Jackfruit it has a distinctive sweet flavor a smooth fleshy texture and is very nutritious with several health benefits this tropical fruit native to India is now going global
It's fast emerging as a meat substitute for vegans and is being hailed as a superfood by chefs from San Francisco to London, One of the reasons for its rising popularity in the West is due to its pork like texture when unripe jack fruit.
On an average can weigh as much as 5 kilograms it's the largest fruit that grows on a tree in India. Though the jackfruit has been consumed for centuries, it's a very versatile fruit which can be consumed when it's both ripe and unripe, and the West is only now waking up to this superfood when ripe.
The superfood is yellow and waxy in texture it's made into jams ice creams juices and cakes.
when unripe it's shredded and used to make curries, fried chips among other things, it's also used as a pizza topping and as an alternative for pulled pork, unripe jackfruit is also used to make floor which is increasingly gaining popularity around the world.
Jack fruit flour is more effective in controlling the blood sugar levels of those suffering from diabetes than wheat flour.
For example 30 gram of jackfruit flour has one gram of pectin that is the equivalent of three apples an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Jack fruit is more fibrous and nutritious than apples or mangoes, with climate change affecting agricultural patterns, jackfruit could potentially emerge as a staple food as the plant is very hardy and drought-resistant during peak season.
A humble fruit from India has stolen the hearts of vegans and vegetarians in the west, they say it tastes like pork and it's the best alternative to meat. The west has had a eureka moment and it is called jackfruit this quintessentially desi fruit has become a global rage is being called the new superfood
What triggered this discovery veganism jackfruit is being pegged as the best alternative to meet the fruit's texture has become its biggest selling point when unripe jackfruit has a slice of pork like fiber for vegans that translates into a taste down the memory lane restaurants worldwide are cashing on this.
People love it even when we had jack fruit koftas. love those koftas because it's the texture that you can taste you get the texture in it and then after that when
Because of pectin movements like meat-free Mondays and vegan worry have contributed to jackfruit's demand
The coronavirus has been another factor, zoophytic virus triggered a fear of meat people were wary of eating chicken, pork, and beef a lot of them switched to jackfruit, this happened in the west and in India too jackfruit farmers picked up on this demand.
India is the world's biggest producer of jackfruit, for anyone living in the country this growing fascination with the fruit can be amusing and even borderline funny. Jackfruit has
not had a glorious past it was a backyard nuisance in south India. The fruit did
make its way to many Indian kitchens but it was never really a hit, times have
changed its 2020 and jackfruit is the new elite fruit
Jackfruit Benefits on The Human Health
“Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) is a rich source of several high-value compounds with potential beneficial physiological activities”. It is well known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.
Jackfruit Maintain Blood Pressure
Elevation of blood LDL: HDL ratio is one of the major risk factors for the development of coronary heart diseases. Oxidation of LDL contributes to atherosclerosis which involves a series of inflammatory and oxidative modifications within the arterial wall. Free radicals also promote tissue injury, protein oxidation, DNA damage, and induce proinflammatory responses.
Jackfruit contains functional compounds that can reduce various diseases such as high blood pressure, heart diseases, strokes, and bone loss. It is also capable of improving muscle and nerve function, reducing homocysteine levels in the blood
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are the compounds that can delay, retard, or prevent the oxidation process. They protect the body and biomolecules from the damage caused by the generation of excess free radicals. Jackfruit contains a wide range of phytonutrients such as carotenoids that can act as antioxidants. Jagtap et al. state that the antioxidant activities of jackfruit flesh extracts are correlated with the total phenolic and flavonoids content. According to Soong and Barlow, fresh seed and flesh possess substantial ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant effects and 27.7 and 0.9 gallic acid equivalent phenolic contents, which are believed to have contributed to about 70% of the total antioxidant activity.
Rich in Potassium
Jackfruit is also rich in potassium which aids in lowering blood pressure and reversing the effects of sodium that causes a rise in blood pressure that affects the heart and blood vessels. This in turn, prevents heart disease, strokes and bone loss and improves muscle and nerve function. Vitamin B6 present in jackfruit helps to reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, consequently lowering the risk of heart disease.
Jackfruit is also a good source of vitamin C
Jackfruit is also a good source of vitamin C, which protects the skin from the damage that occurs as a consequence of the natural aging process and prolonged exposure to the sun. Vitamin C is also essential for the production of collagen, gives firmness and strength to the skin, and maintains oral health.
anti-inflammatory- Jackfruit is Anti-cancer
Some studies have also reported the anti-inflammatory effects of isolated bioactive compounds from the fruits of Artocarpus heterophyllus. Jackfruit contains flavonoids which are effective in inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators from the mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages nutrients such as lignans, isoflavones, and saponins in jackfruit contribute to its anticancer, antihypertensive, antiulcer, and antiaging properties. They prevent the formation of cancer cells in the body and fight against stomach ulcers. The results of a study carried out by Ruiz-Montanez et al. suggested that the jackfruit possesses compounds with chemoprotective properties to reduce the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and proliferation of cancer cells and the jackfruit flesh contains compounds that may be an effective aid to prevent or treat lymphoma cancer.
Jackfruit is a good source of Fibre
Niacin in jackfruit is necessary for energy metabolism, nerve function, and the synthesis of certain hormones.
Dietary fiber present in jackfruit makes it a good bulk laxative. This decreases the exposure time and binds to cancer-causing chemicals, as well as mineral and vitamins in the colon, and helps to protect the colon mucous membrane. High fiber content also maintains smooth bowel movements and prevents constipation.
The flesh and seeds of jackfruit are considered as a cooling and nutritious tonic.
Jackfruit is loaded with minerals
Jack fruit has an abundance of important minerals. It is rich in magnesium, which is important for the absorption of calcium and helps strengthen the bones and prevents bone-related disorders such as osteoporosis. Iron in jackfruit helps to prevent anemia and aids in proper blood circulation and copper plays an important role in thyroid gland metabolism.
Jackfruit is Antifungal
Jackfruit is also known for its antifungal properties. Trindade et al. found a chitin-binding lectin named jackin, which can inhibit the growth of Fusarium moniliforme and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It also exhibited hemagglutination activity against human and rabbit erythrocytes.
According to a study carried out by Fernando et al, the hot water extract of jack fruit leaves significantly improved glucose tolerance in the normal subjects and diabetic patients when investigated at oral doses equivalent to 20 g/kg.
Methanolic extracts of the stem and root, barks, heart-wood, leaves, fruits, and seeds of jackfruit have exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Nematicidal activity against various nematodes including Rotylenchulus reniformis, Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, Tylenchus filifofmis, and Meloidogyne incognita also has been revealed by the jackfruit shoots.
Jackfruit wood extract is also known for the inhibition of melanin biosynthesis. Some prenylated, flavones-based polyphenols, isolated from the jackfruit wood, have been shown to inhibit in vivo melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells, with little or no cytotoxicity.
Jackfruit Vitamin Table
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