Got Diabetes? Eat Lots of Jambul aka Nerale Hannu!
Jambul…jambul…jambul…I hear the voice of this man who comes through our lane during this time of the year, with a bucket on his head full of Jamun aka jambul, java plum, black plum etc- and many of the seniors in our area come rushing out of their homes to buy this fruit. Guess why?- they all have high sugar or diabetes. And since it is known that Jambul is a good fruit that can be eaten by people having such symptoms, this man sells lots of jambuls every time he comes through our lane. The prices may vary between Rs 240-260 a kg, but still, this fruit sells like hot cakes when it is available. The locally grown jambul is sweet and tasty while compared to the ones from out of state and one thing is that not just the fruit but the entire tree is beneficial to our health. Pick the largest size of the fruit. They are best in quality and sweetest.
Jambul or Jamun is believed to be of special use in the treatment of diabetes. In Unani and Ayurvedic system, it is used to treat digestive disorders including diarrohea. Extracts of the bark, seeds and leaves have been found to cause a marked prolonged decrease in blood sugar and glycouria (sugar in urine). Several studies provide evidence that jamun has hypoglycemic effects with up to 30 percent reduction in blood sugar reported in some studies. Seeds are rich in alkaloids which have hypoglycemic effects.
Jamun, a very popular seasonal fruit being sold everywhere in India, has immense health benefits. It is understood with different names in different regions in India: these names are java plum, black plum, jambul and Indian blackberry.. and Nerale Hannu in Kannada. The botanical name of Jamun is Eugenia jambolana or Syzygium cumini L (myrtaceae family). It is usually planted as a roadside avenue tree.
The jamun tree, native to India, thrives easily in hardy tropical regions and is found in all parts of our subcontinent as well as countries of Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. In India, this large evergreen tree is grown widely in the Gangetic plains, and the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu and in many parts of Karnataka. And this is one tree that is always planted along with other trees during vanamohotsava. The tree bears fruit for 60 to 70 years and the fruits ripen between April and July. It is known by several local names such as jambas, jamun, jambolan, rajaman, kala jamun, neredu, naval, nerale, jamali, java plum, black plum and black berry.
Jamun Fruit is oblong, ovoid, crimson black fruit. You might have consumed the jamun fruit as raw and its pulp would have left an unusual dark purple tinge on your tongue for several hours. It will also leave a grainy feeling on your tongue. The juice of ripe fruit is used for preparing sauces as well as beverages. You may preserve the fruit by drying and adding salt and you may use it as a digestive powder. Please do not consume unripe jamun fruits.
Nutritive Properties
The presence of oxalic acids, tannic acids gallic acid and certain alkaloids makes to feel such an astringency taste. According to the nutritionists the fruit has rich in carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. It comprises glucose and fructose as principal sugars. The fruit has also rich in minerals such as manganese, zinc, iron, calcium, sodium and potassium.
Medical Properties
Jamun is recommended for kapha and pitta doshas. The ripe jamun fruit is well recognized as a liver stimulant, digestive, carminative and coolant. Their hypoglycemic (lowering blood sugar) property is well recognized in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine in India.
Seeds and Diabetes
The fresh seeds of jamun fruit (avoid dried seeds) has more varied uses than any other part of the tree. The seeds reduce blood sugar levels and glucosuria in diabetic patients. The seed is also used in various alternative healing methods in Unani.
Healing of Other Ailments
The fruit juice is used in diarrhea and dysentery and its effectiveness is noted when the patient passes blood-mixed stool. The leaves provide the best remedy for ulcerative colitis. The leaves and bark are used for gingivitis and controlling blood pressure. The decoction of the Jamun bark is also used as tonic.
You may straight away use the ash of the jamun leaves as your tooth powders and is a very effective remedy for spongy gums. Its regular use strengthens the teeth by checking bleeding and gum infection. The jamun powder also controls the frequency of your urine.
Something You Must Also Know:
Overeating of ripe jamun can cause hyper acidity and retention of gas in the abdomen. (To counter these conditions half teaspoonful of the roasted jeera powder and a pinch of black salt should be taken with warm water).
Eat jambul after meals.
Buying jambul from roadsides may be risky as the fruit may be contaminated by lead and heavy metals from exhaust fumes.
In case of those having swelling on the body, women who have just delivered and those who suffer constant vomiting do not consume it.
Always sprinkle rock salt before consuming jamun.
If you feel uneasy after eating jamun, drink buttermilk to which some salt has been added or eat dried ginger or amla. Do not drink milk after eating jamun
Inputs from Itslife.com
