AYURVEDIC FOODS

Jackfruit Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Sweet and creamy, jackfruit is an ancient fruit native to tropical Asia. You'll find this large, spiky fruit growing in India, Bangladesh, in South and Southeast Asia. The national fruit of both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it has festivals held in its honor around harvest time and is often gifted between households. All while looking like a prickly, outsized melon!

One of our students describes how best to get to grips with this giant fruit, "I currently have 4 jackfruit plants growing at varied stages of development in my garden. I like how almost every part of the plant can be utilized for healing as well as culinary fun. My favorite way of eating jackfruit is when it is ripe, and it becomes sweet.

First of all, the exterior of a jackfruit is spiky, rough, green, and pokey. To dismantle the fruit, you cut through the harder sections, tear off the rind and work through the sticky latex to get to the fruit, which surrounds a hard, inner core of a seed. It's a messy, involved process but I enjoy it. The raw fruit is a bit reminiscent of an artichoke... not only in taste, but also in texture.

The seeds are also edible and can be boiled or roasted; they are also mild in taste with a texture that varies from creamy to thick and mealy.

Both the green jackfruit and the seeds serve as perfect foils for spices, sauces, and flavorings as they will easily take on the flavor of anything added to them. This chameleon-like character to the jackfruit and its meat-like texture makes it possible to mimic meat dishes; that is why, in Bengali, the jackfruit is called Tree Goat or Gaach Patha. There is a heaviness and stickiness to the fruit which is moistening and cooling."

If you are not from a culture that celebrates the jackfruit, it can look intimidating. It has a tough, textured green exterior and, inside, seems to have several compartments where the fruit is housed. But don't judge this book by its cover! Often described as a cross between a banana and a pineapple (though that doesn't do it full justice!) jackfruit is sweet, fruity and extremely versatile, with deep nutritional benefits.

From the Moraceae family of trees, and a cousin of the fig, the 'pulled' fruit has become trendy as a plant-based alternative to pulled pork. More traditionally, the ripe fruit shows up in stews, salads or desserts; simmered, saut?d or sweetened. Its strong, sweet taste brings substance and weight to a dish.

But it's not only the ripe fruit that is prized. In fact the seeds, inner pulp, flower, bark and even the unripe fruit have all been used both as food and for their healing properties.

Ayurvedic analysis

Jackfruit is both sweet and astringent in taste. As is often the case, the more ripe fruit is sweeter. Whereas if you choose less ripe fruit you will likely get more of the astringent effect on the body. It has dense, slimy and cold qualities and, overall, it is a cooling, nourishing ingredient.

While the description of the experience of jackfruit differs a little from tongue to tongue, some comparisons our students found were heart of palm, artichoke and any combination of mango, apple, pineapple and banana. Not exactly like anything else, jackfruit is definitely worth trying to experience for yourself!

A student described their impression of ripe jackfruit as "mainly sweet, rich and gooey. It is also fibrous and has an aromatic smell. I also feel it's a cooling fruit by nature because it grows very well in a tropical climate. People eat that in a hot climate to keep the body cool."

Jackfruit and the Digestion

Because of its dense, sweet, cooling nature, jackfruit can be heavy on digestion. If your digestive fire, agni, is strong, you can welcome its weighty nourishment. It can be especially good for those with fast, hot digestion, "Luckily the heaviness was brief. About 30 minutes after eating the Jackfruit I did not feel the weight of it in my stomach anymore. Then my appetite came back with a vengeance."

However, if the digestion is weak, the weight of jackfruit can prove a little too much. A sense of heaviness, gas and constipation might occur as the body does its best to process the density of the jackfruit, which was the case for this student, "Jackfruit felt heavy on my stomach and that caused some constipation. I had harder stool and difficulty eliminating."

The demands of this ingredient tend to make it most suitable for those with a strong Pitta or Pitta- Kapha digestion, for whom this will be a great nourishing, cooling option. Kapha individuals might find the astringency of the less ripe fruit great for encouraging their digestion. The sweet, ripe fruit, however, may be too similar to the Kapha-characteristics, leaving them feeling heavy or even sleepy. Vatas may do best with the ripe fruit, served cooked and spiced, for its moist nourishment.

The more ripe the fruit is, the more its sweet taste encourages a laxative effect. One student, who failed to remove the bitter pods from the unripe jackfruit, noted they had a laxative effect as well! As unripe jackfruit has much more astringency, it will help form the stool. One student notes, "My saliva was gone leaving my tongue rough and dry." This astringent taste, and jackfruit's cooling effect increased constipation for some students, "Jackfruit felt heavy on my stomach and that caused some constipation with jackfruit. I had harder stool and difficulty eliminating."

To support the digestion of this cool, heavy, dense fruit use warming digestives like black pepper, cumin or ginger. In excess, the sweet slimy qualities of jackfruit can increase bowel transit time and result in diarrhea, "I could hear gurgling as it moved through my body, and 12 hours after eating I had a stitch in my side each time, and my transit speed was faster."

Cool, Moist, Slimy

Like lychees, ripe jackfruit can have a slimy, dampness to it. Says one student, "As I chewed on the jack fruit I could feel the slimy skin on my tongue. It felt very slimy on my teeth as well". Pitta individuals, in particular, relish the cooler qualities of jackfruit as it pulls back heat and grounds the fire element, "I usually have a Pitta burning chest, but this dampened out that fire, and I could fully breathe". Another reports, "I had no itchiness".

But for Vata and Kapha, the story is altogether different! As students experimented with jackfruit during the deep winter months, their feedback highlights the fact that the qualities of jackfruit are not for everyone. In fact, it tended to increase mucus. "There was an uneasiness within my lungs, like I was about to start wheezing. I had to drink hot water with some trikatu."

For Vata individuals that are aggravated by cold, jackfruit increased anxiety and jumpiness. 9 out of 28 students felt more tension after eating jackfruit, while only 3 felt less tension! Again it is worth remembering that this experiment was undertaken during winter. It will be exciting to see if this statistic remains through in the summer heat.

For Kapha-dominant students, the cold, dampness of the fruit had far-reaching effects, increasing arthritis and any stagnation of the joints and muscles - "My upper right stress-knot got worse" ... "It made all of my joints more stiff and dramatically increased my body pain, specifically in the low back, and knees."

The heaviness and density of jackfruit also impacted the mental clarity for some students, "I felt a little foggy after having jackfruit. My temperature felt a little cooler and my energy levels were slightly down" ... "I kept falling into heavy sleep mid afternoon every day and woke up very groggy. I wanted to rest. I am a doer and I want to accomplish many things. However, almost immediately I was drawn to eating more sweets and wanting to sit and watch movies while knitting a scarf for a loved one. It felt like I swiftly moved into Kapha mode".

One student reports "There was an uneasiness within my lungs, like I was about to start wheezing. I had to drink hot water with some trikatu". While Vata-dominant people can always use nourishment, the energy demanded to digest jackfruit may be too much.

If you do opt for jackfruit on a cold or rainy day, make sure to warm it up by sprinkling some ginger or cayenne on top. The pepper and ginger's sharpness helps to balance the sweetness and gooeyness of the Jackfruit. Or, better yet, use it in a delicious traditional curry!

The Nourishing Ripe Fruit

The ripe, juicy jackfruit is a rich source of carbohydrates, beta-carotene and sucrose. It packs a mineral punch, with niacin, folic acid, potassium and magnesium. This makes it a good option for someone who needs a little strengthening or bolstering. In Ayurvedic terms, it can increase bala, or strength in the body. For this reason, it is seen as a remedy for tiredness and fatigue. However, this can only be helpful if the person can digest the jackfruit well!

A student found this effect in their experiment with jackfruit, "It was nourishing, and I felt an all over lightness in my body until it was time to digest it entirely; it started to feel heavy and way too much for my system to process. I quickly became aware that jackfruit is heavy for me, and I needed to take this in smaller doses."

The cooling, moist, sweet nature of jackfruit balances Pitta dosha, making it helpful in cases of inflammation in the body, such as gastritis or burning eyes. Jackfruit gives a "cooling feeling like I had drunk a glass of cool water". It is heavy, & cold, slimy, dense, and dull - perfect and refreshing for a summer day, but not so much in chilly winter months. As one student described it, " I usually have a Pitta burning chest, but this dampened out that fire, and I could fully breathe."

While being a general building ingredient, jackfruit has an affinity with the semen or shukra dhatu, and is seen to increase both its quality and quantity.

The Unripe Fruit

Unripe jackfruit has much more astringency and less sweetness. It is also more difficult to chew and takes longer to digest, as one of our students discovered, "Due to its high fiber content, after eating the jackfruit I felt less hungry. It filled me up quickly." Unripe jackfruit is rubbery, spongey, dense, and chewy. One student touches on this when they say, "the fruit itself became a gummy ball in my mouth as I chewed it, becoming dense, chewy and unpleasant."

Because of this dry, cold, difficulty it is seen to increase Vata dosha. Interestingly, it is also said to increase Kapha in its unripe form. If the digestive system cannot process this food, it can lead to ama, or metabolic waste, increasing in the body. This can show up as weight gain and congestion. One student recounts her experience with unripe jackfruit, "My tongue was expecting sweetness and juiciness but received bitterness and a feeling of dryness instead!"

If the digestion is robust, however, the unripe fruit has the ability to strongly relieve burning sensations in the body. This is due, in part, to astringency's ability to balance Pitta, reducing inflammation. For this reason, it's important to get to know whether ripe or unripe works best for your body, as their effects can be quite different.

Jackfruit, Latex and Wounds

The leaves, bark and fruit of the jackfruit contain latex. This is a sticky 'sap' produced by laticiferous cells. It can feel sticky to touch and can actually be used as an adhesive! This latex is bitter in nature and has anti-inflammatory properties.

In traditional medicines it is often used to treat, and calm the area around, wounds.
Latex: wound healing, reduces inflammation near wounds and abscesses. Ayurveda has also taken advantage of the latex in treatments of glandular swelling. It has been mixed with vinegar and applied externally over the area.

Jackfruit and the Heart

In Ayurveda, jackfruit is considered to be a heart tonic. Its cooling, sweet astringency pulls heat from the blood and the nourishment it provides feeds the circulation with vitamins and minerals to be carried to every cell.

From a Western perspective, jackfruit is antioxidant-rich which prevents or delays the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein into atherosclerosis, or the build-up of residues on the artery walls.

Jackfruit is also a vitamin and mineral powerhouse. It is high in both Vitamin C and Vitamin B-complexes, especially B-6 which is necessary for the creation of red blood cells.

Leaves, Flower and Bark

It is not just the fruit itself that holds benefits. In fact, the leaves, flowers and bark all have their own healing properties. The flower is bitter, heavy and has an affinity for cleansing the oral cavity. Added to tea, it can be a great grounding, Pitta-reducing ingredients to support tooth and gum health.

The thick bark of the jackfruit tree holds its own benefits. It is often used to treat skin diseases and diarrhea, or decocted with the leaves to treat poisoning due to insect bites.

The leaves of the jackfruit are traditionally used in treatment of Bell's Palsy, a temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the face. The jackfruit leaves are rubber with sesame oil and heated before being laid across the cheek.

Conclusion

Jackfruit has been having a 'moment' as an alternative to meat but its nourishing qualities should not be overlooked. For those with hearty digestion, like Pitta or Pitta-Kapha individuals, this can be a great ingredient to reduce inflammation and provide long-lasting energy. It carries significant amounts of nutrients, providing substance and weight to a dish.

It's cool, unctuous, sweet taste makes it ideal for a hot summer's day but is best avoided during the chill of winter and early spring.

However, jackfruit is difficult to digest. For those with slower Kapha digestion it should be well-spiced and taken as part of a balanced meal, to encourage digestion. For Vata-dominant people or those with weaker agni, digestive fire, jackfruit should be taken in smaller quantities or avoided until the digestion is strengthened.

About Jackfruit

Jackfruit is grown in subtropical lowlands. They have the largest fruit of any tree. Like fig trees, jackfruit are in the moraceae family. Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2019 study and survey of 28 students of Ayurveda who experimented with jackfruit. During the study, students ate jackfruit for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Buying & Preparation

In the northern tropics, fresh jackfruit is available in June. It is ready to eat when the skin has soft spots, and a fruity smell. The more yellow the fruit the sweeter the taste! Ripe jackfruit is also more tender and oily. Unripe jackfruits are more astringent and have a meaty texture. With jackfruit, timing is everything.

Public grocery stores in Florida sell ripe jackfruit frozen, or as at your local Asian store. But be aware, you won't be the only one on the hunt, as one student learned when she asked about fresh-cut jackfruit and was told it, "disappears as soon as it is put out!"

If fresh jackfruit is not available, or you don't have the patience to prep the whole fruit, our students recommend Trader's Joe's canned jackfruit. Trader Joes also sells a Jackfruit crabless crab cake.
The whole jackfruit is difficult to prep. It has a spiky outer coating that is difficult to penetrate and cut with a knife. Once cut, a sticky milky latex oozes out that will stain anything it touches. One student complained about the "stickiness on my fingers as I cut them up". To prevent this, oil your hands.

This latex can also impart a bitter flavor in your cooking. So, even with canned Jackfruit, take the little pods of the jackfruit to remove the bitter latex.

Cooking Jackfruit

Ripe jackfruit is eaten alone, or in a dessert or candy. As a dessert, Jackfruit puree can be folded into a custard, baked in a jackfruit cake, or as a flavoring in shaved ice. It makes for a delicious lassi.

Unripe jackfruit, after cooking, has a meaty texture and bland taste, reminiscent of artichoke hearts, or heart of palm. This makes it pair perfectly with sauces & spices, as it will take on the flavor of any ingredient it is cooked with.

For example, try it with jerk or barbecue sauce, or teriyaki. Serve it shredded just like a pulled pork sandwich, only vegetarian. Or in big hearty chunks as a filling in tacos. Or, rolled into enchiladas and topped with cheddar cheese. In Bangladesh, unripe jackfruit (enchor) is served in a curry with shrimp.

The seeds are also edible, often served roasted or boiled. They are creamy, milky and mealy, somewhat like a brazil nut. Another student described them as "slightly sweet and having a nutty flavor like a chestnut."

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Is Jackfruit Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Jackfruit' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.
SERVING SIZE: 1 clove
SPECIES: Artocarpus heterophyllus
FAMILY: Moraceae

PREPARATION: GRILLED, PUREE, SAUTEE, SMOOTHIE
EAT IN: SUMMER
FOR OCCASION: ON-THE-MEND

Metabolic Nature of Jackfruit

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

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DIFFICULT

ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.

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GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

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OILY

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.

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TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Moves Energy:
Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

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Affinity:
Energy Vitality

ENERGY-VITALITY

Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha.

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Family: Moraceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Jackfruit
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

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Relieves Burning

RELIEVES-BURNING

Herbs that soothe a burn or reduce an internal burning sensation, such as aloe vera.

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,
Constipative

CONSTIPATIVE

An herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation.

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,
High Fiber Laxative

HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE

A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr

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Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

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,
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

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Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

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,
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

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,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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,
Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

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Soothing

SOOTHING

Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region.

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,
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

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Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart (heart-tonic). Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues from arrhythmia, to cardiac insufficiency.

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,
Hemostatic

HEMOSTATIC

An herb that stops bleeding.

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,
Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

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,
Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

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,
Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

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Dries Mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

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Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

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,
Builds Semen

BUILDS-SEMEN

Herbs that increase the production of semen, often by rebuilding fluids in general.

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Muscle Tonic

MUSCLE-TONIC

Herbs that strengthen and tone muscle tissue. Helpful for people recovering from long term illness and debility, or after a sprain.

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Constituents:
Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

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, Insoluble Fiber,
Magnesium

MAGNESIUM

Helps muscles relax. Laxative.

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, Manganese,
Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

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, Potassium, Protein, Vitamin C

Foods with a Similar Nature to Jackfruit

Cassava Root / Yuca

Cassava Root / Yuca has these Actions in Common

Rebuilds-fluids, Satisfies-stomach, Anti-inflammatory, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Refrigerant, Soothing, Demulcent, Nutritive, Relieves-burning, High-fiber-laxative

LEARN MORE

Honey Dew

Honey Dew has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Refreshing, Tonic, Quenches-thirst, Refrigerant, High-fiber-laxative, Rebuilds-fluids, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Amaranth

Amaranth has these Actions in Common

Hemostatic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothing, High-fiber-laxative, Nutritive, Demulcent, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Popped Amaranth

Popped Amaranth has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach, Hemostatic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothing, High-fiber-laxative, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Almonds

Almonds has these Actions in Common

Builds-semen, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Tonic, High-fiber-laxative, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Refrigerant, High-fiber-laxative, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Sorghum Flour

Sorghum Flour has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Dries-mouth, Nutritive, Constipative, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common

Builds-semen, Quenches-thirst, Anti-inflammatory, High-fiber-laxative, Rebuilds-fluids, Aphrodisiac, Nutritive, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Milk

Milk has these Actions in Common

Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach, Nutritive, Soothing, Demulcent, Quenches-thirst, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Banana

Banana has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach, Muscle-tonic, Quenches-thirst, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Rebuild-electrolytes

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Jackfruit

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Quenches-thirst, Rebuilds-fluids, Anti-inflammatory, Refreshing, Aphrodisiac, Refrigerant, Builds-semen, Tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Wakes-you-up, Hemostatic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Relieves-burning, Aphrodisiac, Tonic, Builds-semen, Demulcent, Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Builds-semen, Tonic, Constipative, Demulcent, Hemostatic, Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Soothing

LEARN MORE

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent, Hemostatic, Nutritive, Quenches-thirst

LEARN MORE

Bala

Bala has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Builds-semen, Demulcent, Muscle-tonic, Nutritive, Tonic

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Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Soothing, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Builds-semen, Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Aphrodisiac, Builds-semen, Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory

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Shatavari Ghee

Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common

Relieves-burning, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Nutritive, Refrigerant

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Comfrey Root

Comfrey Root has these Actions in Common

Soothing, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Hemostatic, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

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Cornsilk

Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Hemostatic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Soothing

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Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Muscle-tonic, Nutritive, Soothing, Tonic

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Impact of Jackfruit

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.

TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION

How did Jackfruit affect your temperature?

3
7
9
6
1
Much colderSlightly colderSameSlightly warmerMuch warmer
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your sweat quantity?

0
3
19
4
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the color of your tongue body?

4
7
0
15
PalerRedderBluerNo Change
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your appetite/hunger?

4
9
7
5
1
Much less hungrySlightly less hungrySameSlightly hungrierMuch hungrier
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your digestion speed?

1
9
7
9
0
Much fasterSlightly fasterSameSlightly slowerMuch slower
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

TOXINS

How did Jackfruit affect the amount of gas & bloating?

0
4
10
10
2
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your stool smell?

0
3
16
6
1
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

Tongue: How did Jackfruit affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

0
10
11
5
0
Much smallerSlightly lessSameSlightly larger coatingMuch larger
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the color of your tongue coating?

2
0
0
4
20
YellowerBrownerGrayerWhiterNo Change
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your urine smell?

0
3
17
6
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

0
4
17
5
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMany more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your sweat smell?

1
0
19
6
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

HYDRATION

How did Jackfruit affect your urine frequency/quantity?

1
2
18
5
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the cracks on your tongue?

1
1
17
7
0
Larger/longer/more cracksSlightly moreSameSlightly less/smaller/shorterMuch less
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

NERVOUS-SYSTEM

How did Jackfruit affect your energy levels?

2
6
13
4
1
Much less energySlightly lessSameSlightly more energyMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your muscle tension?

0
3
16
6
1
Much less tensionSlightly lessSameSlightly more tensionMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your anxiety?

0
5
17
4
0
Much less anxietySlightly lessSameSlightly more anxietyMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the stillness of your tongue?

3
20
3
More stillNo ChangeMore Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

DIGESTION

How did Jackfruit affect the amount of gas & bloating?

0
4
10
10
2
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your appetite/hunger?

4
9
7
5
1
Much less hungrySlightly less hungrySameSlightly hungrierMuch hungrier
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your digestion speed?

1
9
7
9
0
Much fasterSlightly fasterSameSlightly slowerMuch slower
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

TONGUE

How did Jackfruit affect the cracks on your tongue?

1
1
17
7
0
Larger/longer/more cracksSlightly moreSameSlightly less/smaller/shorterMuch less
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

Tongue: How did Jackfruit affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

0
10
11
5
0
Much smallerSlightly lessSameSlightly larger coatingMuch larger
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the color of your tongue body?

4
7
0
15
PalerRedderBluerNo Change
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the stillness of your tongue?

3
20
3
More stillNo ChangeMore Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the color of your tongue coating?

2
0
0
4
20
YellowerBrownerGrayerWhiterNo Change
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

STOOL

How did Jackfruit affect your stool smell?

0
3
16
6
1
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your stool consistency?

2
6
10
7
1
Much softerSlightly softerSameSlightly harderMuch harder
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your stool frequency/quantity?

4
6
7
7
2
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your stool color?

2
0
0
3
21
More yellowMore grayMore greenMore orangeSame
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your stool lightness?

1
5
13
6
1
Much lighterSlightly lighterSameSlightly darkerMuch darker
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

URINE

How did Jackfruit affect your urine frequency/quantity?

1
2
18
5
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

0
4
17
5
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMany more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your urine clarity?

1
18
7
More cloudySameMore clear
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your urine smell?

0
3
17
6
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your urine lightness?

0
3
16
7
0
Much lighterSlightly lighterSameSlightly DarkerMuch Darker
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

SWEAT

How did Jackfruit affect your sweat smell?

1
0
19
6
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your sweat quantity?

0
3
19
4
0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

SYSTEMIC

How did Jackfruit affect your anxiety?

0
5
17
4
0
Much less anxietySlightly lessSameSlightly more anxietyMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your temperature?

3
7
9
6
1
Much colderSlightly colderSameSlightly warmerMuch warmer
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your energy levels?

2
6
13
4
1
Much less energySlightly lessSameSlightly more energyMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)

How did Jackfruit affect your muscle tension?

0
3
16
6
1
Much less tensionSlightly lessSameSlightly more tensionMuch more
Total Responses: 26 Study ID:22 (2020-12-06 - 2021-01-24)


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Jackfruit may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.

Clinical Tools & Resources

Give smart recommendations to your clients and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.
About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

Read more

Comments & Impressions of 'Jackfruit'

Do you like 'jackfruit'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'jackfruit'?

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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