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ADVICE FROM UKM MEDICAL DOCTOR
Little did you know ...... after reading
THIS, you'll NEVER look at
petai
in the same way again!
Petai contains three
natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and
glucose. Combined with fiber, petai
gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy. Research
has proved that just two servings of
petai provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder
petai is the number one fruit with the
world's leading athletes. But energy
isn't the only way petai can help us
keep fit. It can also help overcome or
prevent a substantial number of
illnesses and conditions, making it a
must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken
by MIND among people suffering from
depression, many felt much better after
eating petai. This is because petai
contain tryptophan, a type of protein
that the body converts into serotonin,
known to make you relax, improve your
mood and generally make you feel
happier.
PMS(premenstrual syndrome):
Forget the pills - eat petai. The
vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your
mood.
Anaemia:
High in iron, petai can stimulate the
production of haemoglobin in the blood
and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely
high in potassium yet low in salt,
making it perfect to beat blood
pressure. So much so, the US Food and
Drug Administration has just allowed the
petai industry to make official
claims for the fruit's ability to reduce
the risk of blood pressure and
stroke.
Brain Power :
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex)
school were helped through their exams
this year by eating petai at breakfast,
break, and lunch in a bid to boost
their brain power. Research has shown
that the potassium-packed fruit can
assist learning by making pupils more
alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including petai in the
diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem
without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a
hangover is to make a petai milkshake,
sweetened with honey. The petai calms
the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar
levels, while the milk soothes and
re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Petai has a natural antacid effect in
the body, so if you suffer from
heartburn, try eating petai for soothing
relief.
Morning Sickness :
Snacking on petai between meals helps to
keep blood sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.
Mosquito bites :
Before reaching for the insect bite
cream, try rubbing the affected area
with the inside of the petai skin. Many
people find it amazingly successful at
reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Petai is high in B vitamins that help
calm the nervous system.
Overweight:
Studies at the <?xml:namespace
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Institute of Psychology in Austria found
pressure at work leads to gorging on
comfort food like chocolate and crisps.
Looking at 5,000 hospital patients,
researchers found the most obese were
more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.
The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to
control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods
every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
Petai is used as the dietary food
against intestinal disorders because
of its soft texture and smoothness. It
is the only raw fruit that can be eaten
without distress in over-chronicler
cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity
and reduces irritation by coating the
lining of the stomach.
Temperature control :
Many other cultures see petai as a
"cooling" fruit that can lower both the
physical and emotional temperature of
expectant mothers. In hoiland, for
example, pregnant women eat petai to
ensure their baby is born with a cool
temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) :
Petai can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood
enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking:
Petai can also help people trying to
give up smoking. The B6, B12 they
contain, as well as the potassium and
magnesium found in them, help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine
withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which
helps normalize the heartbeat, sends
oxygen to the brain and regulates your
body's water balance. When we are
stressed, our metabolic rate rises,
thereby reducing our potassium levels.
These can be rebalanced with the help of
a high-potassium petai snack.
Strokes:
According to research in "The New
England Journal of Medicine, " eating
petai as part of a regular diet can
cut the risk of death by strokes by as
much as 40%".
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear
that if you want to kill off a wart,
take a piece of petai and place it on
the wart. Carefully hold the petai in
place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, as you can see, petai really is
a natural remedy for many ills. When you
compare it to an apple, it has four
times the protein, twice the
carbohydrates, three times the
phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and
iron, and twice the other vitamins and
minerals. It is also rich in potassium
and is one of the best value foods
around. So maybe its time to change
that well-known phrase so that we say,
"A Petai a day keeps the doctor away".