When thoughts turn to fruits, the first things that come to mind are flavors and nutritional values. However, as we all know, consuming anything in excess can have negative impacts on health. Take for example “the king of Thai fruits” or durian, a fruit with a flavor many people fall in love with. Sometimes it is so delicious that we can forget about the dangers of over-consumption. So, with durian fans in mind, here’s some information that will enable you to continue to enjoy eating it without damaging your health.
Durian benefits
Most durian eaters are already cautious about how much of it they eat as it is known to have a relatively high sugar content. For instance, 100 grams of durian provides about 174 kilocalories of energy which is comparable to half a bowl of noodles. That 100 grams contains several nutrients, including 27.09 grams of carbohydrate, 5.33 grams of fat, 3.8 grams of dietary fiber, 1.47 grams of protein, along with various minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, sodium and sulfur (which creates durian’s unique smell), and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and C. Durian also contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids and polyphenols that help reduce the rate of deterioration of body cells so that we age slower. Dietary fiber in durian helps moderate defecation. Last but not least, durian contains beta-carotene that helps nourish eyesight and folate that helps build blood cells.
How to enjoy durian without doing harm
Did you know that you should never consume durian and alcoholic drinks at the same time? Medical research has discovered relatively high levels of sulfur in durian, an element that inhibits the function of an enzyme in the liver (aldehyde dehydrogenase) that breaks down the toxicity of aldehyde caused by alcohol metabolism in the body. As a result, those who eat durian together with alcoholic drinks risk being poisoned by increased aldehyde which may manifest as rashes. So don’t eat durian with any kind of alcoholic beverage.
Durian caution for those with congenital diseases
Although durian contains many nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are beneficial to the body, it provides a lot of energy. Therefore, you should eat no more than two or three chunks in a day and avoid eating it too often. This especially applies to those with these congenital conditions:
· Diabetics and all those who need to control the levels of sugars and fats in their blood as durian has high levels of both. Diabetics are advised to keep their consumption of durian to no more than half a chunk in a day in order to avoid a potentially acute increase in blood sugar level leading to shock.
· People with high blood pressure. Durian is a fruit with heat. High blood pressure patients who eat large quantities of it may increase their blood pressure to a level that endangers them.
· Kidney disease and coronary artery disease sufferers. Durian is high in potassium, so consumption of large quantities of it increases accumulated potassium in the body, potentially leading to cardiac arrhythmias.
Durian lovers may need to have a plan how to control the amount of sugar and fat in their blood which may include exercise to help burn calories. That way you can enjoy the taste and texture and still stay fit.
Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers interested in health care matters can check out lots more articles on health topics at https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/health-advisories.
References
· Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3DF8Xc4
https://bit.ly/3sFNZ6w
· Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
https://www.med.cmu.ac.th/web/news-event/news/pr-news/9432/
· Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
https://bit.ly/3zoaW1M
· King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
https://bit.ly/3W3iMaW
