Everything you need to know about Jackfruit (The Sycamore fruit)
10 minutes read.
In this post:
• What is jackfruit
• Nutrition facts of Jackfruit
• Health Benefits of Jackfruit
• Uses of Jackfruits on Skin
• Products made with jackfruit
• Side effects
• Conclusion
Have you eaten sycamore fruits before? Do you know it is a good source of powerful nutrients that nourish the body and heal specific health problems?
However, the goodness that nature has packaged in this fruit is not well recognized by many people around the world.
Jackfruit is produced from the popular sycamore tree in the scripture. Some people know the tree as jack tree or jackfruit.
For centuries, Jackfruit, have been used for its traditional herbal medicinal effects, such as antibacterial, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-helminthic agents.
A variety of minerals, such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, and others are abundant in jackfruit.
The seed of this fruit is effective in curing bacteria such as E.coli. and serves as a thickener or binder in food manufacturing industries. Some scientific research on jackfruit have shown promising results.
In this blog post I will open your eyes to the numerous benefits and uses of jackfruit you can lip from.
Feel free to skim through.
What’s Jackfruit (sycamore fruits)?
Jackfruit, (botanically known as Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam), is a tropical climacteric fruit, which belongs to the Moraceae family. It can be after maturity and keep for some days to ripe.
While, sometimes it rips and falls down from the tree and you pick it just as breadfruit.
Some history documented that the fruit is native to the Western Ghats of India. It’s also common in Asia, West Africa, and some regions in South America.
It is known to be the largest edible fruit in the world. The first time I saw this fruit I was amazed at its size and it grows on the trunk instead of on the stem like other fruits.
Jackfruit is rich in nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
Both the seeds and the flesh of jackfruit are consumed as curries and boiled forms, while the flesh in the fully ripened stage can be eaten directly as a fruit.
Several countries have developed different food products such as jam, jellies, marmalades, and ice creams using pureed jackfruit.
The several parts of the jack tree including fruits, leaves, and barks have been extensively used in traditional medicine due to its anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and hypoglycemic effects.
Despite all these benefits, unfortunately, the fruit is underutilized in commercial-scale processing in regions where it is grown.
The most commonly consumed part of jackfruit is the flesh, or fruit pulps, which are edible both when ripe and unripe. It can be used in sweet and savory dishes, including desserts and curries. The seeds are also safe to eat either roasted or cooked.
In fact, jackfruit is popular in the vegan cuisine. They are used as meat due its meaty texture when chewed.
What are the nutrition facts of Jackfruit?
One study that evaluated the difference between the nutrition content of ripe and unripe jackfruit showed that the more the jackfruit ripe the more it loses some crucial nutrients that benefit your body.
The result of the research surprised me, because I thought that the ripe once should have more bioactive components but as you can see the reverse is the case.
What makes jackfruit unique from other fruits is its protein content. It provides more than 3 grams of protein per cup, compared to 0–1 grams in other similar types of fruit, such as apples and mangoes.
One cup of sliced jackfruit provides the following nutrients
Calories: 157
Total Carbohydrates: 38.3g
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugar: 31.5 g 31.5g
Total Fat: 0.6g
Saturated Fat: 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Protein 2.8g
Cholesterol: 0.mg
Vitamin B6: 0.5mg (29% DV)
Potassium: 739 mg (16% DV)
Magnesium: 47.8 mg (11% DV)
Vitamin C: 0.2 mg (17% DV)
Niacin (Vitamin B3): 1.5 mg (9% DV)
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 22.6 mg (25% DV)
*Daily Value: Percentages are based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day.
What are the Health Benefits of Jackfruit (Sycamore fruit)?
Uses of jackfruit on health.
- Reduce inflammation
Vitamin C, Carotenoids, and flavanone are the antioxidants that are found in abundance in jackfruit. Due to the availability of these powerful antioxidants, jackfruit has been used to provide various health benefits, including internal inflammation.
Antioxidants protect your cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which often result from damage caused by molecules known as free radicals.
Jackfruit contains high amounts of vitamin C, which may help prevent the inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
In the same way, Carotenoids naturally lower inflammation and reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Flavanone is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels — important factors in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Improves Digestion
Jackfruit behaves like cabbage when it comes to food digestion. So if you’re suffering from constipation or indigestion, eat a few pulp of ripe jackfruit. Also, jackfruit seed will do the same work for you.
The seeds contain a good portion of dietary fiber, and high-fiber foods not only help with constipation and, make you feel satisfied after eating. If you wish to maintain a healthy weight jackfruit is a good choice.
- Help to reduce Diabetics and maintain healthy sugar levels in diabetic people
Jackfruit has a fairly low glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating a food. Due to the high fiber it provides, which slows the movement of glucose into the blood and helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
Also, jackfruit provides some protein, that helps prevent blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after a meal.
The compounds in jackfruit seeds are used as candidates in lowering blood glucose levels or in the treatment of diabetes and have activity in reducing blood glucose compared to glibenclamide
Now it has been clinically proven that Jackfruit reduces blood sugar levels and helps in reversing diabetes which thereby confirms that it is a good natural source to maintain glucose levels instead of opting for any expensive medications or being insulin dependent externally.
One 2023 clinical research indicated that jackfruit leaves possess antidiabetic action for healthy and insulin-independent diabetic individuals.
Another research that specifically evaluated the effect of green jackfruit flour on diabetic patients showed a highly promising result for diabetes treatment, thus the study was approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). Hence it can effectively be used as an insulin replacement.
- May reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
This fruit contains a good dose of vitamin B6. Combining vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin B12 have shown great results in the reduction of heart disease.
One clinical trial known as the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation 2 including more than 5,500 adults with known cardiovascular disease learned that supplementation of vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid for five years reduced homocysteine levels, which decreased both heart disease risk and stroke risk by about 25 percent.
A good choice to Boost your Magnesium Levels during menstrual flow.
Magnesium is responsible for bone health, especially in adult women. Menstrual flow can reduce magnesium levels in women. Magnesium levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and are often lowest during ovulation.
And as you move to the menopause stage your magnesium level will be reducing fast so you need to help your bone by boosting your magnesium level with jackfruit.
One cup of jackfruit contains 11 percent of the daily recommended value of magnesium, making it a great choice to add to your diet, especially since magnesium can help reduce the risk of many diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, in addition to helping provide strong bones.
Other fruits high in magnesium include prickly pear with 30%, plantain with 20%, dried fig fruit with 24%, avocado with 14%, breadfruit with 13%, passion fruit with 16%, and banana with 10%.
5. Enhances Immunity and May Help Fight Cancer
Your immune health is very crucial to prevent certain dangerous diseases such as cancer.
Jackfruit’s content of immune-boosting vitamins such as A and C may help prevent cancer Eating this fruit is also claimed to help reduce the risk of viral infections.
Related:
Why you should eat bananas everyday
Benefits and Uses of Jackfruits on Skin
Jackfruit is rich in vitamin C. Moreover, it is one of the rare fruits that is rich in B-complex group of vitamins and contains very good amounts of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid.
This fruit provides several nutrients and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, that may improve skin health. There is anecdotal evidence that eating it may slow the aging of your skin.
The extracts from the seeds of jackfruit trees have been used in cosmetic or dermatological preparations for the treatment of sensitive skin, itching, dry skin, and inflammatory phenomenon in human skin.
Benefits and uses of jackfruit on hair health
Is jackfruit good for hair?
Yes, jackfruit is good for hair because it contains nutrients that promote healthy hair growth and reduce dandruff. You can use jackfruit in hair products like oils and shampoo or eat it to improve hair growth.
Do you know jackfruit extract is one of the key active ingredients in Fenty hair products that help it to do wonders on hair health and overall growth?
Here’s a rundown of the benefits of jackfruit on hair:
Strengthens hair follicles: Jackfruit can help reduce hair fall and promote healthy hair growth.
Reduces dandruff: Jackfruit’s anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe an itchy scalp and reduce dandruff.
Prevents dry hair: Jackfruit contains vitamin A, which promotes healthy hair and keeps dry hair at bay.
Boosts blood circulation in the scalp: Jackfruit can help with hair growth and strength.
Hair products made with jackfruit
• Fentyhair product.
Learn more about Rihanna fentyhair
• Jackfruit hair oil
Lightweight and non-greasy, this oil can reduce dandruff and boost hair volume.
• Jackfruit herbal shampoo
This shampoo is free of SLS and parabens and can reduce dandruff and hair fall.
• Jackfruit hair mask
You can apply oil to your scalp and hair, then apply the mask and cover your hair with a shower cap.
More so, Jackfruit Hair Oil is lightweight and non-greasy, making it suitable for all hair types.
The oil helps to nourish the scalp, strengthen the hair follicles, and promote healthy hair growth. It also adds volume to the hair, giving you a fuller and more luscious mane.
I know you have learned enough but try to follow me one more step let me show you different ways you can utilize jackfruit to create recipes.
Here are different combos you can prepare with jackfruit:
Jackfruit shawarma and avocados
Can you feel this delicious combo? Come on, I love it.
• Jackfruit Hair recipe
Jackfruit seed can be dried and ground into flour, turned to paste with warm water, and added to your hair conditioner, or applied directly on your hair and washed out after 30 minutes.
• Jackfruit pulp extract for food and hair
Another way is to extract the pulp of jackfruit, ground to paste, and apply it directly to your scalp and hair as a mask. Leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Alternatively, you can use jackfruit oil as a pre-shampoo treatment or mix it with your regular conditioner for added nourishment.
Jackfruit can be found fresh or canned. Of course, if choosing canned jackfruit, make sure there aren’t any added sugars or preservatives. Instead, look for young jackfruit found in water and brine.
When buying fresh, make sure to get a ripe jackfruit. To do this, look for yellowish skin with spikes that have softened. Just apply gentle pressure to make sure it gives a little.
Another sign that it’s ready to eat is its musky fragrance, which should be rather distinctive.
You can also buy one that’s green and firm and allow it to sit in a window or on your counter until it has reached the recommended ripeness.
This fruit can take on whatever flavor you want it to have. Add some curry to chopped-up jackfruit, toss in a few raisins and you have a delicious curried chutney packed with nutrition.
Some versions, such as the green jackfruit, are stringy, making them perfect to add to pulled chicken for a delicious pulled chicken sandwich.
In fact, many vegans use jackfruit as a meat substitute since it contains a “pulled pork-like” meat.
Ripe jackfruit contains a flavor similar to banana and the look of mango but is rather mild.
Fresh jackfruit is definitely worth trying by itself, but if that doesn’t do much for you, try adding it to your favorite dishes, pies, jellies, sauces, and ice cream.
Does eating jackfruit have side effects?
Although safe for most, some people may need to limit or avoid jackfruit. Certain people are allergic to it, especially those who are allergic to birch pollen.
Moreover, due to its potential to lower blood sugar levels, individuals with diabetes may need to have their medication dosages changed if they eat this fruit regularly.
Nevertheless, consuming jackfruit has never been reported to cause any serious side effects, and it is safe for most people to eat.
Conclusion
In the beginning, I promise to open your eyes to the wonder benefits of jackfruit. I believe I have fed you with enough proven reasons why you should stop ignoring sycamore fruits the next time you see it in the market or in a neighborhood compound.
A variety of minerals, such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, and others are abundant in jackfruit.
You can lip the numerous benefits of this mighty fruit from whole body health to skin, and, hair, and prevent and heal certain diseases mentioned above.
And many studies both animal and human as well as traditional uses have confirmed the authenticity of its benefits and uses.
Moreover, the Phytonutrients namely lignans, saponins, isoflavones, and antioxidants present in the jackfruit have anticancer, antiulcer, antihypertensive, antiaging, and immunity-boosting properties adding to its benefits.
Adding to that, with the help of recent studies have shown effective results in the treatment of colon cancer as the insoluble fiber present in jackfruit functions as a bottle brush to rinse and purify the intestines to prohibit colon cancer.
Lately not only has it been consumed in the flour form, from the green jackfruit but also as a meat substitute or vegan meat due to its firmness and chewy texture.
I hope you get the value worth your time, I appreciate the time you spend with me. Leave a comment below if you find this article helpful and don’t forget to drop your question, opinion, or criticism if any. Cheers!
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The content provided in Living Good is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal doctor. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Living Good takes no responsibility for possible health consequences of any person(s) reading or following the information in this educational content. Viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medication, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.
