Durian contains fibre and antioxidants

THORNY ISSUE

Durian contains fibre and antioxidants. Study found that when durian was ripe, it contained higher levels of antioxidants than othe Asian fruits of a similar ripeness suck as mangosteen, lychee and mango.


IN THE FLESH

It's a fruit with one of the highest fat content. Apart from avocado, durian is the other fruit that contains a significant amount of fat. Plus durian can pack up to three times more calories compared to most other fruits. A saving grace: The high-fat content gives durian a lower glycemic index. Durian contains some protein, but it's nothing to shout about - only around 3g of protein per 100g of flesh. What's more, protein from plant sources are "nutritionally incomplete", meaning they lack a balanced set of amino acids that are critical for muscle building.
( The glycemic index, or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. )


THE STUFF OF LEGEND

You don't need a nutritionist to tell you that drinking from a durian shell does nothing for you. However, eating durians can indeed induce a feeling of "heatiness". Our metabolism increases during digestion of the fruit, thus there may be occasional instances of a slight increase in body temperature. This is partly because durian is so dense in calories, demanding greater digestive effort. But other myths are groundless, with studies reporting "no basis for any ill effects". So go ahead and chug a beer or coffee when you eat the fruit - if you dare.

* The antioxidants in durian are at their peak when the fruit is ripe