Kochi: Pectin is a soluble fibre that can effectively reduce fatty liver and blood sugar levels. In case you are wondering what is a good source of pectin, do not look elsewhere but at your backyards. Interestingly, the 'king of fruits,' which is also the state fruit of Kerala, is a natural source of pectin. Three tablespoons of raw jackfruit powder or the green jackfruit 'aatta' could be mixed with rice or wheat flour while making chapathi or roti; or consumed by merely mixing in water to get the health benefits of pectin. The findings of the experiment done by Dr. Vinod Abichandani, an endocrinology expert based in Ahmedabad were published recently in the ASN Nutrition journal. Dr. Abichandani gave raw jackfruit powder to 200 patients for three months to experiment. The findings were presented at the recent annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition in Chicago.
Benefits of the 'atta'
Those who consumed raw jackfruit powder for three months showed lowered fatty liver, cholesterol, triglyceride and diabetes. ‘Jackfruit 365’ powder was used for the experiment. However, any brand of jackfruit powder could be consumed, as per reports. Jackfruit flour is also rated as high in dietary fibre, which makes it a good source for digestive health. It is also gluten-free and has a low glycemic index. Along with making rotis, it is also used often as a thickening agent in sauces and soups.