Durians: How this prickly fruit benefits your health, beauty... and sex life

A Prickly Debate: 7 Reasons why durians are great for your health, beauty & sex life

Sarah Khan

18 Dec 2017

updated the 19 December 2017 à 15:57

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Boosts happiness
Love durians? Well, if you do, it might have to do with more than just how it tastes. Durians contain happiness-inducing chemicals, like the amino acid tryptophan, which gets converted to serotonin - the neurotransmitter responsible for creating the feelings of happiness and relaxation.
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Reduces appearance of pigmentation and wrinkles
When you think of fruits with anti-aging properties, the durian may not necessarily come to mind. However, with 11.6mg of vitamin C per serving (two medium seeds), the durian has a higher vitamin C content than most tropical fruits. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals in your body, thus reducing the appearance of pigmentation and wrinkles.
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Improves sleep quality
Besides keeping you happy, the tryptophan content (also known as nature’s sleeping pill) in durians are also converted to melatonin, the hormone responsible for controlling your sleep cycle. In fact, the higher your melatonin levels, the easier it is to fall asleep.

If you’ve been having trouble falling asleep, consider eating a slice of durian before bedtime - although we would recommend brushing your teeth after that to avoid any durian-laced morning breath after!
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Controls blood pressure
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health in Singapore, nearly one in four Singapore residents aged between 30 to 69 has high blood pressure. It turns out that durians are also rich in potassium, an electrolyte that helps to maintain blood pressure levels. This is essential as high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can result in other chronic diseases like stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
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Great source of fiber and energy
One serving of the durian alone (243grams) covers about 20% of your daily carbohydrate needs. It also has a high fiber content, with each serving containing about 9grams of fiber, which comprises 37% of your daily fiber needs. This makes it an excellent source of energy, which is why you can opt for a seed of durian as a pre-workout snack for a quick release of energy during exercise.
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Improves bone health
Durians are also rich in iron and copper - minerals essential for strong bones. A study by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information discovered that a higher iron intake helps increase bone density, while a higher calcium intake has a negligible effect on your bone health.
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Increases your libido
You may not know this, but the durian is known throughout Asia as a libido-boosting fruit. In fact, there’s a famous traditional saying in Indonesia that goes “when the durians fall, the sarong goes up” alluding to the fact that when durians are in season, people’s sex drive also increases.

Good news, durian lovers.

There is perhaps no other fruit, or food, quite as divisive as the durian.

Known as the king-of fruits, the spiky durian is thoroughly loved by many of us in Asia (who delight in its fleshy, creamy texture), while others feel very strongly against its pungent smell. In fact, here’s a fun fact: durians are actually banned on public transportation in Singapore!

Whether you love it or hate it, this controversial fruit boasts of surprising benefits. From boosting happiness and improving sleep quality, to reducing the appearance of wrinkles and even increasing your libido (who knew?), browse the 7 surprising health benefits of durians in the gallery above!

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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