Jackfruit is a kind of exotic fruit that is sweet, delicious, and best of all very nutritious. It’s literally the jack of all fruits. Jackfruit is filled with vitamins and minerals, along with phytonutrients, carbohydrates, electrolytes, fibre, fat and protein. There is also no cholesterol or saturated fats to be found. Jackfruit has a great taste and is filled with nutrients and health benefits.
The History of Jackfruit
The precise origins of jackfruit are unknown, though it is believed it came from the rainforests of the Western Ghats of India between three and six thousand years ago. Historians associate the discovery of the jackfruit with the Indian Emperor Ashoka, who encouraged the cultivation of several fruits including jackfruit. In 1782 a number of plants were captured from a French ship and planted in Jamaica. Roughly 100 years later the jackfruit showed up in Florida and was introduced to Brazil in the 19th century. As time passed jackfruit showed up in the rest of India, Southeast Asia, the East Indies and the Philippines.
Nowadays the jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and Indonesia. The Americas have seen it grow in Brazil, San Diego, and Florida, however there are parts of Canada and the United States that don’t have a warm enough climate for jackfruit to grow. Some of the biggest commercial dealers of jackfruit are India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
The Health Benefits of Jackfruit
Jackfruit Strengthens Your Immune System
One of the health benefits of Jackfruit is that it contains plenty of Vitamin C which is a nutrient that protects you against viral and bacterial infections. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system by supporting your white blood cells. One cup of jackfruit can give you plenty of the very powerful antioxidant Vitamin C.
Protects Against Cancer
Jackfruit has more than just Vitamin C. It also has phytonutrients such as lignans, saponins and isoflavones which are adept at fighting cancer and aging. These phytonutrients can help remove cancer-causing free radicals from the body and can also stop cells from degenerating to fight degenerative diseases and aging.
Helps Your Digestion
Jackfruit is effective at curing ulcers and other digestive disorders. The fibre in the fruit also prevents constipation and keeps your digestion running smoothly. The fibre can also protect against colon mucous membrane by driving away harmful and carcinogenic chemicals from the large intestine/colon.
Keeps Your Eyes and Skin Healthy
Jackfruit is filled with vitamins including Vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps your eyes and skin healthy. It can defend against visionary problems such as macular degeneration and night blindness.
It Boosts Your Energy Levels
If you need a quick burst of energy then it’s hard to beat the jackfruit. There are a lot of carbohydrates and calories in jackfruit but no fat to go with it. It also has a healthy amount of the simple sugars fructose and sucrose that give us energy but doesn’t stay in the body long.
The sugars in jackfruit are not just easy to digest, but they also come from a category of sugars known as “slowly available glucose”, or SAG. The glucose is released in to the body slowly to bring down the glycemic index of jackfruit. To put simply it means that diabetic people who suffer from high sugar levels and sugar spikes can enjoy jackfruit without worrying about having too much glucose.
Lowers Blood Pressure
The potassium in jackfruit has been proven to lower blood pressure and help reduce the risk of heart attack, cardiovascular disease, and strokes.
Get Control of Your Asthma
Jackfruit roots have been shown to help people who suffer from asthma. Boiling jackfruit root is a powerful way to fight asthma.
Strengthens your Bones
Jackfruit is packed with magnesium, a nutrient that absorbs calcium and works with the calcium in your bones to strengthen them and prevent bone disorders such as osteoporosis.
Prevents Anaemia
Jackfruit is rich in iron which prevents anaemia and improves the circulation of blood in the body.
Maintains the Health of Your Thyroid
Jackfruit also has copper that improves the metabolism of your thyroid, especially when it comes to producing and absorbing hormones. Iron is important and jackfruit has it.
