Health Benefits of Eating Jackfruit

The post describes jackfruits, their origin, countries available, nutritional values, and their global fame as a superfood based on their health benefits. 

This is my post for letter J of the A2Z blogger writing challenge in April for letter I is here.

The post includes the following highlights:

·         Introduction &History

·         Did you Know?

·         A product of South Africa. 

·         Health Benefits.

·         Me and Jackfruit, and

·         The Conclusion.

Introduction &History

Jackfruit is a versatile fruit with a global reputation, growing in the tropical wetlands of East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and Africa.  Known as an evergreen tree, it retains its leaves throughout the year and continues to the coming year.  The tree grows up to twenty meters tall and, on maturity, is sturdy wood for excellent carpentry and solid wooden structures.  

The fruits are massive, up to 60cm long, and are 18kg in mass.  It is ellipsoidal and aggregate, having the seeds covered in soft fleshy covers growing out of a central flesh core and all enclosed within a tough shell.  Seasonal fruit is a staple food for South and East Asian countries, now exported globally for its nutritional value. 

People eat the soft fleshy cover of the seeds cooked, fried and in other forms, when raw and straight when ripe, which is sweet and acidic.  The seeds inside the delicate parts also form food when cooked or roasted.  Except for the thorny outside, every piece is edible for humans, which is for animals.   

 Did You Know?

India is believed to be where jackfruits originated; the word Jackfruit originated from what Portuguese called Jaca, following the version of the use in South India, 'Chakka.'   

·         Jackfruit is the largest tree-born fruit in the world.  

·         Pinterest declared it to be the year's top-most food trend in 2017.

·         The flowers are born straight out of the tree and the branches. 

·         It is known for its use as a meat substitute.

·         People use it as a superfood and an alternative to pork. 

Jackfruits are Produced in South Africa.

Jackfruits grow in tropical countries, making them unsuitable for a country like South Africa in the southern part of the globe.  This hasn't kept farmers from cultivating them there using the greenhouse technique.  And the product does not claim a high-quality type.

Health Benefits of Eating Jackfruits.

Nutrition Contents of Jackfruits

According to the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), one cup of sliced Jackfruit contains:

• 157 Calories
• Fat: 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 38 grams
• Protein: 2,8 grams
• Fibre: 2,5 grams.

Health Benefits

1.  It can lower inflammation in the body

2.  It May promote healthy skin

3.  May keep the heart healthy

4.  Jackfruits may assist with loss; read here for more. 

Me and Jackfruits

Jackfruit was a staple food in Kerala during my growing-up time, but now more of a cash crop.  As more families get into the middle-class category and women seek employment to transform themselves into breadwinners or second-income earners, they find less time to spend in the kitchen, processing jackfruit, a sluggish job.  

I remember two-three people processing the fruit-hacking into pieces, sorting the fruits and separating the seed from the cooking part, its fleshy cover, then cooking, spicing it up with a freshly grated and processed coconut mix, adding condiments and species.  Sometimes women in the neighbourhood would come together to process the Jackfruit when they enjoy the best gossip.  

I have nostalgic memories of those days.

Jackfruits are not easy fruit in the market here in South Africa; the farmers harvest them young when the processing is easy and the nutrition high.  And I miss the jackfruit harvests in Kerala, coinciding with the summertime, so I don't choose to visit home.  

Last week, the caretaker sent me pictures of the Jackfruits growing in our yard.  

Conclusion.

Have you eaten jackfruits, cooked, fried, or ripe?  Have you got any nostalgic memories about it?

 This blog is for the letter J in the series of my A2Z blog posts, lasting for the entire month and is part of the A2Z Blog chatter challenge.  To read earlier posts, click on these letters.  A B C D E F G H I

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