Health Benefits of Jackfruit (Kathal)

Jackfruit is also known by another name in India such as Katahal, Kathal, jack tree, jakfruit, Kathalai, jack, jak and etc. It belongs to the mulberry family means Moraceae and widely found all over the world. It was first originated in the regions of South and Southeast Asia as well as Indian southwestern rain forests; however it is highly found in the Indian states of Kerala (declared as a state fruit), Maharashtra and coastal Karnataka.

                                                  

It is widely cultivated in the tropical regions of India since 3000 to 6000 years including other countries like Bangladesh (declared as a national fruit), Thailand and Vietnam (major producer), Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, Cambodia, Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Caribbean nations of Jamaica and etc. It is a summer season vegetable widely found during summer season from April to September.

BENEFITS OF JACKFRUIT (KATHAL)

Jackfruit is a gorgeous fruit (used as a fruit when ripened) and vegetable (used as a vegetable when raw) almost liked by all the people. It looks and tastes very nice whether it is used as a fruit or vegetable. It is highly beneficial for the health as it is loaded with the multiple health ingredients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, thiamine, iron, niacin, riboflavin, selenium, zinc, copper, magnesium, fatty acids, protein and etc. Some of the really amazing health benefits of the jackfruit or Kathal are mentioned below:

Benefits of Jackfruit for Immunity

• Jackfruit or Kathal is an excellent source of the vitamins like C and A which have antioxidant property and boosts the immune system functioning.
• As it enhances the body immunity, it protects form various seasonal and common diseases such as cold, flu, cough, fever and etc.

Benefits of Jackfruit for Cancer

• Because of being a rich source of phytonutrients, antioxidants, flavonoids and fatty acids, it is very useful for the cancer prevention.
• High level of antioxidant compounds makes it able to protect body from the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals thus prevents from various cancers of colon, breast, stomach, lung, prostate, oral cavity and etc.
• Its antioxidant nature prevents from the oxidative stress and DNA damage (which promotes cancer cells development) caused due to the free radicals.
• Its richness of dietary fibers cleans out all the toxins from colon which reduces the chance of occurrence of colon cancer.
• Vitamin A and carotenes found in it helps in protecting from the lung and oral cavity cancers.
• It is rich source of some other phytonutrients called isoflavones, lignans, saponins and etc having anti-cancer and anti-aging property thus keeps body away from the cancer and early aging.
• Copper mineral found in it actively participate in the thyroid metabolism, production and absorption thus keeps away from the disorders of this gland.

Benefits of Jackfruit for Heart

• Kathal helps in maintaining normal blood pressure as it rich source of potassium which is required to maintain the sodium and body fluid level in order to balance the electrolyte level thus reduces the risk of hypertension, stroke, heart failure, heart attack and etc cardiovascular problems.
• It is very heart friendly as vitamin B6 found in it helps in reducing the blood level of homocysteine.
• By lowering down the bad cholesterol level in blood it prevents the formation of plaque in the arteries, blockage of arteries and etc.

Benefits of Jackfruit for Digestive System

• Eating kathal on regular basis helps in improving the digestion as it contains high amount of dietary fibers which provides it laxative property.
• It helps in preventing from the digestive disorders including constipation, piles and etc by regulating the bowel movements.
• It is strong anti-ulcerative in nature which makes it able to cure ulcers as well as various digestive system disorders.

Benefits of Jackfruit for Skin

• It prevents skin from the symptoms of early ageing due to environmental pollution, free radicals, UV rays, oxidative stress, smoke, tension and etc.
• Its antioxidant property helps in nourishing the skin and slows down ageing by destroying free radicals and other causes.
• It keeps skin hydrated and moisturized as well as protect from various skin diseases.
• It contains vitamin A which helps in maintaining the skin integrity and mucus membranes integrity.
• Massaging the skin with the pulp of kathal makes skin smooth and glowing as well as provides relief from dryness and pigmentation.

Benefits of Jackfruit for Bone

• Kathal has high amount of calcium and phosphorus which are mostly required by the body to strengthen and promote healthy growth and development of the bone.
• It prevents from the bone related health issues such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and joints problem by increasing the calcium density of bone.

Benefits of Jackfruit during Pregnancy

• It prevents a woman from the anemia during pregnancy by maintaining the hemoglobin level.
• It is the rich source of bundle of vitamins like A, C, E, K, iron, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, B6 including minerals such as manganese, copper and magnesium which actively involves in the process of blood formation.
• Its high availability of vitamin C enhances the body capacity to absorb required amount of iron in order to fulfill the hemoglobin count as well as prevent and cure anemia.
• Vitamin A found in it promotes proper cell production, eye vision, fetal development and etc during pregnancy.
• Vitamin B3 helps in regulating the hormones, boosting immunity level as well as controlling stress level among women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Other Health Benefits of Jackfruit

• It acts as an energy booster as it provides instant energy because of its richness of high amount of carbohydrate, protein and calorie.
• It also contains form of simple sugars such as fructose and sucrose which quickly involves in boosting the body energy.
• Vitamin A found in it is very beneficial for the eye health as it improves the eye vision as well as protect from various eye disorders like degeneration of retina, cataract, age related macular degeneration and etc.
• It is very beneficial for the person suffering from the asthma and other respiratory disorders.
• It is rich source of flavonoid pigments like beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, xanthin, lutein and etc which have strong antioxidant property and prevents body from age related degenerative changes.
• It slightly involves in the weight loss strategy as it is an excellent source of easily digestible simple sugars and dietary fibers.
• It helps in treating some disorders like sleeplessness, anxiety, high blood pressure, neurosis, stress, loss of memory, poor concentration and etc.
• The latex found in the kathal is very useful in treating pharyngitis, dystopia, opthalmities and etc.
• The mixture of latex and vinegar helps to treat snakebites, abscesses, glandular swellings and etc.
• Kathal root is very good home remedy for treating fever, skin diseases, diarrhea and etc.

Benefits of Jackfruit Leaves

• Jackfruit leaves have been used for years in order to treat skin problems, fever, boils, wounds, diabetes and etc.
• The mixture of ash of jackfruit leaves, corn, coconut shells with coconut oil is very helpful to heal ulcers.

Benefits of Jackfruit Seeds

Jackfruit seeds are yummy tasting loaded with the vitamins and protein which are most important elements of health nourishment. Some of the beneficial aspects of the kathal seeds are mentioned below:

• It actively helps in fighting with the wrinkles on the skin if paste of some jackfruit seeds (dipped in cold milk for sometime) is applied regularly to the wrinkled skin for a month.
• It helps in enhancing the muscle power because of its richness of high level protein.
• It contains lots of anticancerous nutrients in the form of phytonutrients and helps body to fight cancer.
• Consuming jackfruit seed powder provides relief from the indigestion and other digestive disorders.
• It helps in providing a glowing complexion to the skin whether it is applied topically or consumed orally.
• It helps in preventing from the constipation and piles because of its high fiber contents.
• It gives skin a flawless look if the paste of jackfruit seeds (soaked into milk and honey) is applied to the face for few minutes till it gets dry and then washes off.
• It stimulates hair growth by motivating healthy blood circulation and proper nourishment to the scalp.
• It is the rich source of vitamin A which hair from getting dry, rough, brittle and light.
• It helps in keeping healthy digestion thus prevents from unknown hair fall.