jackfruit, (Artocarpus heterophyllus), evergreen tree (family Moraceae) native to tropical Asia and widely grown throughout the wetland tropics for its large fruits and durable wood. The greenish unripe fruit is cooked as a vegetable, and the brown ripened fruit is eaten fresh for the sweetly acid but insipid pulp surrounding the seeds. The seeds are cooked and eaten locally. Jackfruit is considered a staple food crop in Bangladesh and other areas in South and Southeast Asia. Canned or processed jackfruit has gained popularity as a meat substitute in some places.
Fruit as a meat substitute? Yep, when it’s jackfruit. This massive tree fruit flips its flavor between sweet and savory, depending on how ripe it is.
So, is jackfruit good for you? Yes! Jackfruit benefits include being heart-healthy, fighting inflammation and promoting wound healing.
What is jackfruit?
The scientific name for jackfruit is Artocarpus heterophyllus. Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit grown in Asia, Africa and South America. It belongs to the same plant family as figs and mulberries.
Under its thick, bumpy green rind is a stringy yellow flesh that you can eat raw or cooked in a variety of dishes. (Its seeds are also edible.)
Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, weighing up to 40 pounds or more. Luckily, you don’t need to throw this massive fruit into your shopping cart. Some health food stores carry peeled and cut jackfruit portions in pouches or cans, ready to cook or eat.
But for some people, jackfruit isn’t safe to eat.
If you have a latex or birch pollen allergy, avoid jackfruit, Both of these allergies can have a cross-reaction with jackfruit.
Jackfruit also has a lot of potassium, which can be harmful to people who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney failure. People with these conditions can develop hyperkalemia if they eat high amounts of potassium. Hyperkalemia is a buildup of potassium in the blood that can cause weakness, paralysis and heart attack.
Is jackfruit healthy?
Jackfruit also contains vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that have health benefits. It’s a good source of:
• Vitamin C.
• Pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
• Niacin (vitamin B3).
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2).
• Folic acid (vitamin B9).
• Calcium.
• Magnesium.
• Potassium.
Phosphorus. Jackfruit Is Packed With Nutrients, it has an impressive nutrition profile.
It contains a moderate amount of calories, providing 155 in a one-cup (165-gram) serving. Approximately 92% of the calories come from carbs, while the rest come from protein and a small amount of fat.
Furthermore, jackfruit contains some of almost every vitamin and mineral that you need, as well as a decent amount of fiber.
One cup of sliced fruit provides the following nutrients:
• Calories: 155
• Carbs: 40 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Vitamin A: 10% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 18% of the RDI
• Riboflavin: 11% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 15% of the RDI
• Potassium: 14% of the RDI
• Copper: 15% of the RDI
• Manganese: 16% of the RDI
Nutritional information
The following table contains nutritional information for 150 g, which is equivalent to 1 cup of jackfruit tea:
Components 1 cup of jackfruit tea (150g)
Energy 143 calories
Carbohydrates 35 g
Protein 2.6 g
Fat 0.9 g
Fiber 2.3 g
Potassium 676 mg
Vitamin C 20.7 mg
Betacarotene 92.1 mcg
Luthein + zeaxanthin 237 mcg

What makes jackfruit unique from other fruits is its protein content. It provides more than 3 grams of protein per cup, compared to 0–1 grams in other similar types of fruit, such as apples and mangoes.
Jackfruit health benefits
In addition to being a great meat alternative (more on that below!) and full of essential vitamins, there’s a lot more this might fruit can do. Let’s talk about the benefits of jackfruit.
It can be part of a heart-healthy diet
Research shows that eating jackfruit can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease.
The combination of potassium, fiber and antioxidants can benefit heart health.
Potassium combats the negative effects of sodium on your blood pressure, while fiber contributes to lowering your cholesterol levels.
It may help fight inflammation
Jackfruit is high in vitamin C, which studies show can help prevent inflammation.
Research also shows that jackfruit also contains flavonoids and lignans, plant compounds that may help fight inflammation.
All these antioxidants found in jackfruit protect your cells from inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
It may help control blood sugar levels
While more research is needed to fully understand this potential benefit, it’s believed that jackfruit can help manage your blood sugar.
First, jackfruit has a low glycemic index (GI) score, which means eating it shouldn’t affect your blood glucose levels like other foods with higher scores.
Second, a study shows that its leaf may help lower fasting blood sugar levels. Another study shows that jackfruit’s bark may prevent fats and complex carbohydrates from breaking down into sugar. Both pieces of research could be beneficial for managing diabetes.
It May Benefit Blood Sugar Control
Jackfruit has several properties that may help with blood sugar management.
It has a fairly low glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating a food. This has been attributed to the fiber it provides, which slows digestion and helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
Diets that include lots of low-GI foods have been shown to be helpful for promoting blood sugar control.
Moreover, jackfruit provides some protein, which may help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after a meal.
In one study, adults who consumed jackfruit extract were found to have significantly improved blood sugar levels.
Additionally, a study of diabetic mice found that jackfruit leaf extract helped reduce fasting blood sugar levels and provided long-term blood sugar control.
These effects were attributed to jackfruit’s content of flavonoid antioxidants, which are known for their ability to promote balanced blood sugar levels.
Although these reported benefits are not supported by scientific evidence, including jackfruit in your diet is certainly worth a try if you want to improve your health.
It may promote wound healing
Research shows that extract from the jackfruit’s leaf may promote wound healing, while other studies show that its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties can contribute to healthy skin.
Ancient people used jackfruit as medicine, In folk medicine, where jackfruit is grown, people have used it for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties.”
It May Protect Against Disease
Jackfruit is high in a few powerful antioxidants that provide various health benefits, including a reduced risk of several diseases.