Aki: properties and features of use

Exotic fruits attract attention and at the same time cause alertness. Aki is considered the main fruit of Jamaica. The fruit is used to prepare interesting dishes, for treatment, and even for domestic purposes. Unripe and raw aki fruits are poisonous and can cause significant harm to the body, but proper preparation will protect you from these problems.

Aki is an evergreen tree of the Sapindaceae family. Pear-shaped fruits are distinguished by a bright orange or red color. The fruit is often referred to as blighia delicious. Under the skin are the bones and flesh of white or cream color. Black seeds are quite large and have a characteristic luster. Only the pulp is eaten, which is somewhat reminiscent of walnut shells in appearance.

Officially, aki is considered a Jamaican tree, but its homeland is West Africa. The fruit contains a high concentration of toxins, which is why it is considered unfit for human consumption in many countries. In fact, it is dangerous to eat only unripe and raw fruits. Such experiments can not only cause harm, but also lead to death.

In many countries, ackee is grown as an ornamental plant. The tree grows up to 1-2 m in height. Most of the length is occupied by the crown, while the trunk itself is small. Elliptical leaves reach 30 cm in length.

Bligiya sweet has a unique effect on taste buds.After a person eats just one berry, sour begins to seem sweet. After drinking ackee, you can eat spicy sauces without feeling hot. This effect can last up to 2 hours. The pulp itself tastes like a nut with cheese.

Aki fruit contains a lot of oil with nutrients, fatty acids. The composition is rich in vitamins, especially in fruits of vitamin A, E and group B. Dried aki seeds are ground into powder and used to treat fever. The high content of zinc, potassium and calcium is able to replenish the body's reserves.

The high content of biologically active substances (protein, fiber, carbohydrates) makes it possible to get enough of the pulp of one fruit. Most of the substances in the composition have a positive effect on the human body.

The seeds, roots and leaves of the aki plant are used to make medicines for many diseases. Its oil contains many useful substances, which are also used for the prevention and treatment of diseases. With the help of this component, the risk of developing diseases of the kidneys, liver, heart, and gastrointestinal tract is reduced. The fruit prevents premature aging of the body, therefore it is especially popular among women.

Useful properties of aki.

• Fruits improve the functioning of the immune system. After eating the fruit, the risk of developing colds is reduced. The product normalizes the level of hemoglobin and increases the number of red blood cells. Migraine, disorientation and weakness are relieved after eating aki fruit.
• Fruits are able to remove toxins from the body. Thanks to this property, well-being improves and the risk of oncological diseases is reduced.
• The pulp of the aki fruit helps the body fight viruses and aggressive microorganisms. Fruits are useful for various ENT diseases.
• Aki improves the condition of teeth and joints. The fruit contains a large amount of biologically active substances, in particular, phosphorus and calcium, which are necessary for the strength of bone tissue. The product can replace meat, fish and dairy products.

• The fruits have a positive effect on vision. The use of aki will help prevent retinal detachment and dystrophy, farsightedness and other diseases. The fruit is especially useful for those who spend a lot of time at the computer.
• Stabilizes the work of the cardiovascular system by lowering the amount of cholesterol and cleansing the blood. The use of fruit allows you to remove the load from the veins during constant work on the legs and alleviate thrombophlebitis. Fruits are especially useful for the elderly and for those who suffer from obesity.
• Helps to quickly satisfy the feeling of hunger. The fruit will benefit those who are struggling with thinness. The presence of fast carbohydrates in the composition of the fetus will help to quickly saturate the body. This is the perfect option for a quick snack.
• You can eat fruits with diabetes, as they have practically no sugar. Experiencing this disease along with aki in the diet is much easier. The fruit improves the functioning of the pancreas and stabilizes blood glucose levels. Aki enriches the body with simple carbohydrates, which do not harm health, but provide energy.
• Favorably affects the work of the stomach and intestines. Fruits help get rid of bloating, colitis and flatulence. Aki eliminates inflammatory processes on the intestinal walls and cleanses them of feces. The fruit helps fight constipation and diarrhea, normalizes bowel function. regular use normalizes peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Improves the functioning of the kidneys and the urinary system as a whole. Aki gently cleanses these organs of toxins and salts. The fruit helps to alleviate the patient's condition with nephritis and the formation of sand, kidney stones.

Unopened fruits of the fruit can cause irreparable harm due to the presence of a toxic toxin. Only a ripe fruit that has been boiled for 10 minutes can be considered safe for health.

The toxic poison in the fruit leads to a serious poisoning called Jamaican vomiting disease. It is impossible to predict the course of such a disease. Some people tolerate it easily and experience only a slight malaise, nausea, for others, the disease can end in coma and death. The poison greatly harms the liver and can cause its dystrophy.

When the first symptoms of fruit poisoning appear, it is necessary to wash the stomach and consult a specialist. Because of this property, ackee is prohibited from growing and bringing to the United States. It is worth being wary of medicines that are prepared on the basis of dry ackee powder. It is impossible to predict the result of using such a drug.

The rich composition of ackee fruit includes ceramides. The attitude towards this component among specialists is ambiguous. In moderation, it does no harm. Such lipid molecules are found in the human body, most of them in the stratum corneum of the skin. In large quantities, ceramides contribute to the development of pathological diseases. They can cause Alzheimer's disease.

The exotic fruit should be consumed with caution due to its composition. There are cases when it is worth abandoning aki altogether.

• Do not give fruit to children. A growing body is not able to fight the aki poison and digest the pulp of the fruit as a whole. Serious consequences for health and life are possible.
• During pregnancy it is worth giving up the fruit, even if it is properly cooked. In the early stages, the fruits can provoke premature termination of pregnancy.
• With peptic ulcers, the fruit is contraindicated. After use, internal bleeding may open and there may be a sharp pain in the abdomen. Ackee pulp contains a large amount of fiber, which irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
• During lactation the poison of the fruit can pass into milk and poison the baby.
• Individual intolerance to aki is quite rare. This is possible in people who suffer from many allergies.

The negative consequences of eating the fruit can only be avoided if you choose and prepare ackee correctly. Purchase only ripe, opened fruits. Only the pulp of the fruit can be eaten. Under the dark bones are small lobes of a light color. This part of the fruit has a delicate texture and a nutty taste.

After buying, be sure to wash the fruit and clean it of red fibers. Boil water, add salt and boil it for 10-15 minutes. After that, you can lightly fry the pulp in oil. Only such heat treatment helps to rid the fruit of a toxic substance.

Bligia yummy is the main ingredient in many Jamaican dishes. Primary processing includes boiling and frying its pulp. You can combine aki fruits with cod, onions, tomatoes. Often the pulp is added to beef and pork when stewing. Aki pairs well with curry, thyme, green onions and many other seasonings to experiment with.

Jamaicans often eat this fruit for breakfast. The morning dish resembles the usual omelette, you can still combine the pulp of the fruit with rice. Canned ackee is exported from Jamaica to many countries. In cooking, two derivatives of the fruit are distinguished: butter and cheese. The first type has a yellow and soft aryllus (pulp), and the second is hard, creamy.

A special dish in Jamaica is aki with salted pork and fish. You can fry cod with boiled bligi pulp, tomatoes, pepper and your favorite spices (black pepper and pimiento are more often used). Quite an interesting dish combines ackee, tomatoes and bacon. Ackee dishes are eaten with bread, fried or boiled bananas. Jamaicans tacitly believe that aki should be consumed on Sunday.

Aki is used in many countries, but not everywhere it is perceived as a food product. The immature fruit of the fruit can become the basis for soap.To do this, grind the fruit on a grater and use foam for washing. Bligia wood is used to make furniture due to its resistance to changes in ambient temperature. The plant itself is often grown as an ornament with fragrant flowers. The seeds can be infused and used to control various insects. The sap from the leaves is used to make eye drops and is used to treat conjunctivitis.

Cubans mix sugar, ground cinnamon and ripe pulp and use this combination of ingredients to fight high body temperature and intestinal diseases. In the same area, an extract is made from the flowers of the tree and used to make luxurious perfumes.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the bark of the ackee tree is crushed and mixed with hot spices. This mixture is used in the form of an ointment to relieve pain. During the flowering period, the leaves are cut off from the ackee and crushed. They are applied to the head to relieve pain and migraines. Jamaicans believe that the dried leaves, bark, and seeds of ackee, which are ground into a powder, can be used to make a cure for all known diseases.

Many people are wary of eating fruits, but admire the external properties of the plant. Aki is characterized by thermophilicity, which is important to consider when growing. Important rules.

• The plant propagates with the help of seeds. This breeding method is considered the simplest, even those who are far from gardening can handle it.Try to choose fresh seeds, so there will be more chances for them to germinate. Be sure to ensure that the seeds are not pre-soaked in water. Excess moisture will be harmful.
• Use humus-rich soil for growing and loosen it well. The plant needs a greenhouse and an air temperature of about + 30 ° C. Under these conditions, the first shoots will appear in 14-15 days. The tree develops well, but the first fruits appear only after 4 years. The plant does not need to be grafted, it is not afraid of pests.
• You can make holes in the ground with a regular pencil. Place the seeds in the resulting grooves. Between the holes it is necessary to make a distance of 5-6 cm.
• Aki needs constant lighting. To do this, you can use special garden lamps. For proper watering, it is better to use a spray bottle.
• To create a small greenhouse, you can use a plastic bag. So it will be more convenient to provide the plant with the desired temperature. Such a homemade greenhouse helps to increase humidity.

• The soil in which the aki tree grows must be constantly moistened. It is important that when the earth dries out, the plant will dry out, and when waterlogged, it will begin to rot. Warm water must be used for irrigation. You must first filter or defend it.
• Provide the plant with fresh air every few weeks. Along the way, it is worth carefully loosening the soil in which the seedling is located.
• The tree is not afraid of drought. It is important that the soil moisture is within 65-70% at a temperature of 25-27°C.
• Bligia is delicious unpretentious, it does not need to be fed with special substances.

Watch the next video for an overview of other exotic and potentially dangerous fruits.