Salak is an exotic fruit native to Indonesia and several other islands of South Asia.
It tastes somewhat similar to a mix of pear, banana, and pineapple.
Also, it contains an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and more.
Salak is a delicious and nutrient-dense fruit that has lately made lots of buzzes all around the world. It's also called snake fruit, owing to its rough and scaly exterior. It usually consists of 3 lobes (which resemble peeled garlic cloves), each having a large inedible seed. The flesh boasts a distinctive flavor, making it an amazing ingredient in numerous different dishes.
Salak contains huge amounts of iron, fiber, calcium, protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and more. Below, we've discussed five potential benefits that salak may offer to your health.
May boost eyesight
Salak is one of the best sources of beta-carotene. This powerful antioxidant helps improve vision, and also protects the eyes from external damage. It also reduces your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
May support digestion
Being rich in dietary fiber, salak boosts the overall functioning of your gastrointestinal tract. It promotes the movement of food through the intestine, and also adds bulk to your bowel movement.
What's more, it contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, etc. that protect your digestive system from some pathogens. Regular consumption may reduce your risk of gas, bloating, diarrhea, and more.
May control diabetes
Salak boosts the cell regeneration process in the pancreas, which further reduces any spike in your blood sugar levels. Also, its high fiber content restricts the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing your risk of diabetes to a certain extent. Moreover, it has some traces of pterostilbene that remove blood glucose from your body. Hence, it's highly recommended for people struggling with type-2 diabetes.
May enhance memory
Salak is loaded with pectin, potassium, and beta-carotene. These nutrients help boost the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the brain’s muscles and tissues. This, in turn, aids in your memory power to a significant extent.
Salak is nicknamed "memory fruit", and for good reason. It also reduces your risk of various neurodegenerative diseases.
May promote cardiovascular functions
Potassium, present abundantly in salak, helps regulate the blood pressure levels in your body. On the other hand, salak has an exceptionally high amount of fiber that increases HDL cholesterol levels and also decreases LDL cholesterol levels in your bloodstream.
So, it's evident that regular intake of salak is directly associated with better heart health. It also reduces your risk of getting a heart attack.
Besides these, salak may also aid in weight loss, improve skin health, increase energy levels, and boost the immune system.