Have you been hearing a lot about the health benefits of jackfruit, especially the jackfruit powder? Well, we are here to tell you that it is no gimmick this time. Jackfruit and its powder are worth all the hype. The fruit and its powder have some insane medicinal properties that can indeed be a life changer. Don’t take our word for it, there are studies that confirm the same. But before going into the details, let us tell you what exactly the jackfruit powder is, if, well, you were wondering about it.
What exactly is Jackfruit Powder and how to make it at Home?
Jackfruit powder, as the name suggests, is essentially a powder or flour made from unripe jackfruits. The making of this powder is not a very hard process. In fact, you can make your own Jackfruit powder at home.
In order to make it, you will evidently need a jackfruit that is raw. Most of us tend to forget the fact that the powder is made from raw unripe jackfruit, so do keep it in mind. Cut open and clean the unripe jackfruit to remove its rinds, rags, and other unwanted parts. Now carefully extract the pods and then deseed them.
Then take the deseeded pod and clean it again. After which you can cut into small fine strips. Later, you can sundry the cleansed strips of the raw jackfruit for three or four days. The time is up to you (it kind of depends on how sunny it is outside). You can take it out when you feel the jackfruit strips are dry enough to be ground to a powder. Then, as mentioned, you can grind the dried jackfruit strips into a fine powder using a mixing jar. Voila! Your homemade jackfruit powder is ready. Make sure you store it in an airtight container and also do keep the container in the fridge. If you store it outside, the jackfruit powder can go stale.
This miraculous powder can be added to almost all kinds of meals, ranging from breakfast to dinners. Add a tablespoon of this powder to your Idli mix, Upma, or chapatis to reap its benefits. The best part; it won’t bring any unpleasant taste. On the other hand, it’s going to add a nice unique flavor to your meal.
Now, since we know what jackfruit powder exactly is and how to easily make it, let’s jump into the most important part; Why is the humble jackfruit powder making such a wave in the health market.
What are the health benefits of Jackfruit powder?
Here are the benefits of the jackfruit powder which makes it worth all the hype and are the reasons why you should include the powder in your diet.
First of all, it is a clinically proven fact, that the unripe jackfruit has the quality to help reduce blood sugar levels and reverse diabetes. There are many studies that prove the same.
As per a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, jackfruit reduces the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and postprandial glucose (PPG).
The inference of the study was based on a random experiment. 40 participants with type 2 diabetes were called, out of which 20 were provided with 30 grams of flour made from unripe jackfruit in different meals daily for three straight months. The rest were asked to continue with their regular eating habits.
By the end of the study(approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)), it was found that the people who mixed the jackfruit powder in their food showed an improvement in their plasma glucose levels. Well then, one needn’t specify, how healthy the jackfruit powder is. Nevertheless, let’s get into the benefits of this miraculous powder.
Contains High Soluble Fibers
Jackfruit powder is said to contain high levels of soluble fibers. Soluble fiber can easily dissolve in water to form a gel-like substance that can help lower blood cholesterol and sugar. It also improves digestion and improves blood glucose control that can help a lot in the risks of diabetes.
Low carb content
Jackfruit powder has a lower carbohydrate and calorie content as compared to regular wheat and rice.
Sufficient Binding Properties
Jackfruit powder has good binding properties and can be added to various batters, doughs, and mixes to make it a part of your diet. Since the flour is low in carbohydrates, you can cut down your carb intake by adding it to chapathi dough, idli batter, and many more.
Great source of edible proteins
Jackfruit powder is a rich source of edible proteins. If you are trying to increase your protein intake, then adding jackfruit powder into your diet can make the deal!
Aids weight loss
Are you trying to shed some weight? Then, jackfruit powder is a great option. By adding jackfruit powder into your diet, you increase the intake of dietary fiber which in turn can boost your digestion. That’s not all. As mentioned earlier, jackfruit has low calories. The fiber contained in jackfruit helps to keep you satiated for a long time, thus preventing you from consuming junk food.
Helps in Controlling Blood Sugar
As we mentioned earlier, this is a proven fact. Jackfruit powder has the power to control diabetes on regular use. This powder has a low glycemic index as well. A glycemic index is essentially a measure of how fast a portion of food promotes the rise of sugar levels in the blood. Jackfruit powder prevents and controls the symptoms of diabetes by managing the release of glucose and insulin in the body.
Now you know why the jackfruit powder is making all the news. Who knew that the powder of an indigenous fruit found in the land of Kerala, could have so many health benefits?! So, if you are struggling to control diabetes or planning to lose a few pounds, head over to the kitchen and make yourself some freshly ground jackfruit powder and include it in your diet. Then, wait and see the magic!
