After reading this article, you'll learn to value the health benefits of Petai or Parkia speciosa.
Petai or Parkia speciosa contains 3 natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose. Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. This explains why petai is considered as the number one fruit among the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. Petai should be added to our daily diet for the well being of our health as it can help overcome many illnesses and disorder conditions.Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Premenstrual Syndrome ( PMS ):
No need to take pills. Just add petai to your diet. The vitamin B6 it contains will help regulates blood glucose levels, which are affecting your mood.
Anaemia:
Very rich in iron, so petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to regulate abnormal blood pressure. It's cited that the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power :
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Bananas also contain lot of potassium, so eat more banana. Just look at those monkeys, are they not active, alert, smart and cunning too!!
Constipation:
The high in fiber content in petai can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome constipation problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways to overcome hangovers is to make a petai milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness :
Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites :
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation..
Nerves:
Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight:
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found that pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Through medical observations on 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found that high-pressure jobs can lead to. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control :
Many other cultures see petai as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Holland , it has been cited that pregnant women would eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affecti ve Disorder (SAD):
Petai contain the natural mood enhancer that is known as tryptopha, which can help SAD sufferers.
Smoking:
Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The seed contains B6, B12 and together with the presence of potassium and magnesium, will help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat by sending oxygen to the brain thereby regulating the body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.
Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine" eating petai as part of a regular diet can help reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%".
Warts:
A natural alternatives method to kill off a wart is by taking of petai and place it on the wart; and carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape.
So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has 4 times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
The only setback is that there will be a strong and not so pleasant odour in our urine after taking petai.
