5 Amazing Health Benefits of Petai Beans (Parkia Speciosa)
Have you ever tried eating Petai? The scientific name for petai is Parkia speciosa, and it is also known as stinky beans, stink beans, or bitter beans. Petai are a type of legume that are native to Southeast Asia. A legume refers to any plant from the Fabaceae family that would include its leaves, stems, and pods.
The petai bean generally comes in a bright green colour. It has a strong, pungent odor that some people compare to rotting flesh or sewage. Despite its strong smell, the petai bean is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. It can be eaten raw or stir-fry with various condiments. One of the most notable dish in Malaysia, is the Sambal Petai. This dish would have the petai to be stir-fry cooked with sambal, a mixture of chilli paste mixed with dried shrimp or shrimp paste (belacan). For a more complete wholesome dish, some would even add in prawns to make a complete spicy seafood vegetable dish.
Through generations of Malaysians and other South East Asian countries, we have been informed of the variety of health benefits of eating petai. However, the petai bean have further gained popularity in recent years in other parts of the world for their nutrient-rich beans with the help of various media channels.
Here are the 5 amazing benefits of Petai:
1. Petai Bean is a Good Source of Fibre.
Want to up your fibre intake? You might want to consider adding petai to your diet.
Petai are a good source of dietary fibre. One cup of petai contains around 7 grams of fibre, which is about a quarter of the recommended daily intake for adults. Fibre is important for keeping the digestive system regular and helps to prevent constipation.
Fibre has also been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, fibre can help you feel fuller after eating, which may aid in weight loss or weight management. It is also well known for its natural diabetic treatment which consuming it will lower the blood glucose levels in your body.
If you're looking for a high-fibre food to add to your diet, petai is a tasty option worth considering.
2. Petai can help improve Digestion.
Petai can help improve digestion due to its high fibre content. Fibre helps to bulk up stools and makes them easier to pass. Petai is also a good source of prebiotics, which are substances that promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
Healthy gut bacteria are important for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. They also help to keep the digestive system free of harmful microbes. Petai may also help to relieve constipation and diarrhea. The bean contains compounds that act as laxatives and can help to soften stools. In some cases, we could even smell of petai in our urine and stools for a few days after consuming petai.
3. Petai is rich in Vitamins and Minerals.
Petai has a strong and pungent smell. Despite its strong smell and taste, petai is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Petai is a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important nutrient that helps the body heal wounds and fight off infections. Petai is also a good source of potassium, iron and tryptophan, an amino acid that may help boost mood and sleep. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance in the body and its proven to reduce high blood pressure. Petai also contains magnesium, which is important for bone health.
In addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals, petai also contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that help protect the body against damage from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and lead to disease.
Through various references, the beans also do contain an anti-cancer agent, thioproline, which could detoxifies the liver and also known to prevent cancer.
4.Petai can help boost Energy Levels.
If you're looking for a natural way to boost your energy levels, consider adding petai to your diet. Petai is a type of beans that's native to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and other Southeast Asia countries. It is often used in traditional dishes. The bean is high in nutrients and has a unique, slightly sweet flavor.
Petai is a good source of carbohydrates, which the body needs for energy. It's also rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, which is essential for red blood cell production. What's more, petai contains compounds that may help increase oxygen uptake and improve blood circulation. These properties make petai a great food to eat before physical activity or when you're feeling tired.
5. Petai has Anti-Inflammatory properties.
Petai have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. This is due to the presence of phenolic compounds in petai, which are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the kidney.
The antioxidants in petai help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, while the anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a major factor in many diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The phenolic compounds in petai may also help to improve cognitive function and prevent age-related decline. This makes petai a promising food for both preventing and treating various chronic diseases.
Various Positive benefits of eating petai
In conclusion, the benefits of petai are many and varied. They are a good source of fibre, improve digestion, and are rich in vitamins and minerals. They can also boost energy levels and have anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been used as a natural form of medicine to treat diabetes, hypertension, liver disease and kidney disorders. If you are looking for a nutritious and delicious food to add to your diet, do consider the amazing Petai bean.