Jackfruit—Artocarpus heterophyllus
This fruit is native to India and is also common in Africa, Asia, and South America. It has both soft and firm varieties. Both the seeds and the flesh of the fruit are edible, and the leaves and bark are used in traditional medicine.
Nutritional composition and health benefits:
The fruit has a high amount of carbohydrates in the form of starch and dietary fiber. It also contains amino acids, the building blocks of proteins—arginine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine, and cystine.
A ripe jackfruit has 1.9 grams of protein per 100 grams. The seeds contain calcium, iron, thiamine, and protein.
The fruit is richer in minerals and vitamins when compared to apples, apricots, and bananas. The caloric value per 100 grams is about 94 calories. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, as well as B vitamins that include pyridoxine, riboflavin, folic acid, and niacin.
It is a good source of potassium, calcium, iron, copper, and magnesium.
With respect to phytochemicals, jackfruit is rich in flavonoids, carotenoids, and tannins. The provitamin A activity of carotenoids helps in the prevention of degenerative diseases.
The phytonutrients in jackfruit have antioxidant properties that help prevent the progression of degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, etc.
Consumption may also help decrease homocysteine levels in the blood. High homocysteine can be a marker of chronic inflammation. The high vitamin B6 levels also play a role in reducing homocysteine levels in the blood.
The phytonutrients in jackfruit that include saponins, lignans, and isoflavones have anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity and may also help decrease the mutagenic or cancer-causing effects of toxins like aflatoxin as well as help in the prevention of lymphoma.
The niacin content in the fruit assists with energy metabolism and nerve function. The high fiber content is beneficial for gut health.
From the above review, you can see that jackfruit should be viewed as a functional food that has various nutritional benefits. As always, keep your health and nutrition in center focus, stay in touch with your health care provider, and live long and strong!
