Jackfruit: a powerhouse of nutrients

NT Features

Jackfruit has been gaining popularity due to its delicious, sweet taste and various health benefits. However, the flesh isn’t the only part of the fruit you can eat — a single jackfruit may contain 100–500 edible and nutritious seeds. Despite their beneficial nutrients, the seeds are typically discarded.

Energy food
These seeds contain high concentrations of two B vitamins — thiamine and riboflavin. Both help provide your body with energy. Furthermore, jackfruit seeds offer fibre and resistant starch, both of which pass through your body undigested and act as food for your beneficial gut bacteria. Fibre and resistant starch have been linked to many powerful health benefits, including hunger control, reduced blood sugar levels, and insulin sensitivity.

Protect cells
Carotenoids, the pigments that give jackfruit its yellow color, are high in vitamin A. Like all antioxidants, carotenoids protect cells from damage and help your body work right. They may help prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease, as well as eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Mental stress
Since jackfruit seeds are high in proteins and other micronutrients, they help in managing mental stress levels.

Skin
Consume jackfruit seeds to keep the skin moisture levels high and your hair in good condition.The high amounts of vitamin C in jackfruit may help protect your skin from sun damage. You need plenty of that nutrient to keep your skin firm and strong.

Prevents anaemia
Eating jackfruit seeds can give your daily nutrition an iron boost. Jackfruit seeds are a great source of iron which is a component of haemoglobin. A diet which is rich in iron eliminates the risk of anaemia and other blood disorders. Iron also keeps the brain and heart healthy and strong.

Sexual disorders
Certain sources state that the iron in the seeds can stimulate sexual pleasure. In fact, jackfruit seeds have been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat sexual disorders. The seeds can be roasted like chestnuts and are considered an aphrodisiac.

Digestive health
Traditional medicine suggests that powdered jackfruit seeds can treat constipation and other digestive issues. The seeds are also rich sources of dietary fibre, which makes them all the more important for digestive health.

Add to your diet
Jackfruit seeds can be enjoyed like any other seeds. Here are some ways to add them to your diet:

? Top salads with them
? Make homemade jackfruit-seed hummus
? Grind them into flour for use in baking or cooking
? Add them to smoothies
? Make homemade jackfruit-seed butter
? Eat them alone as a snack