This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of durian (Durio)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What is the history of durian? where did durian originate from? What is the benefits of eating durian? Can I eat durian everyday? Why is durian so bad? Is durian high in cholesterol?
The origin of the durian is thought to be in the region of Borneo and Sumatra, with wild trees in the Malay peninsula, and orchards commonly cultivated in a wide region from India to New Guinea. Four hundred years ago, it was traded across present-day Myanmar, and was actively cultivated especially in Thailand and South Vietnam. The earliest known European reference to the durian is the record of Niccolò de' Conti, who travelled to Southeast Asia in the 15th century. Translated from the Latin in which Poggio Bracciolini recorded de Conti's travels: "They [people of Sumatra] have a green fruit which they call durian, as big as a watermelon. Inside there are five things like elongated oranges, and resembling thick butter, with a combination of flavours." The Portuguese physician Garcia de Orta described durians in Colóquios dos simples e drogas da India published in 1563. In 1741, Herbarium Amboinense by the German botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius was published, providing the most detailed and accurate account of durians for over a century. The genus Durio has a complex taxonomy that has seen the subtraction and addition of many species since it was created by Rumphius. During the early stages of its taxonomical study, there was some confusion between durian and the soursop (Annona muricata), for both of these species had thorny green fruit. The Malay name for the soursop is durian Belanda, meaning Dutch durian.[68] In the 18th century, Johann Anton Weinmann considered the durian to belong to Castaneae as its fruit was similar to the horse chestnut. Durio zibethinus. Chromolithograph by Hoola Van Nooten, circa 1863. D. zibethinus was introduced into Ceylon by the Portuguese in the 16th century and was reintroduced many times later. It has been planted in the Americas but confined to botanical gardens. The first seedlings were sent from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to Auguste Saint-Arroman of Dominica in 1884. First used around 1580, the name "durian" is derived from the Malay language word dûrî (meaning 'thorn'), a reference to the numerous prickly thorns of the rind, together with the noun-building suffix -an. The species name 'zibethinus' derives from the name of the civet (Viverra zibetha), known for its odour.
- The dietary fiber in durian helps in easing bowel movement
- The organosulfur in durians may regulate the inflammatory enzymes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
- The manganese in durian may help in the maintenance of blood sugar levels
- Durian is a good source of potassium
- Durian contains nutrient which is a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress caused by free radicals (the lower the oxidative stress levels, the slower the aging process)
- Durians are said to possess antioxidant properties that may help reduce cancer risk
- May help treat sexual dysfunction
- Helps maintain bone health due to the presence of potassium and magnesium
- May treat anemia as it is a rich source of folate
- Eating durian fruit may treat insomnia
- Excess intake of durians in a short period may spike blood sugar levels
- Eating durian along with alcohol is thought to lead to death
- May cause problems during pregnancy