King Of The Fruit - Durian

Nutrition facts of DURIAN
(pronounce as DU' RI' YAN')

Durian fruit is delicious, soft, succulent and very popular for its unique characteristics. Durian is widely revered as the "King of Fruits" in the South-East Asian countries.

The tree is tropical in origin and belongs to the genus Durio, family of Malvaceae; a large family which also includes hibiscus, okra etc. It is native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia and grows up to 50 meters in height depending on the species. While there are 30 known species of Durio exist only nine of them have been identified as producing edible fruits. Durian tree starts bearing fruits after four or five years after plantation.

Durian is a seasonal fruit; its season lasts typically from June till August, which coincides with that of the other tropical specific fruits like mangosteen, jack fruit, and mango. This fruit is distinctive for its large size, unique odor, and formidable thorn-covered husk. It can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, and typically weighs one to four kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Shapewise, it varies from round to oblong; color of its husk (rind) is green to brown; and its flesh has creamy-yellow to saffron color depending on the species.

The flesh or pulp can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and is used as flavor base in a wide variety of culinary and sweet preparations in Southeast Asian cuisines. Round to oval shaped seeds can also be eaten when cooked and tastes like almond.

Edible flesh emits distinctive odor which can be described as strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact; this unusual stinky flavor and intense odor of the fruit have prompted many people to express diverse and peculiar opinions ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust about durian.


Fruit Description:

* Durian tree: grow up to 27 m
* Fruit Shape: oblong
* Length: 20-35cm, diameter: 18-22 cm and weighs from 1-9kg.
* Rind: thick, semi-wood with stout, sharply pointed spines; color: yellowish-green.
* Edible Pulp/ flesh: After opening the fruit you will find 5 or less compartments containing the creamy-white or yellowish edible pulp with custard-like consistency.
* Seeds: 1 to 7 chestnut-like seeds, 2-6 cm long with glossy, red-brown color.

Health Benefits:

* Durian is extremely nutritious because it is rich in vitamin B, C and E and with high iron content. Eating durian is alleged to restore the health of ailing humans and animals.
* A preparation from its roots and leaves is prescribed by traditional doctors for fevers and jaundice.
* Decoctions of the leaves and fruits are applied to swellings and skin diseases.
* Durian fruit helps lower cholesterol.
* Durian is a strong blood cleanser.
* The ash of the burned rind is taken after childbirth.
* Durian contains high levels of the amino acid tryptophan, known to alleviate anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and create feelings of happiness, by raising levels of serotonin in the brain
* Durian contains high level of soft protein which makes it a good muscle builder.
* Durian has a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac.
* Durian is recommended as a good source of raw fats.


Nutritive Value per 100 g

* Vitamin A: 20-30 I.U.
* Ascorbic Acid: 23.9-25.0 mg
* Vitamin E: "high"
* Calcium: 7.6-9.0 mg
* Phosphorus: 37.8-44.0 mg
* Potassium: 436 mg
* Thiamine: 0.24-0.352 mg
* Riboflavin: 0.20 mg
* Niacin0.6: 83-0.70 mg
* Iron: 0.73-1.0 mg
* Sugars(approx.) 12.0 g
* Protein: 2.5-2.8 g
* Fat: 5.33g
* Fiber: 3.8 g
* Total Carbohydrates: 30.4-34.1 g
* Calories: 144

excerpt from: www.nutrition-and-you.com

Note: Durian fruit is highly nutritious it is not advisable to eat this fruit in excess. Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian. The seeds are believed to possess a toxic property that causes shortness of breath.

Nutritional Foods - Enter the Dragon Fruit

Getting to know the Dragon fruit

The Pitaya is more commonly referred to as the dragon fruit. It is an extremely beautiful fruit that has dazzling flowers and an intense shape and color. The dragon fruit is usually a dark red color, although some types of this fruit are pink or yellow. The skin of the dragon fruit is a thin rind. The skin is usually covered in scales, and the center of the fruit is made up of a red or white, sweet tasting pulp.

It not known exactly where the dragon fruit originated, but it is thought to have come from South America. The French are believed to have brought the dragon fruit to Vietnam over a hundred years ago. Dragon fruits were grown there to be eaten by royalty and very wealthy families. Now, the fruit flourishes in American states such as Texas, and is also grown in Mexico and other South American countries such as Argentina and Peru.

The dragon fruit is cultivated in tropical regions around the world. The plant of the dragon fruit can grow from around a few inches or centimeters to up to twenty feet (around six meters). It flourishes in hot regions with a heavy rainfall. Periods of cold will kill the plant, and it loves the high temperatures found in tropical countries.

The flowers of the dragon fruit plant only bloom at night and usually only live for one night. Pollination happens at this time to allow the fruit to emerge. The flowers of the dragon fruit give out a very beautiful scent, and the smell can fill the night air wherever the plant grows.

The dragon fruit is best eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scooping the flesh out. The flavor is very refreshing and sweet. Dragon fruits are delicious chilled and can be served in fruit juices and fruit salads or made into jam. They can also be juiced and added to alcohol to make a very delicious drink.

Health benefits

The health benefits of dragonfruit cactus fruit are many and varied. These nutritional benefits include dragonfruit health benefits which help to lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Dragon fruit health benefits and the great dragonfruit nutrition benefits make dragonfruit cactus fruit popular all over the world - dragon fruit is now being discovered in the US and that market is growing as people realize the special health benefits of dragon fruit and its great nutrional benefits like its high antioxidant amounts and vitamin C levels. Dragon fruit (most commonly as the dried dragonfruit cactus fruit) is a great fruit to incorporate into a diabetic diet plan and lots of diabetic recipes can include dragonfruit. While dragonfruit is not a type 2 diabetes cure, it may offer diabetics a substantial health benefit towards lower blood glucose levels. Dragon fruit vitamin C and dietary fiber are both positive nutritional benefits of dragon fruit among others. The amount of vitamin C in dragonfruit cactus fruit is substantial, and you can see up to 10 times the amount of vitamin C in dragon fruit which has been dried vs. the fresh dragonfruit cactus fruit. Of course the dried dragon fruit nutrients are much more dense than in the fresh fruit!

This healthy food is rich in vitamins and minerals especially vitamin C. Here are the rest of the nutrients that you can get from the dragon fruit.

• Protein, Niacin
• Fiber,Iron
• Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Calcium, Vitamin A

It also has antioxidants, and we all know how antioxidant helps our body to prevent certain diseases or even cancer. This is one vitamin-packed fruit.The dragon fruit is best eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scooping the flesh out, like eating a sherbet. And best eaten when chilled. It has a refreshingly sweet taste. SO the next time you're looking for a new and healthy fruit to eat. Look for the dragon fruit. The name is too big to forget.

How to Eat Dragon Fruit

It really seems that sometimes it seems the number of ways people choose how to eat dragonfruit are about as many as there are people who enjoy eating dragonfruit cactus fruit. If you are someone who enjoys eating dragonfruit fresh, you can spoon the dragonfruit flesh out of the skin like you are eating dragonfruit as a papaya. You can slice the dragonfruit, blend dragonfruit in a smoothie, eat dragonfruit with lemon or lime, add dragonfruit to a fresh fruit salad. Some people prefer eating fresh dragonfruit chilled, some prefer their dragon fruit cold. That's just how people like eating dragon fruit fresh!