Arhhh… It’s Durian season again!
Durian prices have been dropped significantly, so, are you having a feast? There are a lot of stories, legends and myths about this fruit. As runners, should we bother about them or… Just Eat Lah?!
So let us look at some facts and myths about durians that runners need to take note.
Facts:
1. Durian will cause weight gain.
A 1 kg sized durian bag is close to 1,300 calories. Durian can pack up to three times more calories compared to most other fruits. Therefore, eating one durian can rack up as much as 70% of the daily 2,000 calories recommended for an average adult. Wow! Yes, if you are on a diet or if you are training hard for your race, this is one fruit you should give a miss, or limit the intake considerably. For your information, one seed durian has approximately 54 calories.
2. Durian is an instant energiser.
Because of durians’ high carbohydrate content, durians can help replenish energy quickly. Research has shown that durian’s high potassium content can help reduce fatigue, relieve mental stress and anxiety. No wonder, durians are always enjoyed in groups and frequently leave a memorable experience.
3. Durians do possess some health benefits.
Durian contains fiber which makes it a good bulk laxative, and antioxidants vitamin C which helps the body develop resistance against infections. Also, it contains many B-complex groups of vitamins which are essential for the body as it requires them from external sources to replenish. A consoling fact if you have been feasting on durians. 😉
Myths:
1. Drinking water from a durian shell.
This does nothing for you, really. If you are doing it for the sake of any benefit, you may as well consider stopping.
2. Mangosteen should be eaten with durian.
Many believe that this combination reduces heatiness. Eating durians can indeed induce a feeling of “heatiness”, demanding greater digestive effort. According to Chinese belief, a mangosteen, being a cooling fruit, will compensate for that. No logic lah! The habit of eating durians and mangosteens together probably stems from the fact that they are harvested at about the same time!
3. Durian is loaded with cholesterol.
Durians contain no cholesterol. In fact, the monounsaturated fats that durians contain can actually help lower your harmful cholesterol levels! Cholesterol is found in foods containing saturated fats such as red meats, seafood and dairy products.
So… the durian is a highly nutritious fruit which when eaten in moderation, will provide the body with many minerals, vitamins and good fats.
Eating two to three seeds of durian at one sitting is sufficient, but because durians can become so addictive, who can really control himself?
Drinking water from the durian shell actually helps me from getting sore throat after eating too much durian.
And if you wash your hands with water running through the shell (if you do it right) it will get the durian smell off your fingers. Try it. ☺ Its not a myth.