Blighia sapida, or most commonly known as Ackee, is a member of soapberry family. It's the close relative of longan and lychee. Ackee is native to Guyana and West Africa but was brought to Jamaica sometime during the 18th century. It has grown on the Caribbean island ever since and is actually Jamaica's national fruit. Today, it is a popular ingredient in many Caribbean dishes and is an integral ingredient in the country's national dish_ ackee and saltfish. It is pear shape and is green in color which turns into yellow_ orange when completely ripe. When ripe it splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, each enclosed by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh. The only part of the fruit that is edible is the fleshy, yellow portions attached to each seed.
Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica and is enjoyed as a prepared breakfast lunch or dinner. Ackee is a perennial evergreen tree growing up to 10_12m it has a short trunk of 1.8m. The tree usually bears it fruit twice in a year and harvested once between January and March and again between June and August. Ackee is also a great source of dietary fiber that helps lower your weight, improve the functioning of your digestive system and helps keep the blood sugar levels under control. The Ackee leaves can also consume for various ailments. The pods can also be used to make natural soaps, it sure can be used as a mouthwash, combine the tea with salt and used for pyorrhea and other gum ailments.
1. Boots Your Immunity
The most common vitamin found in fruits and vegetable is vitamin C and with a rich ascorbic acid, content ackee helps boots our immune system by promoting the development of white blood cells and contributing some of its antioxidant powers to preventing chronic diseases and cellular mutation. Vitamin C is an integral part of collagen, which is required by the body to make muscles, blood vessels, band tissues.
2. Prevent Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps can be caused by electrolyte imbalance and dehydration, especially after workouts. Sodium and potassium contained in ackee it plays an important role in electrolyte balance, sodium is needed for muscle relaxation. Consuming ackee can help in restoring electrolyte balance.
3. Controls Hypertension
If you suffer from hypertension you should increase your intake of potassium. Ackee contains 270mg of potassium ( 5,74% of daily value), so it is good to add ackee in your diet. High potassium level in the blood will dilate blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood through the body. When the hearth doesn't need extra pressure to pump blood, the arterial blood pressure will be lower. Chronic hypertension is known to make danger to the blood vessel. It is one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
4. Aids in Digestion
The rich fiber content of ackee makes it an ideal digestion aid, given that dietary fiber helps bulk up the stool, as well as eliminate constipation, by inducing peristaltic motion in the gut. This helps move food along, preventing bloating, cramping, constipation, and other inflammation of the colon, which can lead to colorectal cancer. Dietary fiber also helps lower cholesterol and boots heart health.
5. Improves Heart Health
Ackee has a good effect for hypertension, but ackee also contains unsaturated fatty acid. Unsaturated fatty acid is needed by our body cells to function well. Unsaturated fatty acid also lowers cholesterol level, thus protect us from atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to various problems such as heart attacks, coronary heart disease, and stroke. It also boasts an impressive range of beneficial fatty acids, including stearic, linoleic, and palmitic acids. Those particular acids are unsaturated fats, which is the type of fat that you want to improve your heart health and lower dangerous cholesterol levels. By eliminating most unhealthy saturated fat from your diet.
6. Control Diabetes
Ackee is a good source of various nutrients that help control the blood sugar levels. It is a perfect choice of food for people suffering from diabetes. The simple sugars and high fiber content in the fruit help prevent unnecessarily spikes in the blood glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity. The ackee is used in various places, as a natural remedy for the treatment of diabetes.
7. Helps Weight loss
Ackee is a low calorie with a high fiber content. The fiber in the ackee gives you the feeling of fullness, which lasts for quite a long time. This prevents you from frequent snacking and overeating, thus playing a key role in helping you maintain a healthy weight. Ackee is a perfect addition to any weight loss diet.
8. Prevents Anemia
Seem in many people is a common type of anemia is the iron deficiency anemia, which is characterized by symptoms such as dizziness weakness, headache, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Without enough iron, your body will not be able to produce enough hemoglobin, a substance present in the red blood cells that helps these cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The high iron content in the ackee makes it a perfect remedy for preventing iron deficiency anemia.
9. Increases Bone Strength
Calcium and phosphorus are two important minerals associated with healthy and stronger bones. There are a number of essential minerals found in ackee, including calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, all of which contribute to healthier bones and help prevent bone loss and demineralization. Having a consistently high intake of minerals can slow, stop or reverse the effects of osteoporosis as we age, leaving us stronger.
10. Ackee leaves Tea
Ackee leaves are used as medicinal herbs. It is a natural remedy and alternative medicine for some ailments. It is also used for making tea, this tea is often consumed for asthma, congestion, cold, flu, mucus. When mixed with salt the tea is also useful as a mouthwash for the oral disease, pyorrhoea, and gum problems. By adding lemon or lime juice to the tea. Ackee leaves tea may also be used for stomach conditions. The bark can also be used for stomach conditions as well.
Caution
Unripe ackee is poisonous and contains toxins such as hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B. Seeds and red membrane must always be removed before cooking as seeds are always poisonous. Before using it in any preparation, ackee must be boiled very well to ward off the toxins in the water and the water then must be carefully disposed of. Do not boil any other vegetable or food with ackee. Ripening of ackee should be confirmed before consumption.
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