Nutritionally Rich Minor Fruits: Jackfruit
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By: Dr. Shweta, Deptt. of Genetics & Plant Breeding C.S. Azad Univ. of Agril. & Tech. Kanpur & Sr. Associate Editor-ICN
KANPUR: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.), a high yielding fruit crop with a high nutritionally price. Jackfruit may be an immense tree that grows to as high as thirty meters, larger than mango, breadfruit, etc. Jackfruit is an exotic fruit, full-grown in tropical regions of the globe. It is native to South India.
Today, it is wide cultivated within the tropical regions of the Indian landmass, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil for its fruit, seeds, and wood. It may be full-grown on marginal lands and provides an honest financial gain. The tree grows best in tropical wet and rainy climates however seldom survives cold and frosty conditions.
In an exceedingly season, every tree bear as several as 250 giant fruits, speculated to be the largest tree-borne fruits within the world. The fruit varies wide in size, weigh from three to thirty-kilogram weight and has oblong or round shape, measure ten cm to sixty cm long, twenty-five to seventy-five cm in diameter whereas unripe fruits are green, they flip light brown and spread a strong sweet, fruity smell once ripe. Jackfruit features a delicate sweet and fruity flavour.
Several food products are prepared and consumed from its tender and mature fruits and seeds. Vegans and vegetarians usually use this fruit as a meat substitute because of its texture, that is cherish shredded meat. The foremost usually consumed part of jackfruit is flesh, or fruit pods, that is edible each once ripe and unripe. It may be utilized in sweet and savory dishes, as well as desserts and curries. The seeds also are safe to eat. Jackfruit has a powerful nutrition profile.
Jackfruit is wealthy in dietary fiber, that makes it an honest bulk laxative. The fiber content helps shield the colon membrane by binding to and eliminating cancer-causing chemicals from the colon. Jackfruit is kind of healthy. It contains a moderate quantity of calories, providing a 155 in an exceedingly one-cup (165-gram) serving, close to 92% of the calories return from carbs, whereas the remainder return from protein and a tiny low quantity of fat. Jackfruit features a low glycemic index and provides some fibre, super molecule and antioxidants, all of which can promote higher blood glucose management.
Jackfruit contains a range of antioxidants (vitamins, carotenoids and flavanones) that will be useful for preventing the event of many chronic diseases, like cardiovascular disease and polygenic disease. The contemporary fruit has little however vital amounts of vitamin-A, and flavonoid pigments like carotene-ß, xanthine, lutein, and cryptoxanthin-ß. Vitamin-A conjointly needed for maintaining the integrity of membrane and skin. Consumption of natural fruits wealthy in vitamin-A and carotenes has been found to shield from respiratory organ and oral fissure cancers.
Jackfruit may be a smart supply of inhibitor vitamin-C, provides regarding 13.7 mg or 23% of RDA. Consumption of foods wealthy in vitamin-C helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals. It’s one amongst the rare fruits that’s wealthy in a B-complex cluster of vitamins. It contains outstanding amounts of sustenance B-6 (pyridoxine), niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B. Further, contemporary fruit may be a smart supply of potassium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. Potassium is a vital part of cell and body fluids that helps controlling pulse rate and blood pressure. The fruits are known for their distinct sweet aroma. The flake is starchy, fibrous and wealthy in water-soluble vitamin. The seeds offer starch and protein. Each part of the plant has distinct uses. Jackfruit flakes were utilized in preparation of jams, jelly, chips, papads and different other products.
One cup of sliced fruit provides the following nutrients:
- Calories: 155
- Carbs: 40 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Vitamin A: 10% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 18% of the RDI
- Riboflavin: 11% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 15% of the RDI
- Potassium: 14% of the RDI
- Copper: 15% of the RDI
- Manganese: 16% of the RDI
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