Tuesday 1 December 2009

God's Pharmacy

Just sharing this fascinating info sent to me by email





I wonder what similarities to any internal organ our humble petai might have. I'm reminded of the peribahasa "mata petai" though - which means "unable to see clearly"


However my blogger pal Capt Longhouse has kindly listed out in the comments section of my previous entry, all the goodness to be found in this staple of our Orang Aslis. He says:

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 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".


___________________________________

26 comments:

Capt's Longhouse said...

Zendra,

,,,Lets try out "petai & honey juice" ?..and nanti see the result !! kuat m'cam Zebra Yeop Oii !! hahaha.
,,,garlic pun very good, you should eat it everyday but must not be over cooked, raw better !! kalau nak fry/cook put it last. Heat destroy its medicinal value-lah..remember that..
,,,serai is anti-cancer plus ubat for those suffering from cancer too. Kalau ada orang sakit cancer, cuba minum air serai boleh baik Yeop oii !!..proven..
,,,nak lagi petua Tok Uban ??.

mamasita said...

O ok..if thats the magical benefits petai has, I must eat them often. Tapi you tahulah, the petai smell left behind be it at the mouth and in the bathroom is so very overpowering..owwwwh!!

Zendra-Maria said...

Tok Uban, kalau macam ni boleh lah tanam pokok petai belakang rumah kan?

Kalau kita kongsi buat dusun petai amacam? And we produce the petai and honey juice pre-packaged as well? I think it's about time we contribute towards rakyat malaysia "kuat macam Zebra" hahaha!

Maybe bio-engineer petai tanpa bau, before the Thais smell this possibility ;)

Zendra-Maria said...

mamasita, I don't know whether it's my body chemistry or what, but when I eat petai as ulam, then I don't leave behind any "fragrant" evidence. Only when I have had cooked petai is when ... haha Same with hubby too. So I guess raw is more!

Mana DrSam ni, how about researching how to produce no-smell petai whilst retaining the goodness?

Capt's Longhouse said...

guys,

,,,eat raw petai with its skin, no smell mah !! plus max. value added, no waste too hehehe.
,,,everyday u makang raw garlic, sure you healthy too mah !!.
,,,sugar cane, you chew it, exercise the jaw hehehe ??..boleh lawan sharks nanti hahaha.
,,,jering also like petai, very healthy n medicinal too.
,,,petik muda bahaya, don't eat unless ripe only.
,,,ubi kayu bahaya, unless cooked only.
,,,fresh water siput siput bahaya, unless properly cooked too. To avoid at all cost o.k. Salt water types normally o.k. but watch out for red tide, if ada don't eat any salt water creatures !!.
,,,ketam bisa for some people, must be properly boiled b4 eating.
,,,coral fishes, don't eat most are poisonous due to its host.
,,,don't eat mushrooms - dangerous even the edible ones you normally buy !!. if too much it poison your blood mah.
,,,chilli very good but not with too much belacan hehehe.

Capt's Longhouse said...

,,,•Tongkat Ali is famous as a potential libido enhancing supplement but in fact, it is also being researched as a potential supplement to help prevent cancers. It’s also been used in Asian region where the plant grows to relieve bone aches and pains, headaches, stomachaches and other general pains. Kacip Fatimah is believed to have similar effects but for women.
,,,•Noni fruit (also known as mengkudu), apart from being a great source of nutrients as it contains excellent amounts of vitamins, carbohydrates, fibre and proteins, but various parts of the noni tree have been used as tonics to treat skin problems, relieve fever and any digestive problems. It is also believed that heating the noni leaves and applying them to the chest will help relieve serious coughs. The fruit itself is being researched for being a possible anti-cancer agent and the oil from the noni seeds may be great for relieving skin problems such as acne.
,,,In fact, there are many other herbs that have been identified by the Herb Society of Malaysia as having commercial potential so there is definitely plenty for you to see when you go out for a walk in nature, especially if you’ve decided to focus on herbs. But while you’re out, don’t forget to take it the many other natural sights and sounds that Malaysia is blessed with – both flora and fauna – because, after all, Malaysia is home to one of the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Take advantage of this opportunity while you still can !! hahaha. Jangan dah tak boleh jalan esok baru nak ??..or bila dah habis hutan kita di-tebang !!.

Capt's Longhouse said...

,,,I love my coffee, so lets talk a bit about it too yaa !!

,,,There are certain things we all do know already about coffee yaa, however, overindulgence in coffee can be very bad for you..mah !!
,,,The caffeine in coffee acts as a diuretic, which means it induces urination, which can be a problem if you haven’t drunk enough water to compensate for the diuretic effect. And most of you guys don't drink enough water for a start-kan ??.
,,,Caffeine also increases alertness, as we all know by now ??, although the degree to which people are affected seems to vary from individual to individual – some are so hyperactive after drinking even a small amount of coffee that they are unable to sleep for hours after drinking coffee. (like you know who ?? hehehe)
,,,Then, there’s the addictive component of caffeine; those who have tried stopping caffeine intake will probably know about the headaches that develop after being deprived of caffeine.

,,, Nevertheless, coffee drinkers should probably listen to their bodies – if you don’t feel comfortable with the amount of coffee you are taking, you probably should cut down!..or go for Milo saja Yeop Oii !!.
,,,The antioxidants in coffee are very likely to be beneficial, but there are other sources found in nature that don’t share the same sort of side effects as coffee.

,,,go for tea ?? lagi bagus tau ..o.k. lain kali-lah bye bye.

"Oii mamak Kopi kurang manis tiga" !! hahaha.

Kak Ezza@makcik Blogger said...

Zendra,

bagus betul info pasal petai ni n thanks to Tok uban pasal kongsi macam macam info yang berguna....
but when I eat raw petai..selalu dapat angin dan sakit perut..why maa....

Memorable trails... said...

Salam Zendra,
I think we should eat petai moderately,kalau banyak sangat can cause "wind" in the stomach,like what kak ezza said.
Anyway thanks for the information.

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hey Zee, petai like this good one, semua doctor bolih tutup kedai lah. How is it that good stuff normally doesn’t taste good? This petai got come in tablet or syrup form or not? Hardly see any in Perth.

I like this u mentioned;

Known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier at PMS (Putting up Men Sh*t)….hahaha.

Many other cultures see petai as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature, so one cannot feel ‘hot’ anymore? Where got good to be cold blooded one? Afterward spouse get frigid then what to do?

Hehehe, Capt, u macam tu ‘Snake Oil salesman’ lah, one potion cure all’. U got go from kampong to kampong peddling your magic portion together with your sideshow of silat & David Copperfield acts or not? Tok Mee only uses Tongkat Ali b4 bed so I don’t roll off the bed in the middle of the night mah, clever or not?

You guys shud try drinking this;
Through the careful combination of roasted and unroasted coffee beans, NESCAFÉ Greenblend has a full coffee taste and aroma delivering your body 70% more antioxidants than leading green tea brands.
Studies show that although an average serve of green tea contains similar levels of polyphenol antioxidants, the body absorbs 70% more antioxidants from a serve of NESCAFÉ Greenblend.*

Stay Healthy!
Tommy

Zendra-Maria said...

Ok Tok Uban let me summarise:

YES - petai, garlic, tebu, mengkudu, jering, chili, tongkat ali (for married man only), kacip fatimah (for married women only),

NO - betik muda, mushrooms, ubi kayu must be cooked well, siput, coral fishes, ketam

Take with caution - coffee

Go for it - tea

TQ. Appreciate it very much :)

Zendra-Maria said...

Ezza, setengah orang memang angin (bukan naik angin hahaha) bila makan jenis kekacang, bijian dsbnya. Kalau gitu, Ezza kena stim dulu kot. Alah campak dalam rice-cooker sekejap bila nasi dah masak dan masih berwap.

Zendra-Maria said...

Hello Madam Gold, I suppose moderation is the key for people who are affected by wind. My hubby eats petai everyday and he seems OK by it. For me, I only take them every few days or so, because I tend to get bored eating the same thing everyday. I like a variety of tastes hehe.

Zendra-Maria said...

Actually Tommy, petai should be good for people who are afflicted with those ailments that Tok Uban has listed. So far none applies to me YET lah, but I'll just eat them anyway for preventive maintenance, can what?

Nescafe (coffee) Greenblend (tea)? My former boss used to drink nescafe campur dengan milo or NesLo for short. But kopi campur dengan teh? Yuggh, dread to think of the resultant taste... and combined name for that matter...

Zendra-Maria said...

BTW Tommy / Tok Uban, I just had 4 biji petai for lunch (skin on) but why am I sweating profusely now just hitting the keyboard haa? No cooling effect on me ;)

Owh ....only for expectant mothers lah hahaha

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Nescafe Greenblend is coffee not mix with tea lah, but have antioxidant property of Green tea but 70% stronger (as claimed lah).

Your 'boss' drinks nestlo, that's more yucky :). Err somehow I don't think u r the type that can report to anyone, u got a mind of your own...hahaha..C'mon u r the actual boss lah or the bosses' boss, betul tak?

Lee said...

Hello Zendra, wow! I never knew 'petai' has all that goodies so to speak.
Regret it is one vegetable I have never gone overboard for, even when made into sambal by figure hugging, sarong clad hot mamas, arhaaa ha ha.

Reason being I used to travel extensively on MAS, KL to East Coast, Penang and very often taking last 'sleepy eyes' flight back to KL....
and I can always tell when boarding passengers had petai for dinner, ha ha.
And the lovely Air hostesses spraying 'air freshener' at you know where. Or at parties....

But it is certainly eye opening to learn of its wonderful health benefits....wonder whether it can bring our heart condition back to level of a 35 year old man? Heh heh.

Have a nice day....and enjoy your sambal petai. Regret unable accept your dinner invitation, got another appointment, *wink*. Lee.

Capt's Longhouse said...

Tommy, you might be interested to know more about petai ?

Mitogenic Effect of Parkia speciosa (petai) Seed Lectin on Human Lymphocytes

,,,Mitogenic activity of a lectin, purified from Parkia speciosa seeds, on the isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes taken from normal blood donors and patients with esophageal carcinoma was examined using [3H]thymidine incorporation.
,,,The lectin increases the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA of human lymphocytes. The activity of the lectin increased as its concentration was increased and then declined once the concentration passed an optimum point.
,,,The stimulant effect was also expressed using a proliferation index (PI): the ratio of [3H]thymidine incorporated into lymphocytes in the presence and absence of the lectin.
,,,The mitogenic activity of the lectin is comparable to those of the known T-cell mitogens, such as concanavalin A, phytohaemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen. Only slightly less responsiveness was observed in the case of lymphocytes from esophageal cancer compared to lymphocytes from normal donors.

Tok Uban

Capt's Longhouse said...

and....
,,,The seeds of P. speciosa are considered beneficial in the treatment of hepatalgia, oedema, nephritis, diabetes and colic, probably as a result of their diuretic and relaxing activity. It is also used as an anthelmintic. The leaves are used against jaundice. In Kalimantan, the inner red bark of this species is applied as a dressing on burns, followed several hours later by an infusion of the pounded white wood, which is used to wash the skin.

Zendra-Maria said...

Tommy, well then I'd need facials less frequently with this nescafe blend then. More antioxidants = decreased cellular oxidation = slower ageing.... yahoooo! You got some free samples or not?

Betul lah my boss needed the double-strength neslo to deal with incorrigibles like me - maybe that was why I didn't get promoted hahaha!

Zendra-Maria said...

Hahaha Lee, I certainly wouldn't know if the petai can take your heart back through a time-warp but I've not heard of an orang asli dying of cardiac arrest ;)

Well next time you feel like having sambal petai, I'll courier it over vacuum-packed special delivery *winks*

Zendra-Maria said...

Waah Dr Uban, the benefits of the petai also extends to the leaves and bark as well. Also an ubat cacing haha. This should be the perfect complement to pond-fish dishes ;)

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Capt,u write like a rocket scientist lah, can u put them benefits in layman terms so small brain ppl like me can understand :))

Hmmm, I think I must be hanging around with skippies & dumb blondes for too long already!

Zen, I only take a supa dupa kangaroo multivitamin each morning to keep fit & 'forever young'. It's used by all top aussies atheletes in the AIS. It's their secret weapon to produce world champions in most world sporting events; not a bad record for a small population country.

Zendra-Maria said...

AHA Tommy good for you - if you can't get petai, go for the best thing - kangaroo multi-vitamins! You'll be hopping around for a good many years yet. Just watch that pouch now....

Zendra-Maria said...

I meant, NEXT best thing lah

Capt's Longhouse said...

Tok Mee,
,,,Sorry you can protest if you like but it doesn't cut any ice with me.
...next time round, i will reply/comment in French !!.hehehe.

cheers,,,'A VOTRE SANTE'

Tok Uban.