Health Benefits Of Durian
Durian is a fruit with the ability to boost your immune system, increase energy levels, and inhibit free radical activity. The health benefits of this fruit also include improved digestion, strengthened bones, and reduced signs of anemia. It is also good for slowing premature aging, lowering blood pressure, and protecting against cardiovascular diseases.
The other benefits of durian include its ability to help with diabetes management, reduce inflammation of the joints, reduce headaches, and potentially decrease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
🌱What is Durian?
Durian is often called the “king of fruits” in Southeast Asian nations, however, it is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and possibly the Philippines, but debates still continue on that point. Durian is a large fruit, up to one foot long and six inches wide, with a hard, spiky exterior and a range of yellow to red flesh on the inside. Out of the 30 species, 9 of them are commonly utilized for cooking or consumption, and only one is found internationally, outside the local growing areas. That particular species is called Durio zibethinus.
The reason this fruit is often considered controversial is that the smell has a divisive effect on people. Your natural olfactory sense will either find it pleasant or absolutely revolting and nauseating! This has led durian to be banned on public transportation in certain Asian nations. The avid fans of the health benefits of durian are balanced by those who are repulsed by the sight and smell of this powerful fruit.
🌱Health Benefits of Durian
🌱The health benefits of durian are explained in detail below.
🌱Aids in Digestion
Research in the journal Bioinformation led by Dr. Nurul Arneida Husin from the Asian Institute of Medical, Science, and Technology, Malaysia, has suggested that eating durian fruit regularly can help improve the digestive process.
Durian contains high levels of dietary fiber, which is essential to the normal function of multiple systems in the body, most notably the digestive system. Insoluble fiber causes bowel movement to increase in bulk, which makes it easier for them to move through the intestinal tract. Fiber also stimulates peristaltic motion and the secretion of digestive and gastric juices, further easing the entire process. By reducing conditions like constipation and blockage in the intestines, problems like bloating, excess flatulence, heartburn, cramps, and indigestion can be reduced.
🌱Heart Health
The same 2018 study reveals that durian can be included in a heart-friendly diet. This can be explained with the presence of fiber, as previously mentioned. Fiber helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by scraping LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) out of the body and quickly removing it as waste before it can do any damage to the cardiovascular system in the form of plaque buildup.
🌱Reduces Blood Pressure
A 2015 study titled “Effects of Durian Intake on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Healthy Individuals” revealed that durian fruit does not negatively affect the blood pressure levels and also increases heart rate.
Durian is a rich source of potassium, and since potassium is such an integral part of the salt and fluid balance throughout the body’s cells, potassium levels also dictate blood pressure. When an adequate amount of potassium is present, the blood vessels can relax, reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system and the chances of developing conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Reduced stress on the veins and arteries also increases oxygenated blood flow to the brain; studies have shown that potassium levels can, therefore, help boost cognitive function and memory, reducing the risk of developing dementia.
🌱Anti-aging Properties
In traditional, herbal medicine, durian was often hailed as a tool to battle aging, and was one of the main reasons why people called it the “king of fruits”. It turns out that the fruit has antioxidant properties stemming from its vitamin and organic chemical makeup that actively reduce the number of free radicals in the body.