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. No wonder petai is the number one
fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai
can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial
number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily
diet.
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.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome):
Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose
levels, which can affect your mood.
Anaemia:
High in iron, 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 beat blood pressure. So much so, the
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.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action,
helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover 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
leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000
hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be
in high-pressure jobs. 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 hoiland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool
temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer,
tryptophan.
Smoking:
Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they
contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends
oxygen to the brain and regulates your 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 cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as
40%".
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a
wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. 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 four times the protein, twice thecarbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich inpotassium and is one of the best value foods around.
So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Petai a day keeps the doctor away".
By;
Dr.Aminuddin AHK
Dept.of Physiology
Medical faculty of UKM Kuala Lumpur
