Durian Fruit: All About

Durian Fruit: Gift of Nature

Regarded by many people in Southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odor, and formidable thorn-covered husk. It is this the world's most divisive fruit?

Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance; others find the aroma overpowering and revolting. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage.

Southeast Asian traditional beliefs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, consider the durian fruit to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. The traditional method to counteract this is to pour water into the empty shell of the fruit after the pulp has been consumed and drink it. An alternative method is to eat the durian in accompaniment with mangosteen, which is considered to have cooling properties. Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian.

The Javanese believe durian to have aphrodisiac qualities.

Health Benefits of Durian Fruit:

1.                It’s an excellent source of energy. 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.

2.                Durian fruit is high fiber in content.

3.                It’s high in fat and calories.

4.                Durian fruit is high in vitamin C. It helps 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. 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.

6.                It’s 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.

8.                Durians have tryptophan, which is also known as nature’s sleeping pill. This chemical is metabolized into various neurotransmitters and can aid in sleep induction and even be a treatment for epilepsy.

9.                It’s a good source of thiamin. Thiamin can help your body metabolize carbohydrates into energy and it aids in things like muscle and nerve health.

10.           Durian fruits are very rich source of folate (folic acid), which can aid in preventing heart disease, fetal development (if you’re pregnant), and even helps the brain function properly.

Nutritional Profile of Durian Fruit:       

Durian (Raw or Frozen) Durio Zibethinus
Carbohydrate Factor: 3.6 Fat Factor: 8.37 Protein Factor: 3.36 Nitrogen to Protein Conversion Factor: 6.25
Refuse: 68% Refuse Description: Shell and seeds (for raw fruit)
Nutrient (Proximates)	Unit	per100g
Water	g	64.99
Energy	kcal	147
Protein	g	1.47
Total lipid (fat)	g	5.33
Ash	g	1.12
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	27.09
Fiber, total dietary	g	3.8
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	6
Iron, Fe	mg	0.43
Magnesium, Mg	mg	30
Phosphorus, P	mg	39
Potassium, K	mg	436
Sodium, Na	mg	2
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.28
Copper, Cu	mg	0.207
Manganese, Mn	mg	0.325
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	19.7
Thiamin	mg	0.374
Riboflavin	mg	0.2
Niacin	mg	1.074
Pantothenic acid	mg	0.23
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.316
Folate, total	µg	36
Folate, food	µg	36
Vitamin B-12	µg	0
Vitamin A, RAE	µg	2
Retinol	µg	0
Carotene, beta	µg	23
Carotene, alpha	µg	6
Cryptoxanthin, beta	µg	0
Vitamin A, IU	IU	44
Lipids	mg	0
Cholesterol	mg	0

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!

Durian Fruit: love it or hate it!