What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit normally found in Southeast Asian countries. This nutritious fruit belongs to the Moraceae plant family and is considered the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. It is a healthy source of Vitamin C and other essential nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and minerals, which is why it should be included in everyone’s diet.

Health Benefits of Jackfruit

Many studies are continually revealing more and more health benefits of jackfruit, and here are five (5) reasons why you should eat it more often:

1. Helps You Lose Weight

Jackfruit contains neither saturated fat nor cholesterol. In fact, studies suggest that jackfruit seeds may help decrease levels of “bad cholesterol” or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good cholesterol”.

Since it is rich in soluble and insoluble fibers, it also helps ease up bowel movement —making it a good aid for weight loss.

2. Helps Maintain Good Eyesight

Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene) plays a crucial role in maintaining good eyesight; surprisingly, jackfruit seeds are rich in it. Researchers found that jackfruit is high in antioxidant compounds like flavonoids and phenols that are known to fight bacteria and remove free oxygen radicals. With these compounds, the chances of getting eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration are small.

3. Helps Prevent Anemia

Jackfruit is also one of the remedies for insomnia, as it contains generous amounts of magnesium and iron. This helps regulate the neurotransmitter levels in the body with the proper concentration of iron to cure several sleeping disorders. Magnesium, together with Vitamin C, can also help improve the quality of blood.

4. Great Source of Energy

Because jackfruit is full of vitamin B6, it gives us more energy when we eat it. In fact, a 100 gm serving of it can instantly give you an energy boost upon consumption. Vitamins such as thiamine and niacin can also be found in jackfruit, which heals fatigue, stress, and muscle weakness.

5. Helps Prevent Cancer

The American Institute for Cancer Research conducted a study that found that jackfruit's abundance of antioxidants and phytonutrient properties like flavonoids, saponins, and tannins can aid in the treatment of cancer.

The presence of these antioxidants and phytochemicals found in the said fruit can help fight the development of chronic diseases like cancer. This means that eating jackfruit daily will help counter the effects of free radicals that can damage cells.

It is said that this miraculous fruit can cure different types of cancer, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, and lung cancer. Furthermore, it is found that it can strengthen bones, prevent asthma, and treat skin diseases.

These are just some of the surprising benefits of jackfruit to our bodies. With its rich and healthy nutrients, it largely contributes to preventing several health issues in today’s era. So the next time you get a chance to try it, remember that it's a great fruit with many health benefits, and give it a shot!