excessive intake of it can cause kidney stones.
• When taking the pulp of the bael, its seeds should be removed properly. Otherwise these may get stuck in the throat.