Kafal / Bayberries

Kafal also sometimes called bayberries, kaphal, or myrica in different regions. It is a fruit that is found in the Himalayan belt and Nepal region. This is a symbol of change in seasons, i.e. end of spring and start of summers.

Northern India is the area where Kaphals or Bay berries are found. There most of the people recognize this fruit by the name Kaphal and not Bayberry.

This fruit is very much untouched as not many people know about this fruit. People native to these areas only know about it. People living in these areas are very fond of this fruit.

This fruit is not very famous in the other regions of India. This fruit has a very rich taste and health benefits too. Let us have a look at some of the health benefits of kafal.

Also read: What is bayberry used for? 

Nutritional values of Kafal

Kafal or bayberry appears in the season of summers. These are the evergreen trees who bear these delicious fruits. Kafal / Bayberries are loaded with many essential vitamins and minerals.

• Riboflavin
• Thiamine
• Carotene
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Iron
• Anti-oxidants

Kafal or Bay berries inhibit strong anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants are way powerful that vitamin C and E. These anti-oxidants and called OPC’s (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins)

Health benefits of Kafal

This fruit grows at an altitude of 4000-6000 ft. This juicy fruit is enriched with antioxidant properties. It is sweet and sour in taste which helps increase digestive enzymes in our body and also increase immunity which helps fight against problems like

• Cure stomach problems
• Aids mental Stress
• Cures headache
• Effective against treating anemia
• Helping hand for lung problems
• Treats asthma
• Fights cold-causing germs
• Effective against Fever
• Might work against cancer-causing free radicals
• Good for digestion
• Works against diabetes too

This sweet and sour fruit is a great stress buster, but as it is said that good things don’t last for long, the same is with this fruit also.

The life span of this fruit is only 1 day. If someone offers you Kaphal fruit which is kept for more than a day, even at half the rates, then it is recommended not to buy that fruit. It can make negative impacts in your body.

Preservation Methods

If at all you want to preserve Kaphal or Bayberry you can do the following processes.

• Make kafal juice
• Make a puree out of it
• Do not freeze, it might kill its nutrients

Side effects of kafal

• Eating too many kafals at a time might give you a stomach ache. It might be the reason for diarrhea and vomit.
• Kafal is rich in anti-oxidants and too many of anti-oxidants are not good for health. According to research overdose of anti-oxidants at high concentrations might make them behave as pro-oxidants.
• These pro-oxidants have the opposite reaction to that of anti-oxidants. These pro-oxidants may increase the risk of cancer and may have some adverse effects on the skin too.

If at any point you feel sick after consuming kafals or any other fruit you must consult a doctor. You can also stop eating that fruit for a while until the body removes all the extra elements from it.

So enjoy this summers and eat lots of Kaphal and keep yourself hydrated and away from diseases.

Happy summers

Here at garden infograph we try to bring in front of you many relatable topics that are can add up to a healthy diet in your homes to keep your family and friends healthy. Some topics that we have covered are watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, cardamom, kiwano(Hornedmelon), grapes, basil, olive, parsley, fennel, lettuce and you will find many more. Types of melon this summers.  Honey health benefits and side effects. Food to hydrate your body.