Durian: Benefits, Effects and Contraindications - How Much to Eat at One Time, and What Not to Eat It With

Speaking of durian, it is a tropical fruit that people either love or hate. Those who like it love its fragrance, while those who dislike it are annoyed by its smell. It can be said to be two extremes. Durian has long been called the “king of fruits” by people. So what are durian's benefits, effects and contraindications? How much is suitable to eat at one time? What should it not be eaten with?

1. Introduction to Durian

Durian, also written as durian, is also known as civet fruit. It is a plant of the genus Durio in the mallow family, and its place of origin is generally considered to be tropical countries, for example, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It is currently cultivated in Thailand, Vietnam, China and elsewhere. In Southeast Asia, durian is known as the “king of fruits.” What makes durian different is its unique odor and the thorns on its outer shell. The durian fruit can grow to 30 cm (12 inches) long and 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter. The shape of durian is mostly oblong or round, and its color is green with brown. The flesh is pale yellow, sticky and juicy, soft and sweet, with a texture like ice cream when eaten.

2. Durian's Benefits and Effects

Durian is rich in nutrients. Every 100 g of durian contains 147 calories, 1.47 g of protein, 5.33 g of fat and many trace elements, including potassium, magnesium, calcium and selenium. Experts have analyzed that durian specifically has the following 4 major benefits and effects:

1. Durian has the effect of moistening the intestines, promoting bowel movements and detoxifying: durian is rich in dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, absorb harmful substances on the intestinal wall and speed up the discharge of waste, thereby having the effect of moistening the intestines and detoxifying. However, when relieving constipation, it is effective only if you drink plenty of water while eating.

2. Durian has the effect of relieving menstrual pain: durian is sweet in taste and hot in nature. After eating it, it can promote blood circulation and relieve menstrual pain, and for people with a cold constitution it can also relieve coldness in the abdomen.

3. Durian has the effect of nourishing the body: durian flesh has high nutritional value and contains protein, trace elements, vitamins and other substances. Regular consumption can enhance people's immunity and nourish the body. In addition, making soup with durian seeds and the inner rind also has a certain nourishing effect. In Thailand, durian is a tonic for sick people and postpartum women to build up their bodies.

4. Durian has an anti-inflammatory effect: the organosulfur compounds contained in durian can also have a certain anti-inflammatory effect on the human body.

In addition, durian is rich in folate. Folate is in high demand for women preparing for pregnancy and women who are already pregnant, so an appropriate amount of durian can be eaten.

3. Dietary Contraindications for Durian

1. Durian is hot in nature, so eating too much can easily cause internal heat to rise and produce excess internal heat;

2. Durian is relatively high in fat, so people who are overweight or want to lose weight should eat it in moderation;

3. Durian flesh is sticky, and eating too much can easily accumulate in the intestines, so elderly people and children with relatively weak digestive capacity should eat it in moderation;

4. Durian is very high in sugar and carbohydrates, so people who want to control blood sugar and patients with high blood lipids should also eat it in moderation;

5. If durian is found to have an alcoholic smell, it means it has spoiled and cannot be eaten. This is generally because it has been stored too long, and it is best not to eat it. This is also why some people create the false impression of drunk driving after eating durian.

4. How Much Durian Is Suitable to Eat at One Time?

According to the recommended intake in China's Balanced Diet Pagoda for Residents, the daily intake of fruit is suitable at 200-400 g. Therefore, it is recommended that durian not exceed about 400 g each time. For durian, the fat content is relatively high, so after eating durian, the intake of other high-energy foods should be appropriately reduced to help maintain a balance of energy intake.

5. What Can Durian Not Be Eaten With?

The internet often spreads claims that eating durian with certain foods causes poisoning! Many of these claims are exaggerated and have no scientific basis. As long as durian is eaten in moderation, there is no problem.

Rumor refutation 1: Durian cannot be eaten with milk, or it will cause caffeine poisoning

Neither milk nor durian contains caffeine, so how could eating them together cause caffeine poisoning? Therefore, durian can be eaten with milk.

Rumor refutation 2: Eating durian with baijiu is equivalent to arsenic

According to experts, as long as there are no problems such as food issues or an individual's allergy to a certain food, the moderate intake and combination of any foods will not produce so-called poisoning or death in the human body. In daily life, no cases have been found of eating durian and drinking alcohol causing poisoning and death. If it is alcohol poisoning, it may be because too much alcohol was drunk.

Rumor refutation 3: Eating durian with cola causes caffeine poisoning

The caffeine content in cola is not considered high. After drinking it, a large amount of carbon dioxide is released, and there is no substance in durian that would hinder the metabolism of caffeine, so eating the two together will not produce a toxic reaction.

Conclusion: Through the introduction in this article, everyone has also learned about some of durian's benefits and effects. However, although durian is delicious and nutritious, it should still be eaten in moderation, because durian contains a lot of sugar and is high in fat, and can easily cause reactions such as indigestion.