5 Side Effects Of Eating Wood Apples In Excess

Wood apple or bael is an edible fruit mainly found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the genus Aegle of the Rutaceae family and has a thick rind that doesn’t split upon ripening. Wood apples provide many health and beauty benefits as they are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc. Despite the amazing benefits, eat wood apples in moderation as there are some side effects of eating too many wood apples.

# Too Much Dietary Fiber Is Bad For Stomach

Dietary fibers in wood apple act as a natural laxative that improves bowel movement, provide relief from constipation and other gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, and flatulence, etc.

But, in excessive quantity, dietary fiber may over-stimulate bowel movement and give rise to diarrhea, malabsorption, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal gas, and intestinal bloating, etc.

# Too Many Antioxidants Are Bad For Health

Wood apple protects against several cancers as vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds protect our cells from free radical damage.Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecule, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.

Antioxidants are good at moderate levels, but in higher doses, they may react with the healthy cells in our body, and increase cancer risk.High doses of vitamin E may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and prostate cancer risk.

# Might Be Allergic To Some Individuals

In some people, wood apples may cause allergic reactions like stomach aches, swollen lips, skin rashes, itching, itchiness in the throat, etc.

Avoid wood apples if you are allergic to them.

# Eating Wood Apple During Pregnancy And Nursing Stage

Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc. in the wood apple plays an important role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds in wood apple protect the fetus from free radical damage.

They also contain folic acid that helps with the brain development of the fetus and reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida.Because of its low glycemic index, it regulates blood sugar levels and helps in managing gestational diabetes.

# Wood Apple And Diabetes

Because of its low glycemic index, wood apples slow down the release of sugar into the bloodstream. It prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar levels and helps in managing diabetes.Dietary fibers in wood apple reduce the rate at which sugar is absorbed by the bloodstream, and helps in managing diabetes.

However, don’t consume too many wood apples as they may drop blood sugar levels below the normal level and cause excessive hunger, excessive sweating, confusion, irritability, or moodiness, etc.