Unlike the fruit, the benefits of jackfruit seeds may still not be widely known. In fact, jackfruit seeds contain a variety of nutrients that are important for body health. To find out more about the benefits of jackfruit seeds, see the following article.
When eating jackfruit, most people will throw away the seeds because they are considered useless. However, did you know? Jackfruit seeds can also be consumed like the fruit, as well as can be used to overcome various health problems of the body.
Nutrient Content of Jackfruit Seeds
In 1 large jackfruit there are about 100-500 jackfruit seeds. In 1 serving or the equivalent of 28 grams of jackfruit seeds, it contains about 53 calories and a variety of important nutrients, such as:
- 11 grams of carbohydrates
- 2 grams of protein
- 5 grams of fiber
- 8% of daily requirement of riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- 7% of the daily requirement of thiamine (vitamin B1)
- 5% of daily requirement of magnesium
- 4% of the daily requirement of phosphorus
In addition to the above nutrients, jackfruit seeds also contain quite a lot of resistant starch which can act as a prebiotic, as well as bioactive compounds that have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In fact, the antioxidants in jackfruit seeds are known to be more than the flesh.
Benefits of Jackfruit Seeds for Health
Given the nutritional content that is quite a lot, jackfruit seeds offer a variety of benefits for the health of the body. The following are some of the benefits of jackfruit seeds that are important to know:
1. Maintain a healthy digestive system
Jackfruit seeds have long been used as herbal remedies to treat various digestive problems, such as relieving constipation, and reducing the symptoms of hemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel disease.
This is because the content of soluble and insoluble fiber and prebiotics in it also plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health, increasing the number of good bacteria (probiotics) in the intestine, stimulating bowel movements, and making stools softer so that it supports smooth and regular bowel movements.
Some research also states that jackfruit seeds have the potential to prevent disease transmission through food. Unfortunately, the benefits of jackfruit seeds still need to be studied further.
2. Control blood sugar levels
Besides being beneficial for digestive health, the resistant starch in jackfruit seeds is also good for controlling blood sugar levels, especially for diabetics. Resistant starch includes carbohydrates that are difficult or cannot be digested by the intestines. So this substance can fill the stomach and make you full without raising blood sugar.
The astringent properties of starch are not only beneficial for diabetics. Even in people who do not have diabetes, resistant starch can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by preventing a drastic increase in blood sugar after eating.
3. Fight cancer
Several recent studies have shown that jackfruit seed extract can ward off body cell damage caused by free radicals and inhibit the growth of blood vessels that can support the growth and spread of cancer cells, especially lung cancer.
However, further research is needed to assess the potential of jackfruit seeds as a cancer treatment.
4. Prevent cardiovascular disease
The benefits of jackfruit seeds in maintaining heart and blood vessel health can be obtained from their high fiber, magnesium, and antioxidant content.
Fiber and antioxidants function to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). Meanwhile, magnesium plays a role in lowering blood pressure.
Because of these benefits, jackfruit seeds are good for consumption as part of a healthy diet to prevent cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
How to Get the Benefits of Jackfruit Seeds
To get the benefits of jackfruit seeds optimally, you need to cook them first. In addition to the unpleasant taste, raw jackfruit seeds are known to interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients.
You can cook jackfruit seeds by boiling them for 20-30 minutes or until they are tender. In addition, you can also roast the jackfruit seeds in the oven for 20 minutes or until the seeds look brown.
You can serve cooked jackfruit seeds in the following ways:
- Adding jackfruit seeds to salads or smoothies
- Grind jackfruit seeds into healthy flour
- Make hummus from crushed jackfruit seeds, garlic, and olive oil
- Eating jackfruit seeds directly as a healthy snack
Although the benefits of jackfruit seeds for the health of the body are many, their effectiveness and level of safety as a treatment still needs to be studied further. Therefore, so far, the consumption of jackfruit seeds is only recommended as a snack or a main food companion.
If you are taking certain medications, such as aspirin, blood-thinning drugs, antiplatelet, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, you should avoid consuming jackfruit seeds. Jackfruit seeds are known to increase the risk of bleeding if taken with these medicines.
In addition, if you want to use jackfruit seeds as an additional therapy for your condition, you should first consult a doctor. Your doctor will help you consider the safety of consuming jackfruit seeds in your therapy.