“Chinese petai (pete) is one of the many types of petai mixed with certain types of food. Even though it is small, it turns out that there are various health benefits, such as preventing diabetes and preventing anemia.”
Chinese petai is one of the foods that is quite easy to find in Indonesia. Even though it has the name petai, this fruit doesn't smell like bananas in general. Because of their small size and taste, eating Chinese petai is almost like eating peas.
In some areas, Chinese petai is also referred to as lamtoro. Apart from being used in food, the benefits of Chinese petai have recently become popular for health. In fact, all parts of Chinese petai are used as herbal medicine in various countries.
Nutritional Content of Chinese Petai
The nutrients in Chinese petai that provide health benefits are mostly found in the fruit and leaves. Due to their diverse nutritional makeup, they have different characteristics.
Chinese petai contain important substances, such as fiber, protein, fat, and carbohydrates. In addition, the leaves contain various types of vitamins, such as vitamins A, B1, and C.
Chinese petai leaves also contain flavonoids and saponins which are useful for accelerating wound healing. Although in small quantities, this plant also contains minerals for the health of the body. Starting from calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Benefits of Chinese Petai for Health
Well, here is a more explanation about the benefits of Chinese petai:
1. Helps treat diabetes mellitus
Hyperglycemia caused by insulin deficiency in the body characterizes diabetes as a metabolic disorder. This condition is caused by various causes, including diet and genetics.
You can use this food as an alternative medicine to help overcome diabetes mellitus. Because many people believe that this type of petai seed extract can treat diabetes. This food seed extract is believed to have tolerance to blood glucose. Even so, further studies are needed regarding the efficacy of Chinese petai in treating diabetes.
2. Helps treat cancer
The seed extract can also be used to fight free radicals and reduce the chances of getting cancer. You can consume it as a drink or eat it straight away.
Tannin is one of the ingredients in this food. One of the advantages of this plant-derived polyphenol chemical is that it can also eliminate toxins and cancer cells in the body that are carried by free radicals.
Even so, further research is needed regarding the efficacy of Chinese petai for cancer.
3. Maintain eye health
Too often working in front of gadgets will certainly affect eye health. The content of vitamin A in this plant is very good for maintaining eye health. You can make Chinese petai as a menu variation at home besides carrots to maintain eye health because there are too many gadgets in front of you.
4. Overcoming infections in the digestive tract
The leaves are the part that contains the greatest benefits. The content of alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins contained in this leaf has antibacterial properties. Chinese petai leaves can treat Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli infections.
These bacteria often cause gastrointestinal infections that cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach discomfort. Alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins can also stop the growth of these two bacteria, preventing them from remaining in the digestive tract for a long time.
5. Speed up wound healing
The leaves are often used in traditional medicine to relieve swelling, irritation and open wounds. The leaves of this plant contain saponin chemicals which accelerate the healing process of open wounds.
Saponins are substances that stimulate the production of collagen, a protein that is essential for cleaning and healing wounds.
6. Improve skin health
Chinese petai leaves can also be used to improve skin health. The enzyme content in the leaves promotes the production of healthy collagen in the skin thereby preventing the skin from becoming dry and dull.
7. Prevent anemia
The iron content in Chinese petai is quite good. That way, consuming these foods can help optimize the amount of iron in the body.
When the amount of iron in the body is sufficient, this will help the process of producing red blood cells in the body to be more optimal. That way, you will avoid anemia.
8. Optimizing brain function
The potassium content in Chinese petai can help optimize brain function. This will prevent you from various health problems in the brain. For example, such as a decrease in the ability to remember until the focus becomes less than optimal.
9. Overcoming constipation
Chinese petai have fiber content in it. Well, one of the functions of fiber is to prevent and treat constipation that occurs.
Fiber will optimize the absorption of water in the stool which makes the stool softer. That way, the stool becomes easier to remove.
10. Improve bone health
These foods contain calcium, phosphorus and iron which are good for optimizing bone health. When bone health gets better, you will avoid various health problems, such as osteoporosis.
Effects of Excessive Consuming Chinese Petai
Eating chinese petai does have many good benefits for health. However, make sure you don't overdo it when consuming these foods.
Chinese petai and petai contain purine substances, which can trigger an increase in uric acid levels in the body. It is better to limit the amount of petai intake so that uric acid levels are not too high.
For those of you who have a history of gout, you should pay attention to the intake of Chinese petai that will be consumed.