Ackee, an amazing, unknown fruit

The Ackee fruit is a fruit that is abundant in Jamaica, being a good source of vitamins and minerals.The word ackee originated from the Twi language. The ackee tree is a tropical evergreen tree that can grow as tall as 40 feet. Its leaves are broad and pinnate; its approximately 10-cm wide, 100-g fruit may be colored anywhere from straw to bright red. The fruit splits open while still on the tree to reveal three glassy black seeds surrounded by a thick, oily, yellow aril. The fruit should be allowed to open and ripen naturally on the tree. Locals know that you should not eat ackee fruits directly from the tree and you should wait until the fruit will fall, which is the sign that is ripe and does not represent a health hazard.Inside the fruit, we can find three large, black seeds and the actual flesh that can be eaten. The fruit flesh is yellow, creamy and has a spongy texture when ripe.When Ackee fruits are not ripe, you should stay away from it as the fruit is poisonous. Its seeds contain hypoglicin, a toxin that can cause severe hypoglycemia.The Ackee fruit is rich in fatty acids, protein, zinc and vitamin A.Fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet, our body needing it since it helps to transport oxygen through the blood to all parts of the body and helps to develop and strengthen tissues and therefore organs.Zinc is an essential element that provides many therapeutic benefits, often overlooked. Vitamin A depends on the action of zinc to conduct its normal activities. Zinc regulates levels of vitamin A and the amount in which it is released by the liver. This mineral also influences growth and development in other ways.Both pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are influenced by the action of zinc and are important hormones for normal functioning of the testicles and spermatogenesis. Zinc helps maintaining a good prostate health and prevents benign hypertrophies of the prostate.Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from two classes of compounds: natural preformed vitamin A (retinol and its compounds) and precursors of vitamin A (beta-carotene and related compounds).Vitamin A is a key nutrient for maintaining eye health and prevents their inflammation, reducing the risk of cataracts. It is also especially important for having a good night eyesight.At the same time, vitamin A helps increase the bodys immunity, is a powerful antioxidant, prevents skin dryness, keeps skin bright without wrinkles and other signs of aging and is an important factor for maintaining healthy hair, teeth and gums.Consumers of the unripe fruit sometimes suffer from Jamaican vomiting sickness syndrome (JVS) allegedly caused by the unusual amino acid components, hypoglycin A and B. In this regard it is recognised that the nutritional status of the consumer is important, since diagnosed patients generally show manifestations of chronic malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. Although JVS has resulted in some fatalities in the past with symptoms including vomiting and severe hypoglcaemia, nowadays such incidences are rare with the increased awareness of the necessity for consuming only ripe, opened ackees.Related