Nutritional facts about Breadfruit

Breadfruit

Common name - Mai (Pohnpeian)  these are some of the common names in which bread fruit is known by. Scientific name - Artocarpus altilis (Greek) meaning artos = bread and karpos = fruit. Origin- They are known to originate from Mexico. Appearance - Breadfruit looks green in color, when matured little sap will be leaked out which makes the fruit to appear more yellow in color when ripe. The fruit has a starchy texture and fragrance that tends to remain about the fresh baked bread. The nutritious fruit and the seeds are edible. A fully ripe breadfruit is usually soft and fragrant and its flesh is creamy yellow like coloured and pasty with irregular oval seeds. In the centre of this seedless fruit, there found a cylindrical core, in some species which is fully covered with hairs and small seeds. The breadfruit's flesh will be sweet and the fruit haves a nice fragrant smell.

Nutrients in Breadfruit

Breadfruit is low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium and very high in Vitamin C, Dietary Fiber and Potassium. The nutritional value of breadfruit helps you to maintain optimum health. Breadfruit has been considered as a nutritionally beneficial fruit. A large amount of nutrients and useful calories can be obtained by eating breadfruit. Other than the contents given in the table, the fruit also consists of 70.9 g of water content and 1.2 g of Protein content in it.
Vitamins (Per 100 g) Pantothenic Acid 0.5 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 0.2 mg Niacin 0.9 mg Vitamin B6 0.1 mg Choline 9.81 mg Vitamin C 29.1 mg Vitamin E 0.1 mg	Minerals ( Per 100 g) Phosphorus 30 mg Calcium 17.1 mg Sodium 2.0 mg Potassium 490.3 mg Iron 0.5 mg Magnesium 25 mg Zinc 0.1 mg Copper 0.13 mg Manganese 0.11 mg
Healthy fats in Breadfruit
Breadfruit is very rich in healthy Omega fats. Breadfruit increases the body's power by the fatty acids namely Omega-3 Omega-6 These vital fatty acids helps the normal development of body and mind. Fatty acids also increases skin color, hair growth, regulation of metabolism, promotion of reproduction and also stimulates bone health.
Breadfruit Facts
1)  Breadfruit is a tropical tree which is mainly related to Jackfruit family. 2) Plants bestow demeanor fruits from 2-3 years after planting and remains productive for decades. 3) Breadfruit can also be used like a vegetable.It can be baked, boiled, fried, or roasted. 4) Breadfruit has been an important crop in the Pacific for more than 3,000 years. 5)  They also provide construction materials, medicines, fabric, glue, insect repellent, animal feed, and more. 6)  There are two varieties of breadfruit, one is the seeded variety known as the breadnut, scientific name - Artocarpus camansi and the other one is the seedless one. 7)   The seeds are boiled, steamed, roasted over fire and eaten with salt. Sometimes they are made in the form of a puree. 8)   Breadfruits play a vital role in animal feeding.
Breadfruit health benefits
1)  Bread fruit provides high energy to those who eat it through its carbohydrate, mainly needed by the body for warmth and maintenance during daily activities. 2)  The fiber present in breadfruit helps to make the intestines and bowels work properly by clearing out the junk from the intestines. 3) The dried fruit has been made into flour which is much richer than wheat flour and other essential amino acids.
Breadfruit arrests major diseases
The reason why breadfruit is considered as cholestrol controller is because it is a rich source of fiber. The kind of fiber in breadfruit actually lowers the LDL levels (the “bad” cholesterol) while raising the levels of the HDL (the “good” cholesterol) which protect the arteries.
Breadfruit protects the body from heart diseases and heart attacks, Other than this the fiber present in breadfruit help those with diabetes to control the disease to some extent by reducing the absorption of glucose from the in taken food . Consuming breadfruit on a regular basis can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. Breadfruit leaf is believed to lower blood pressure and is also believed to reduce asthma. Toasted flowers of the breadfruit tree are also rubbed on the gums as a cure for tooth ache.
Notes on Breadfruit Depending upon the climate and the soil, breadfruit vary greatly in shape, size, and color. Most tend to be spherical-shaped, but some are almost oval. Leaves differ mainly in shape and fruits differ in shape, size, and also the ripening time. When storing breadfruit for a short period of time, avoid keeping it in a hot place, keep it in a cool and dark place. If you want the breadfruit to be stored overnight, then place the whole breadfruit under water. Look for: For immediate use, select slightly soft breadfruits. For use in a few days, buy firm fruits that do not yield to the squeeze test. Leave them at room temperature to ripen. Avoid : Avoid giving breadfruits in a large number to chicks it may cause delayed maturity. An extra tip: Breadfruit does not handle refrigeration well, hence it should be kept in a thick bag to prevent it from cold damage.
Uses of Breadfruit Breadfruit is mainly used for medicinal purposes. The flower of breadfruit can be used as a vegetable, immature fruit can also be cooked and also can be stored for future usage, matured fruit can be eaten raw or can be baked to make it more delicious. The seeds of the fruit are cooked immediately or it will be dried to use it for few days. The leaves of the fruit are used in ornamental making because of its good shade.