How Are Jackfruit Seeds Good For You?
The proteins and other vital micronutrients in the seeds are known to keep skin diseases at bay. And the iron the seeds contain boosts blood health and even treats anemia – which is one major concern, especially for women. The seeds, which taste like potatoes when boiled, are also good for the eyes. But we are not going to tell everything here. There’s more to know as you keep going. So, just read on.
What Are The Benefits Of Jackfruit Seeds?
1. Jackfruit Seeds Combat Anemia
The seeds are rich in iron, which is an important component of hemoglobin. Adequate iron levels can treat anemia and prevent several blood disorders. Iron combats weakness as well, which is another bothersome symptom of anemia. Iron also increases the production of red blood cells, which, in turn, boost immunity and keep diseases at bay.
2. Improve Digestive Health
Traditional medicine suggests that powdered jackfruit seeds can treat constipation and other digestive issues. The seeds are also rich sources of dietary fiber, which makes them all the more important for digestive health. Some sources say that jackfruit seeds can also be used to treat diarrhea. However, we need more research on this. Hence, talk to your doctor before using the seeds as a digestive aid.
3. Boost Vision
The seeds contain vitamin A, a nutrient known to boost vision health. Deficiency of vitamin A can cause night blindness. The seeds might also prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.
4. Might Reduce Risk Of Blood Clots
Though we need more research on this, according to some sources, the manganese in jackfruit seeds can regularize blood clotting.
5. Enhance Sexual Pleasure
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 chestnut and are considered an aphrodisiac by some experts.
6. Jackfruit Seeds Help Build Muscles
The proteins in the seeds can help in building muscles. But we don’t know if they can be a replacement for your regular protein sources. You can, however, supplement your protein intake by adding jackfruit seeds to your diet.
7. Fight Wrinkles
The antioxidants in jackfruit can fight the free radicals that cause premature aging, thereby reducing wrinkles. You need to grind a jackfruit seed in cold milk until you get a paste. Apply this paste to your face regularly – once or twice a day.
8. Make Your Skin Glow
You can soak the seeds in some milk and honey for this purpose. Grind the ingredients until you get a paste. Apply it evenly to your face. Leave it on and allow the paste to dry completely. Wash off with lukewarm water.
9. Enhance Hair Growth
This is where the vitamin A comes into the picture, again. It prevents brittle hair. The rich proteins in the seeds also promote hair health. The iron in the seeds enhances blood circulation to the scalp, and this is another way they contribute to healthy hair. More interestingly, the seeds also help ease mental stress as they are rich in proteins and other micronutrients. This can curb hair fall – as stress is another cause of weak hair. We have seen the benefits of jackfruit seeds. But as hard as it might seem to believe, they contain some essential nutrients we have been simply ignoring all along. And that is where we get to now.
What Is The Nutritional Profile Of Jackfruit Seeds?
A 100-gram serving of jackfruit seeds (or 3.5 ounces) offers about 185 calories. It also contains 7 grams of protein, 38 grams of carbs, and 1.5 grams of fiber. And jackfruit seeds contain less than 1 gram of fat. The seeds are also good sources of thiamine and riboflavin. They also contain trace amounts of zinc, iron, potassium, copper, and manganese. Other important nutrients in the seeds include phytochemicals, like saponins. The nutritional profile is pretty much the same, irrespective of the seeds being boiled or roasted. All of this gets us to one question – how can you eat jackfruit seeds?
How To Eat Jackfruit Seeds
Or how to cook jackfruit seeds – to put it in a better way. There are three ways you can do it:
Cover the jackfruit seeds with water in a large pot. Ensure there is an inch of water above the seeds. Bring the water and seeds to a boil, and then reduce to a rolling simmer for about 30 minutes. Drain the pot and spread the seeds on a baking sheet to cool. Peel the outer white layer, and you can enjoy the seeds.
Preheat the oven to 400o F. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes and let them cool. Once they are cool enough to touch, peel off the outer white layer.
Add the seeds to a dry cast iron skillet. Roast them over medium-high heat and shake the pan occasionally. Do this until the skin is blistered or cracked. Let them cool and peel off the outer white layer.
There is another cool way to consume jackfruit seeds – use them in a recipe.
Any Jackfruit Recipe To Try?
Yes. Try this roasted garlic jackfruit seed hummus recipe.
2 cups of jackfruit seeds and water (to boil) 4 cloves of garlic 6 tablespoons of low-sodium broth 2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk Juice of half a lemon 2 tablespoons of organic raw tahini Dehydrated celery powder and fresh black pepper, for taste Paprika, for garnishing
Caution: Ensure the jackfruit seeds are properly prepared as they might be poisonous. Don’t eat them raw (1). Are jackfruit seeds good for those with diabetes? Yes. Jackfruit seeds can help lower blood glucose levels and are used to treat diabetes (2). Do jackfruit seeds cause gas? Yes. Excess intake of jackfruit seeds can cause gas. How many jackfruit seeds can you eat? There is no recommended dosage of jackfruit seeds. However, as they contain antinutrients, eat them in moderation to avoid their adverse effects.
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