10 Amazing Benefits Of Breadfruit For Skin, Hair And Health

From managing diabetes to strengthening hair - this veggie benefits you in ways you never imagined.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Zeel Gandhi, BAMS
Written by Tanya Choudhary, B.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition
Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health
Fact-checked by Himanshi Mahajan, BSc (Life Sciences), Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach  • 

Breadfruit benefits your health in many ways. Firstly, it is actually not a fruit, but a vegetable botanically. Originating from a flowering tree called ‘Artocarpus Altillis’, it belongs to the mulberry and jackfruit family. It has a thick green skin and soft yellow fleshy pulp inside, similar to that of jackfruit. When cooked or fried, these taste similar to freshly baked bread, and hence the name! However, sometimes these starch-rich fruits can taste like potatoes as well!

This soft and mushy vegetable is a staple ingredient in tropical cuisines. It tastes delicious when steamed, fried, baked, barbequed, or grilled! With its high nutrition content, it offers you many health benefits as well! Especially when it comes to your skin and hair health, breadfruits have always seemed to have a promising effect! To know more about breadfruits, their benefits, and ways to include them in your diet, read on!

protip_icon Know Your Ingredient: Breadfruit

What Is It?
A nutrient-rich vegetable that belongs to the mulberry and jackfruit family, is famous for its culinary uses.

What Are Its Benefits?
It may promote heart and brain health, manage diabetes, promote weight loss, reduce inflammation, and enhance skin and hair health.

Who Can Consume It?
Anyone who isn’t allergic to this vegetable can consume it.

How Often?
It can be consumed daily but in moderation.

Caution
Excess consumption may cause allergic reactions and bleeding disorders.

Health Benefits of Breadfruit

Breadfruit can help improve diabetes
Image: Shutterstock

1. Breadfruit is rich in fiber. The fiber content of the vegetable may help manage diabetes (1). Research found that regular intake of breadfruit could reduce the risk of diabetes and keeps the same under control. It does so by reducing the absorption of sugar by the human body from food.

2. For being rich in fiber, breadfruit is also an excellent energy booster. It gives the fullness of eating without increasing the calorie intake. Therefore, a person feels energetic and active after eating breadfruit. This vegetable is also good at reducing the risk of heart disorder and cholesterol problems. Studies have shown that breadfruit helps to reduce bad cholesterol while inducing the amount of good cholesterol in the body (2).

Breadfruit may improve heart health
Image: Shutterstock

3. Breadfruit is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Besides being beneficial for skin and hair, these two essential fatty acids are quite good for maintaining a healthy heart. The omega-3 fatty acid is also essential for the growth of the brain and mind. Regular intake of breadfruit can help a growing child in the development of the brain to great extent (3).

4. Regular intake of breadfruit is beneficial for proper bowel movement and intestine functionalisms (4). The fiber present in breadfruit again helps to pass stool and also drains out toxins from the intestine.

Breadfruit is a tasty fruit snack to stay fit
Image: Shutterstock

5. Breadfruit is considered an ideal plant-based diet food as well. For people suffering from obesity, breadfruit is the best option. This great to taste food is good for an overweight person, as it contains less calories and high fiber amounts (5). The fiber in breadfruit is truly a multi-tasker, as it helps manage and reduce fats and cellulites.

Skin Benefits of Breadfruit

Breadfruit improves skin health
Image: Shutterstock

6. Apart from the various health benefits that breadfruit provides to all, it has some skin benefits as well. The vegetable is stuffed with a lot of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are both considered excellent for the skin. In addition, it is also a rich source of vitamin C, which is considered excellent for skin health (6).

7. Regular consumption of this food makes skin healthy from both outside and inside. Recent studies have established that antioxidants present in breadfruit are good for preventing skin infections and rashes (7). It is good to eat breadfruit for enhancing skin tone as well. A person would surely enjoy smooth and shining skin by eating breadfruit in the adequate amount.


protip_icon Trivia
Natives of the Pacific Islands use breadfruit as traditional medicine. They massage its sticky latex onto the skin to heal broken bones and sprains.

Breadfruit Benefits for Hair

Breadfruit improves hair health
Image: Shutterstock

8. Breadfruit is an excellent source of all vitamins and minerals. For being so, it makes a healthy choice for the hair health too. Again, the omega- and 6 fatty acids prove to wonder for the hair follicles (8).

9. Regular intake of breadfruit strengthens hair roots and stimulates hair growth. The vegetable is a very good option for one who looks for healthy and thick hair.

10. Breadfruit prevents hair disorders such as dandruff effectively (9). Concisely, it is an excellent natural treatment for hair thinning.

As per anecdotal evidence, breadfruit may also improve eyesight, boost immunity, and prevent the risk of cancer.

Breadfruit Nutrition Chart

PrincipleNutrient ValuePercentage of RDA
Energy103 Kcal5%
Carbohydrates27.12 g21%
Protein1.07 g2%
Total Fat0.20 g1%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Dietary Fiber4.9 g13%
Vitamins
Folates14 µg3.5%
Niacin0.900 mg6%
Pyridoxine0.100 mg8%
Riboflavin0.030 mg2%
Thiamin0.110mg9%
Vitamin A0 IU0%
Vitamin C29 mg48%
Vitamin E0.10 mg1%
Vitamin K0.5 µg
Electrolytes
Sodium2 mg0%
Potassium490 mg10.5%
Minerals
Calcium17 mg2%
Copper0.084 mg9%
Iron0.54 mg7%
Magnesium25 mg6%
Manganese0.060 mg2.5%
Phosphorus30 mg4%
Selenium0.6 µg1%
Zinc0.12 mg1%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß0 µg
Crypto-xanthin-ß0 µg
Lutein-zeaxanthin22 µg
protip_icon Trivia
A breadfruit tree can bear 50-150 fruits each season. The fruits may weigh 0.55 – 13 pounds, depending on the variety.

Adding this nutritious vegetable to your diet is an excellent way to improve your skin, hair, and health. But, how? Let us find that out here.

Breadfruit Recipe

Breadfruit Fries

What You Need

  • 1 breadfruit (peeled and sliced)
  • 3 teaspoons of coriander powder
  • 3 teaspoons of smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin powder
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Mix the coriander powder, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cumin powder in a bowl.
  3. Add olive oil and mix.
  4. Add the sliced breadfruit pieces to the bowl and toss well.
  5. Spread out the breadfruit pieces on a foil-lined baking tray.
  6. Bake them for 18-20 minutes.
  7. Serve the fries with ketchup.

Neetu, a blogger, shares a recipe for breadfruit fritters. She writes, “Of all the dishes we make using breadfruit, my all time favourite is Phodi. A quick and tasty fritter which goes well as an accompaniment with rice and dal (i).”

You may also prepare breadfruit pies and puffs or mash it like potatoes for a healthy and delicious twist on both comfort food and snacking.

Infographic: 5 Unique Benefits Of Breadfruit

Breadfruit comes from the jackfruit and mulberry family, which has various health benefits. It resembles jackfruit in appearance and tastes similar to baked bread. Check out the infographic below to learn the various health benefits of this nutritious vegetable!

5 unique benefits of breadfruit (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Breadfruit’s benefits go beyond its variety of culinary preparations. It is loaded with nutrients like dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Breadfruit may help with improved digestion and facilitate bowel movement. It may help manage blood pressure and promote heart and brain wellness. In addition, it may help manage diabetes and weight loss. Nevertheless, excess use may cause side effects. If you experience any such effects, limit its use and seek medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is breadfruit healthier than potatoes?

Yes. Among its many benefits, breadfruit contains complex carbohydrates and proteins, is low in fat, and is cholesterol- and gluten-free (10), (11).

Can I eat breadfruit raw?

Yes. You can eat breadfruit raw when it is ripe. However, unripe breadfruit requires cooking.

Is breadfruit good for the liver?

Maybe. While breadfruit leaves are packed with beneficial compounds that protect liver cells, evidence that breadfruit pulp also has similar properties is lacking (12).

Is breadfruit acidic or alkaline?

Breadfruit is alkaline.

Does breadfruit cause gas?

Maybe. While anecdotal evidence suggests that breadfruit may cause gas, scientific evidence supporting this claim is lacking.

Is breadfruit anti-inflammatory?

Yes. Breadfruit is packed with flavonoids that have potent anti-inflammatory properties (13).

Key Takeaways

  • Breadfruit has antioxidant properties that may protect the skin from free radicals and delay skin aging.
  • The high levels of vitamin C in breadfruit may improve the production of collagen that may improve skin elasticity.
  • Potassium found in breadfruit may help promote hair growth.
  • Consuming breadfruit may help manage heart health, reduce inflammation, and control blood sugar levels.
breadfruit benefits

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Delve deeper into the benefits and potential side effects of breadfruit. Check out this video to discover the health advantages of this unique fruit and how it can enrich your well-being.

Personal Experience: Source

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