323 | Jackfruit

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) also known as jackfruit tree belongs to the Mulberry family (Moraceae). Jackfruit is well adapted to tropical lowlands and is widely grown in all tropical regions of the world including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. It produces the largest fruit of any tree, weighing up to 55 kg, 90 cm in length, and 50 cm in diameter. A mature jackfruit tree produces more or less 200 fruits per year. If any tree has good production then it can up to 500 fruits per year. Jackfruit is known as multi-fruited fruit consisting of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers and fruit as well. Ripe fruit is sweet. Canned jackfruit has a mild flavour.  Jackfruit often calls “vegetable meat”.

Morphology of a Jackfruit:

Jackfruit is a common fruit in South and Southeast Asian countries. Both ripe and unripe berries are eaten. It is available worldwide, canned or frozen, and in chilled dishes, as well as various fruit-based products, such as noodles and crisps.

Jackfruit is 15 to 20 meters (50 to 70 feet) tall at maturity and has large, hard, glossy green leaves about 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) long. The small unisexual flowers grow on dense inflorescences that grow directly from the stems and branches. Jackfruit is the largest fruit tree in the world, growing up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long and weighing up to 18 kilograms (about 40 pounds).

Origin of Jackfruit :

The origin of Jackfruit is from the Indian subcontinent. Jackfruit is now widely grown in the tropical lowlands. The tree bears one of the largest known edible fruits. Massive synchronous crops are always in demand and often sell for high prices in the countries where the crops are grown. It is one of many fruits that a small farmer or villager in tropical Asia, America, or Africa can grow with little or no care, giving him a great diet. variety as well as a source of income. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh. It is an important fruit tree in India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and many other tropical countries.

Production in Bangladesh

Area and Production in Bangladesh Jackfruit ranks third in cultivated area and second in yield in fruits in Bangladesh. There are 25,110 hectares of land for jackfruit cultivation with an annual output of 469,500 tons (BBS, 2000-2007). It accounts for about 22% of the country’s total fruit production.

Fruit flavor

Jackfruit is a popular fruit in Bangladesh. People eat the pulp of the ripe fruit. The succulent flesh around the seeds has a sweet taste. To eat seeds people boil it and roast before use. You can use this seeds in many cooking preparations. The pulp of the unripe fruit uses as a vegetable.  Farmers can use the bark and leaves as fodder for livestock. Jackfruit trees sometimes use as ornamental trees on a farm. Latex is used as a sealant.

Nutritional content

According to the Department of Agriculture Trusted Source, a cup of raw, sliced jackfruit contains:

• 157 calories
• 2.84 g of protein
• 1.06 g of fat
• 38.36 g of carbohydrates
• 2.5 g of dietary fiber
• 31.48 g of sugars
• 48 mg of magnesium
• 739 mg of potassium
• 22.6 mg of vitamin C

Benefits of Jackfruit:

• Potassium content is 303 mg per 100 grams of fruit. This helps reduce high blood pressure.
• It contains a relatively high content of vitamin A, which helps to eliminate ringworm.
• Vitamin C is one of the benefits of it.
• Diseases caused by vitamin C deficiency are eliminated by eating.
• Because it contains a lot of vitamin C, eating in large quantities will help keep gums healthy.
• Plant nutrients in it – play a role in preventing boils, cancer, high blood pressure and aging.
• The antioxidants  help protect our body from harmful free radicals.
• The role of this fruit in the prevention of colds and coughs is undeniable.
• The fruit is a very beneficial fruit in reducing stress and anxiety for people.
• Eating jackfruit prevents indigestion in the human body.
• The fruit’s root is beneficial for asthma.
• The nutrients extracted from the boiled root have the ability to control the development of asthma.
• The root is also very effective in treating skin problems.
• The root cures fever, diarrhea.
• Fruit contains the mineral manganese. Plays a role in blood sugar/sugar control.
• The presence of magnesium and calcium in it improves bone formation and helps keep bones strong.
• Eating fruit helps reduce the risk of heart disease because it contains vitamin B6.
• The presence of calcium in fruit also plays a direct role in blood clotting.
• Drinking fruit’s juice with breast milk from 6 months old is very beneficial.
• According to medical documents, eating 200g of dried fruit per day is very beneficial for pregnant women.
• Pregnant women who eat this fruit have normal health. And fetal development is normal.
• Breastfeeding mothers eat ripe, fresh jackfruit to increase milk secretion.
• Get rid of constipation thanks to the fruit’s fibers.
• It  contains iron, a mineral that helps prevent anemia.