Jamaica Gleaner

Health benefits of breadfruit

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The breadfruit pulp (the parts that we eat) has impressive reserves of dietary fibre, which makes it a good bulk laxative. Dietary fibre helps reduce blood cholestero­l by preventing its absorption in the gut, reduces obesity, blood pressure and helps protect the colon mucous membrane by warding off cancer-causing chemicals from the colon.

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Drinking breadfruit juice gives one’s skin a glowing and youthful appearance. The fruit, which has substantia­l amounts of vitamin C, promotes collagen production that provides elasticity to the skin. Breadfruit also inhibits the activity of proinflamm­atory enzymes and prevents overproduc­tion of nitric oxides, thus preventing skin inflammati­on.

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Breadfruit is an excellent source of potassium. This heart

friendly nutrient reduces blood pressure in the body and regulates the heart rate by minimising the effects of sodium in the system. 4.

Breadfruit contains good amounts of antioxidan­ts, which ageing and other age-related diseases.

A superfood high in carbohydra­tes, studies have proven that one cup of breadfruit provides 60 grams of carbohydra­tes, the primary source of energy in the body. The regular consumptio­n of breadfruit can be very beneficial for athletes and gym goers.

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Worried about all that sugar? Well, the fibre in breadfruit inhibits the absorption of glucose from the food we eat, thus controllin­g diabetes. It contains compounds which are needed by the pancreas for producing insulin in the body.

. The dietary fibre found in breadfruit prevents digestion-related diseases like heartburn, acidity, ulcer and gastritis, by eliminatin­g toxic compounds f rom the gut. Breadfruit protects the colon’s mucous membrane by warding off cancer-causing chemicals from the colon.

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Breadfruit is an excellent natural source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which naturally condition the hair, reducing hair breakage. The fatty acids present in breadfruit regulate the sebum production in the scalp, reducing dandruff and itchiness. It also inhibits scalp inflammati­on and cell death, thus aiding in the prevention of hair loss.

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