Lanzones or Langsat are trees from the Mahogany family, scientifically known as Lansium parasiticum. It bears a small, tangy, sour, and sweet combination of edible fruits that are similar to potatoes on outer appearance, and inside they have white flesh containing inedible, bitter seeds. Lanzones are most commonly found in Southeast Asian regions and cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Sumatra. Its larger variety is called Duku. Because of its sweet and sour taste, some people find it similar to pomelo. Its flesh is juicy and translucent, refreshing when eaten and among the exotic fruits. Only freshly plucked lanzones berry tastes sweet and sour, but a few days after it’s been picked, it loses its tastes and becomes bland.
Below are the benefits of Lanzones fruit:
- A hundred grams (100gms) of the fresh edible portion of lanzones fruit carries 57 calories. It also contains no saturated fats or cholesterol but consists of good amounts of dietary fiber (0.8 g per 100 g) that is good for digestion, cholesterol control, and body weight.
- Fresh arils contain only fewer polyphenols antioxidants. However, its skin and seeds contain copious polyphenols. The quantitative investigation appeared that lanzones peel had the highest total flavonoids (213.45 mg quercetin/g dried fabric) among tropical fruits.
- Lanzones fruit is very juicy and refreshing. It’s also sweet because of its simple sugars fructose and sucrose that boost energy and help revitalize through electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals.
- Feeling numb? Lanzones fruit is good for you. It is a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folates. These vitamins are essential considering that they feature by acting as co-factors to assist the body to metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
- Further, it also carries small amounts of minerals like calcium (19 mg), phosphorus (31 mg), and iron (0.9 mg). Being a juicy tropical fruit, it holds suitable quantities of potassium, an essential component of cell and body fluids that help manage and control heart rate and blood pressure; thus, it helps protect you from high blood pressure and stroke.
- Lanzones seeds are proven anti-malarial. Skin and leaves of lanzones fruit shown to possess anti-pathogenic nature against Plasmodium falciparum, malaria –causing parasite. They contain such chemical compounds that interrupt the life cycle of the pathogen that hinder their growth and kill them.
- Cures fever and inflammation. The fruit contains Vitamin C (just 2mg/100 mg) that is helpful in treating fever and cold. It also helps in immune function, skin repair, and reducing inflammation. Crushed seeds of lanzones help lower body temperature. The bark resin is used as an alternative medicine to treat gastrointestinal colic, swellings, ulcers, and flatulence.
Truly, this tropical berry is among the fruits with numerous health benefits but same with the other foods, consumption of it must be made in moderation. Likewise, beware and be aware, that what is good to one is not as always good to all especially if you have underlying health condition that contraindicates eating a certain kind of food.
NO I Zamubec Alomar C. Adlawan, RND
References:
- Health Benefits of Langsat Fruit- Written by Kriti Jain, B. Tech Biotechnology; PG Diploma in Clinical Research. Article Reviewed by Dietitian Julia Samuel, M.Phil
https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/top-9-health-benefits-of-langsat-fruit.htm#:~:text=Its%20Bark%20and%20Skin%20Cures,to%20treat%20dysentery%20and%20diarrhea.
- Lanzones (langsat) fruit Nutrition facts
https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lanzones.html#:~:text=Fresh%20lanzones%20fruit,pressure%20and%20stroke.
