- Rishabha et al. Int. J. Drug Dev. & Res., Jan-March 2012, 4 (1): 142-151 Covered in Scopus & Embase, Elsevier
- Parichha *S (2004). Bael (Aegle Marmelos) Nature's Most Natural Medicinal Fruit Orissa Review.
What is Bael?
The water-soluble vitamins, like B-vitamins and vitamin C, cannot be synthesised and stored by the human body. Therefore the body has to depend on availing them from the food we eat. Fruits and vegetables are the main source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and soluble fibers which are protective nutrients.
The Bael, Aegle marmelos (family: Rutaceae), also known as Bengal quince or stone apple, grown in the arid regions of India is a tree that grows on barren lands but is endowed with lots of goodness. It is an important aromatic medicinal plant of Indian origin and bears round yellow orange colour pulpy nutritious fruits. Due to lack of information, this fruit is highly underutilized.
The bael fruit is rich in fiber, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin A. The fruit pulp contains 2.9 grams of fibre, 85mg of calcium, 1.2mg of vitamin B2 and 91 IU vitamin A per 100 grams. Its pulp and the juice is the most effective natural medicine against the scorching heat of summers. So, the bael is certainly one of the foods to beat the summer heat.
