Breadfruit Health Benefits:
Scientifically known as Artocarpus camansi, breadfruit is a highly sought after fruit due to its medicinal properties. Some of its health benefits
include:
1. Cardiovascular health:
Breadfruit is an excellent source of potassium. This heart-friendly nutrient reduces blood pressure in the body and regulates the heart rate by minimizing the effects of sodium. It conducts electrical charges that drive muscular contraction in the skeletal system including the heart.
Dietary fiber helps reduce cholesterol by preventing its absorption in the gut. It lowers bad cholesterol (LDL), while elevating good cholesterol (HDL) in the body. It decreases the triglyceride levels, which is one of the main causes of heart attacks.
2. Resistance against infections:
Breadfruit contains good amounts of antioxidants, which help the body to develop resistance against infectious agents. It also scavenges harmful free radicals from the body that lead to aging and other age-related diseases.
Effects Precautions Interactions Dosing
Overview
Breadfruit is a tree. Breadfruit roots, leaves, and latex are used to make medicine.
Breadfruit root and leaves are taken by mouth for arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, fever, gout, high blood pressure, liver disease, and toothaches. Breadfruit latex is taken by mouth for diarrhea and stomach pain.
Breadfruit root and leaves are applied to the skin for boils, burns, ear infections, herpes, skin infections, sore or tired eyes, and thrush. Breadfruit latex is applied to the skin for broken bones, sprains, and sciatica.
The seeds and fruit of breadfruit are eaten as foods.
How does it work?
Breadfruit might lower blood pressure by decreasing heart rate and weakening the force of heart muscle contractions.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough?
SEE SLIDESHOW
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for…
Arthritis.
Asthma.
Back pain.
Diabetes.
Diarrhea.
Fever.
Gout.
High blood pressure.
Leg weakness and pain (sciatica).
Liver disease.
Sprains.
Stomach pain.
Toothache.
Wound healing.
Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of breadfruit for these uses.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Side Effects
There isn’t enough information available to know if breadfruit is safe as a medicine or what the side effects might be.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________.
SEE ANSWER
Special Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of breadfruit as a medicine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: There is concern that breadfruit might increase the risk of bleeding. Don’t use breadfruit as a medicine if you have a bleeding disorder.
Allergies: Breadfruit might cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to bananas or Benjamin fig.
Hypotension: Breadfruit might lower blood pressure. This might cause blood pressure to drop too low in people who already have low blood pressure.
Interactions
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Breadfruit might decrease blood pressure. Taking breadfruit along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Breadfruit might slow blood clotting. Taking breadfruit along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of breadfruit depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for breadfruit.
Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
(rxlist.com)