Gac fruit is a native fruit of Southeast Asia. Gac grows on a monoecious vine that bears fruit only once a year. The fruit is usually round with many small thorns like concave and convex areas covering the entire outer layer of skin. So what are the benefits of gac fruit? Read the following article to better understand the health benefits of gac fruit.
1. Gac Fruit and its Health Benefits
Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), also known as baby jackfruit, bitter gourd, sweet gourd, or Cochinchin Gourd, is a bright orange spiny fruit found mainly in Southeast Asia. It is harvested for only two months each year (December and January) and is commonly used on special occasions in Vietnam as well as in traditional Chinese medicines.
Gac fruit has very little taste (some describe it as tasting a bit like avocado and many agree) - not sweet with a very mild flavor and a mushy texture. The outer skin of the gac fruit is inedible so we should be careful to only eat the soft pulp that surrounds the large seeds inside the fruit. The seeds are also edible and are used in traditional Chinese medicines.
Gac fruit has very little taste (some describe it as tasting a bit like avocado and many agree) - not sweet with a very mild flavor and a mushy texture. The outer skin of the gac fruit is inedible so we should be careful to only eat the soft pulp that surrounds the large seeds inside the fruit. The seeds are also edible and are used in traditional Chinese medicines.
Like most orange/red fruits and vegetables, gac is high in beta-carotene and lycopene. And most of the claimed health benefits of gac fruit come from its high beta-carotene and lycopene content. In fact, per gram, gac has more beta-carotene than carrots or sweet potatoes (which are already quite high in them).
The gac pulp is often mixed with sticky rice to make a Vietnamese dish called xoi gac, which sounds like a natural golden rice that can help prevent vitamin A deficiency (beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body). Gac is also high in lycopene, a carotenoid commonly found in tomatoes that has been linked to a variety of health benefits including a reduced risk of stroke.
And to make gac even healthier, a 2005 study found that gac fruit contains a protein that inhibits tumor growth in mice.
Gac is also a sugar-free food that is very beneficial for health. Because it is not sweet, gac juice is often mixed with other fruit juices and sugar to make it taste better. So, be aware of any non-gac by-products when buying foods/supplements that contain gac fruit.
2. Important health benefits of gac fruit for the body
Gac fruit contains high levels of vitamin C (40 times more than oranges), 70 times more lycopene than tomatoes, 10 times more beta carotene than carrots, and 40 times more zeaxanthin than corn.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are both unique molecules that help maintain and improve our vision. They are also beneficial in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. According to recent studies, these molecules have been shown to prevent skin cancer as well as other types of cancer. Zeaxanthin and beta carotene combined have been shown to be a natural way to help combat the negative effects of UV rays on people who are forced to work in the sun for long periods of time.
In addition, gac also contains fiber, healthy carbohydrates, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.
2.1. Gac Fruit Fights Cancer
According to recent studies, gac fruit contains nutrients that have been shown to prevent cancer and even slow the growth of cancer cells. It has also recently been discovered that this fruit contains a specific protein that inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, gac has been jokingly called by many people as the “Fruit of Heaven”, because of its many ways of fighting cancer.
The nutrients in gac fruit have the ability to help the entire body thrive, prevent infections, and avoid disease. But that's not all - it can even help prevent certain types of cancer.
In studies, gac extract has been shown to constrict blood vessels that feed tumors, repelling cancer and killing it. However, it's a bit more complicated: The high levels of Lycopene and Lutein in gac can help prevent tumors from growing in the colon, breast, and skin. Polyphenols also do their job, preventing normal cells from being damaged and turning into tumors, while attacking cancer cells and forcing them to self-destruct.
2.2. Gac fruit helps treat anemia
Due to the rich iron content found in this fruit, as well as vitamin C and folic acid, gac fruit has the ability to fight anemia. It is recommended to find out the cause of anemia and depending on the condition, determine whether to start consuming this fruit or not.
2.3. Gac fruit helps reduce cholesterol levels
This fruit is recommended for people with high cholesterol levels as well as those with a history of high cholesterol in their family. If consumed weekly, this fruit will reduce the “unwanted” high cholesterol levels from our body.
2.4. Gac fruit helps prevent cardiovascular diseases
Because this fruit is rich in antioxidants, it prevents cardiovascular diseases. If we consume this fruit and live an active lifestyle, our cardiovascular health will be guaranteed. Cardiovascular diseases are a problem for many people, so this fruit plays an important role in maintaining your health.
The benefits of gac carotenoids do not stop at the eyes, but they also help to improve the health of the whole body. Lycopene and other carotenoids are associated with a reduced risk of stroke and heart disease. It contains a large amount of Omega 3 and 6 oils that have been shown to be a nutrient that prevents cardiovascular diseases and repairs DNA damage.
Gac is also rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, special chemicals found in tea, cocoa, olive oil and red wine that are popular in the media for helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes, as well as preventing rheumatoid arthritis and vision loss. Unlike tea, cocoa and wine, gac is caffeine-free, low in sugar and alcohol-free - a perfect choice for our health.
2.5. Gac fruit improves eyesight
This fruit is mainly known for its benefits for eyesight. The vitamins, beta carotene and other substances that this fruit contains, help improve human eyesight as well as prevent cataracts and other vision problems.
Carotenoids are important antioxidants that protect cells from harmful light that causes our eyes and skin to age and degenerate. In the eye, they shield both the cornea, where light enters the eye, and the retina, the part that is essential for “receiving” and “seeing” light. Eating a diet rich in carotenoids, especially lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and lutein, may help prevent vision loss, reduce dry eyes, and even improve night vision. They also help the immune system function properly, fight disease, and prevent inflammation.
2.6. Gac fruit fights depression
With its high content of selenium, minerals, and vitamins, gac fruit has the ability to support the health of the nervous system, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety, stress, and even depression.
2.7. Gac fruit slows down the aging process of the body
In addition to the health benefits of this fruit, it also prevents aging and maintains our youthful appearance. Gac has the ability to slow down the aging process because it stimulates cell activity and reduces stress. The vitamins and minerals that this fruit contains, help maintain the youthful appearance of the skin. It stimulates the rebuilding of collagen structures under the skin, as well as prevents the appearance of wrinkles. This ability is due to the presence of gac:
Carotenoids and vitamins A, E and C can help the body synthesize collagen, a strengthening protein in the skin that keeps the skin firm and youthful, without breaking down over time.
Proteins, as well as healthy fats and carbohydrates, will help keep the skin clear, youthful and disease-free.
Polyunsaturated fats are important for skin health and they also help the body use carotenoids better - a double benefit, especially when you know that carotenoids can help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Minerals such as zinc and selenium are also found in gac, which help these nutrients work better.
Gac is also low in sugar, which has been linked to acne and skin aging.
Gac has long been considered a “Heavenly Fruit” due to the amazing benefits it can bring to our health. With 70 times more lycopene than tomatoes, 10 times more beta-carotene and 40 times more zeaxanthin than corn, gac has a wide range of amazing health benefits for the whole body – including the mind, eyes, skin and heart. Many other so-called healthy fruits and vegetables lose their health benefits when juiced, either because the juice has natural sugars (like orange juice), or because sugar needs to be added to make it taste good (like cranberry juice). On the other hand, gac retains all its health benefits when juiced because of its low natural sugar content and mild, refreshing flavor.
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