Petai Oh Petai !

Petai

Petai (Parkia speciosa), is a plant of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. The tree can grow to about 30 metres (90 feet) tall. Its flowers are pollinated by bats and other pollinators. After pollination, long, twisted, translucent pods emerge in a cluster of 7 or 8 pods. The mature pods contain the petai beans or seeds. These bright green seeds are around the size and shape of plump almonds. Some describe the shape as similar to broad beans. These petai seeds have a pungent, peculiar smell. Hence, petai is widely known as “stink bean”. The odour lingers in the mouth and body.

The petai seeds are best consumed when combined with other strong flavoured foods such as chilly, garlic and prawns. A favourite dish among the South East Asian natives is “sambal petai”. It has been noted that those who had consumed petai pass out urine with a strong odour. This odour can be detected up to two days after eating the bean. Similar to other beans, eating petai causes strong-smelling flatulence (kentut busuk)






Benefits of Petai

Petai contains natural sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose. It gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. It is claimed that two servings of petai can provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

Researchers claim that due to its high nutritional content, consuming petai can help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions.

Depression:
Petai contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make a person more relaxed. It also helps to improve a person’s mood and make him happier. According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND, people suffering from depression felt much better after eating petai.

PMS(premenstrual syndrome):
Petai contains vitamin B6 that helps to regulate blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.Anaemi a: 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 Engla nd 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!

Petai seems to be a natural remedy for many ills. Compared to an apple, petai 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".