This ancient fruit is good for your heart, may reduce inflammation, and can even stand for meat.
Meat replacement made from fruit? In the case of Jackfruit, yes. This enormous tree fruit may have a sweet or savory taste depending on its ripeness.
Is Jackfruit healthy, then? Yes! The Jackfruit is beneficial because it aids heart health, reduces inflammation, and speeds up healing after injuries.
Gillian Culbertson, RD, outlines the nutritional value of Jackfruit and offers tips for incorporating it into your diet.
What’s Jackfruit?
The Jackfruit is called Artocarpus heterophyllus in the scientific community. Grown in tropical regions such as Asia, Africa, and South America, Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit. The mulberry and fig trees have a common ancestor with this shrub.
You may eat the stringy yellow meat behind the thick, rough green skin, either raw or cooked. (The seeds may be eaten, too.)
Jackfruits may weigh as much as 40 pounds, making them the heaviest tree-borne fruit in the world. The good news is that you can skip putting this huge fruit in your shopping basket. Peeled and chopped jackfruit chunks in pouches or cans are available at several health food shops.
However, Jackfruit may cause illness in specific individuals.
“If you have a latex or birch pollen allergy, avoid jackfruit,” advises Culbertson. In other words, “both of these allergies can have a cross-reaction with jackfruit.”
High potassium levels in Jackfruit may be dangerous for those with CKD or acute renal failure. Hyperkalemia may occur if a person with one of these disorders consumes a lot of potassium. Weakness, paralysis, and even a heart attack may be brought on by hyperkalemia or an abnormally high blood potassium level.
Is it safe to eat Jackfruit?
Like many fruits, Jackfruit provides a tiny bit of fiber to aid digestion and almost no fat. Jackfruit has these nutrients per 100 grams:
- 95 calories.
- 2 grams of protein.
- 0.6 grams of fat.
- 3 grams of fiber.
Healthful vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals may also be found in Jackfruit. It’s a great place to get:
- Vitamin C.
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
- Niacin (vitamin B3).
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2).
- Folic acid (vitamin B9).
- Calcium.
- Magnesium.
- Potassium.
- Phosphorus.
There are many positive effects of eating Jackfruit.
This powerful fruit has several uses beyond providing a healthy substitute for meat (which will be discussed in further detail below) and supplying vital nutrients. Let’s discuss why Jackfruit is so great.
A heart-healthy diet may include it.
According to the research, eating Jackfruit may help lower the chance of developing heart disease.
Culbertson explains that when these three nutrients are together, “the combination can benefit heart health.”
The effects of salt on blood pressure are mitigated by potassium, while cholesterol levels are lowered by fiber.
Possibly helpful in reducing inflammation
Vitamin C, abundant in Jackfruit, has been shown to reduce inflammation.
“Research also shows that jackfruit also contains flavonoids and lignans, plant compounds that may help fight inflammation,” Culbertson said.
Antioxidants like those contained in jackfruit help prevent cell damage from inflammation and oxidative stress, two factors linked to the development of chronic illnesses, including Type 2 diabetes.
It may regulate blood sugar.
Jackfruit may lower blood sugar, but additional study is required.
First, Jackfruit has a low glycemic index (GI), so consuming it won’t raise blood sugar.
Second, its leaf may reduce fasting blood sugar, according to research. Another research suggests jackfruit bark may inhibit lipids and complex carbs from turning into sugar. Both studies may help people with diabetes.
It may help wounds heal.
Jackfruit leaf extract may aid wound healing and have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal effects.
Culbertson believes ancient humans utilized Jackfruit as medicine. “Jackfruit has antimicrobial and antifungal properties in folk medicine.”
Jackfruit taste?
Unripe Jackfruit has a mild taste that goes well with savory meals. Unripe Jackfruit in a vegetarian dish may stand in for tofu or chickpeas.
However, Jackfruit is most known for its resemblance to barbecued meat.
“Jackfruit’s stringy texture makes it a good vegan substitute for pulled pork or chicken,” explains Culbertson. The protein content is much lower than meat, at less than 3 grams per cup. Remember that when you think about where you’re getting your protein.
Jackfruit should be purchased from containers stating they are “young” or “packed in brine.” These terms suggest that it is still immature and may be used as a vegetarian alternative to meat.
Jackfruit, when ripe, has a pleasant tropical fruit taste that may be enjoyed on its own or incorporated into various desserts. It resembles the flavor of bananas, mangoes, and pineapples when ripe.
Ripe Jackfruit may be used in the same ways as other tropical fruits. Use it as a smoothie or dessert topping.
Jackfruit may be a beneficial addition to your diet due to the many essential nutrients it contains.
According to Culbertson, “many people,” both vegans and non-vegans, love eating Jackfruit as a meat alternative. Many Americans consume an excessive amount of meat. Therefore any method that helps reduce this consumption is welcome.
