You may have clicked on this article wondering what on Earth a Durian fruit even is. That’s okay, not a lot of people know about it. It’s a fruit that grows in Southeast Asia and is widely regarded as the King of Fruits. It has a strong odor that makes people either love it very much or hate it very much even in Asia.
This is a video showing people try it for the first time. One of them described it as “It’s like a box of chocolates, but a bad box of chocolates”.
But why it seems like a valuable fruit at least in Asia? It is because it has a wide range of health benefits.
Let’s take a look at its benefits…
1. It’s an excellent source of energy
One serving of this fruit is 243 grams and it covers about 20% of your daily needs for carbohydrates. Some people don’t eat those as part of a diet but runners, athletes, and people looking for some extra energy can find a good use for carbs. A measly five servings of this fruit will cover your entire day’s compliment of carbs.
2. It’s also excellent at keeping your regular
One of the benefits of Durian fruit is its high fiber content. Each serving contains about nine grams of fiber which is 37% of your daily needs (based on a 2,000 calorie diet). That’s a whole bunch. There are a lot of fruit smoothies that can’t cover that in multiple servings. If you need help staying regular, this is a good fruit to use.
3. It’s high in fat and calories
That means it’ll fill you up. A single serving of Durian fruit contains over 350 calories and 13 grams of fat. Thankfully, it’s the good kind of fat so you don’t have to worry about that. However, we would recommend you not go too nuts because it’ll definitely pack on the pounds if you eat too much!
4. Durian fruit is high in vitamin C
That means you get all the benefits you’d otherwise get from vitamin C. That includes fighting off illnesses, aiding in healing wounds, helping lower cholesterol, and improve blood flow. There are a lot of health benefits of vitamin C and Durian fruit has a ton of it.
5. There are also quite a bit of vitamin B
Vitamin B has a bunch of health benefits. It helps keep free radicals at bay and has been linked to preventing aging and heart disease. It also boosts HDL (good cholesterol) and can even help improve serotonin levels which can improve your mood and ease depression. There are plenty of other benefits as well.
6. It’s high in iron and copper
Durians are high in iron and copper. Copper and iron is required in the formation and creation of healthy red blood cells. Durians also contain manganese which helps with bone and skin health.
7. It’s rich in potassium
Potassium is an important electrolyte that helps control blood pressure, keep your sodium levels in check, and helps regulate your heart rate. Durians have a bunch of it and it can be extremely helpful to your health.
8. Durians have tryptophan
Also known as nature’s sleeping pill, we normally get a whole year’s worth of tryptophan during Thanksgiving when we overeat on turkey. The rest of the year, you can get your tryptophan from Durian fruit. This chemical is metabolized into various neurotransmitters and can aid in sleep induction and even be a treatment for epilepsy. Do not quit your medication, though. Consult a doctor!
9. It’s a good source of thiamin
If you need more thiamin in your life, Durian fruit can be that source. It contains about 30% of your daily recommended intake in just one serving. Thiamin can help your body metabolize carbohydrates into energy and it aids in things like muscle and nerve health.
10. Lots of folate for you!
Lastly, Durian fruits have a lot of folate otherwise known as folic acid. This can aid in preventing heart disease, fetal development (if you’re pregnant), and even helps the brain function properly. One serving contains about 20% of your daily requirement of folic acid.
Durian fruit has been around for hundreds of years but it’s just now starting to gain mainstream popularity. There are a lot of health benefits but be sure you do not eat too much. It’s very rich in many things which include carbs, calories, and fat which can cause you to gain weight. It’s an unusual fruit but when eaten in moderation, it can be a very healthy fruit!
Featured photo credit: HX Corp via hxcorp.com.vn
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