Ahh, the durian; it’s either much loved for its heavenly taste or much hated for its strong, pungent smell. For the former, you’ve probably tried most of the durian types in Malaysia and it was probably hard for you to refrain yourself from eating too much. While everyone knows it’s not good to overeat durians, its good points are rarely talked about. Does the King of Fruits even have health benefits? The answer is yes — it’s just as healthy as any other fruits out there.
1. Energy booster
Like any other tropical fruits such as bananas, avocados and jack fruits, durians too are a good source for energy. One serving of this fruit can pretty much cover about 20 per cent of your daily carbs needs.
2. Strengthen bones and teeth
Who would have thought that this fruit can help sustain bone strength? Loaded with potassium, calcium and B vitamins, there’s no doubt that the durian is beneficial for the body. Potassium is needed to develop healthy bones as it ensures the calcium from the durian is deposited to the bones properly and doesn’t dissolve or be released into the blood excessively.
3. Age slower
Eat enough durian and you might just look young forever! Well, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but eating a fair amount of durians may indeed boost your body to get rid of those free radicals; therefore slowing down the ageing process — or at least symptoms of it like wrinkles, age spots, hair loss and graying of hair. That’s all thanks to the durian’s Vitamin C for its antioxidant powers! And let’s not forget its added high water content can help reduce skin dryness, keeping it clear and smooth.
4. Natural antidepressant
Beat the Monday blues (or everyday *ehemofficeehem* blues) and cheer up with a couple servings of durian! Studies have shown that depression can be triggered as a result of low levels of serotonin. Well, guess what? Durians are rich in vitamin B6 — the essential vitamin needed to produce serotonin!
5. Nature’s sleeping pill
Been finding it hard to sleep at night? Here’s a piece of good news: did you know that durian is nature’s sleeping pill? Consisting of high levels of tryptophan amino, this chemical converts to serotonin when it enters the brain, inducing a feeling of relaxation and happiness and thus reducing anxiety and sleeplessness.
6. Improves digestion
Like its fellow fruit, the papaya, the durian also has high levels of dietary fiber which helps ease the bowel movement. That means lesser chances of getting constipation and boosting your stomach’s digestion power! Apart from that, the amount of vitamin B1 and vitamin B3 in the durian will help increase your appetite while maintaining a healthy digestive system.
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