Top 10 Incredible Benefits of Gac Fruit You Probably Haven't Heard Of

While gac seeds are commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine, offering a unique flavor in traditional dishes, the fruit itself holds tremendous benefits for heart health.

Through a refined process, gac fruit produces gac oil, which has remarkable properties for reducing LDL cholesterol, strengthening blood vessels, and preventing arteriosclerosis. This helps to protect against cardiovascular events and enhances overall circulation. The components in gac oil play a vital role in maintaining a healthy heart, contributing to longevity.

Regular consumption of gac in meals can prevent arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and liver-related diseases. Gac also aids in reducing the risk of strokes, improves digestion, and boosts the immune system, making it a highly beneficial food for heart health.

Consuming gac fruit or products made from it can significantly improve the health and clarity of your eyes. Gac fruit, especially when processed into gac oil, contains high levels of Beta-carotene.

Once ingested, Beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A, a crucial nutrient for maintaining good eyesight. Regular intake of gac oil or gac-infused foods is beneficial for sustaining healthy vision. Gac also contains Lycopene, which, when metabolized, further converts into Vitamin A, enhancing eye health, particularly in children. Gac fruit is known for its ability to brighten the eyes and treat certain eye conditions.

For those who spend long hours in front of screens or often stay up late, eye strain, dryness, and discomfort are common. In such cases, incorporating gac oil into your diet can be especially helpful. The Beta-carotene in gac oil directly supports eye health, making it an excellent choice for improving vision.

The gac fruit is often referred to as a 'treasure trove' of carotene (the precursor to Vitamin A), a nutrient that is hard to match in any other fruit or vegetable. The seeds of the gac fruit, though relatively dry (containing only 6% water), are rich in oil (55.3% fat), protein (16.6%), sugars (2.9%), tannins (1.8%), and other unidentified compounds. They also contain enzymes such as phosphatase, invertase, and peroxidase. Typically, the seeds are discarded after the flesh of the gac is consumed, but these seemingly 'discarded' parts hold significant health benefits.

The seeds, or kernels, of the gac fruit are packed with yellow oil, essential nutrients, fats, fiber, phosphate, and protein. These elements are used in traditional remedies for ailments such as boils, mumps, swelling, and skin ulcers. Gac seeds are considered an effective folk medicine and should be valued for their healing properties. It's time we appreciate the seeds of the gac fruit, often thought of as waste, for their incredible health benefits.

The gac fruit, a familiar and widely grown fruit in our country, is often associated with traditional dishes, like gac sticky rice, enjoyed during festive occasions. However, the health benefits of gac are less well-known. One of the key nutrients in gac is beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, which plays a crucial role in promoting sexual health. Vitamin A is vital for the synthesis of proteins that nourish the body and support various bodily functions.

A deficiency in Vitamin A can significantly impact the function of reproductive cells. It stimulates the production of sperm and eggs and helps in the development of reproductive organs, such as the prostate, uterus, and ovaries. In addition to using male enhancement products, incorporating gac into the diet can have a noticeable effect on men's sexual health.

One of the most impressive benefits of gac oil is its effectiveness in treating skin pigmentation, such as dark spots and freckles. Gac face masks are also a great remedy to lighten skin blemishes. To make a gac mask, follow these steps:

Ingredients: 1 ripe gac fruit (approximately 1.5 kg) and 400 ml cooking oil. For the best results, choose mature, evenly-spiked gac fruits that feel heavy when held.

Preparation: Remove the red, sticky pulp from the ripe gac seeds, spread them on a clean surface, and dry them for 3 to 4 hours, or use a dehydrator at 50 to 60°C. Once the pulp is dry and no longer sticky, peel it off the seeds and cut it into small pieces. Heat the pieces in a pan and cover them with oil. Simmer on low heat, stirring regularly for 5 to 10 minutes, until the gac pulp firms up like crispy bits. Strain the oil through a fine sieve to remove any remaining pulp, let it cool, and store the oil in a glass container. If made properly, this gac oil can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.

Usage: After preparing the oil, apply it evenly on areas affected by pigmentation. For best results, steam your face with hot water or apply a warm towel to open up the pores before applying the oil. This will help the skin absorb the oil more effectively, enhancing its ability to treat pigmentation and nourish the skin.

Gac is known to be beneficial for individuals with high cholesterol levels. Consuming gac regularly can help reduce unwanted cholesterol, strengthen blood vessels, and prevent arteriosclerosis. This, in turn, helps lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems, while promoting a healthy circulatory system and increasing life expectancy.

The bright red gac fruit, though small and vine-like, is packed with an impressive array of nutrients. Gac oil, with its rich red color and sweet, fatty texture, contains a high concentration of vitamins, including lycopene, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol—levels up to 68 times higher than tomatoes. The red membrane surrounding gac seeds is also rich in vitamin E, which acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to slow down the aging process of cells.

These natural compounds play a significant role in preserving youthful skin, preventing dark spots, dryness, hair loss, and more. Moreover, gac oil is increasingly used in the treatment of acne, particularly cystic acne. As a result, gac has found its place in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

The gac fruit is rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant known for its ability to prevent cancer and inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. Additionally, gac contains other beneficial compounds such as vitamin E and carotene, which help neutralize cancer-causing agents. These nutrients also support blood health and enhance vision.

In addition to its vitamins and carotenoids, gac is an abundant source of beta-carotene, which has been studied for its cancer-preventive properties, particularly against lung and prostate cancers. While tomatoes are known for their lycopene content, studies from the University of California have shown that gac contains up to 70 times more lycopene than tomatoes. Furthermore, gac’s combination of lycopene, vitamin E, and carotene can deactivate up to 75% of cancer-causing substances, especially those linked to breast and prostate cancer.

Commonly found in Vietnam, gac is not only a powerful tool in cancer prevention but also boosts immunity, supports heart health, and aids in digestion. This remarkable fruit should be incorporated into the diet to fully benefit from its health-enhancing properties.

Gac, especially its oil, is packed with compounds that help eliminate harmful substances from our daily diet. The fruit contains powerful antioxidants that enhance immune function and strengthen the body’s defense systems while promoting overall vitality.

The curcumin present in gac oil is particularly effective in removing free radicals, which are known to cause cancer. It also boosts the body's resistance and endurance. Along with curcumin, the beta-carotene found in the gac fruit’s red membrane provides strong antioxidant properties, further enhancing the immune system.

Curcumin is a renowned antioxidant and anti-aging compound (some studies suggest it is 300 times more powerful than vitamin E). It helps fade age spots, prevents wrinkles, improves skin tone and texture, prevents hair loss, promotes hair growth, reduces obesity, and regulates blood pressure.

For the elderly, gac is rich in nutrients that enhance immunity, support heart health, and reduce symptoms of cataracts. It's also considered an excellent food for those with high cholesterol. Regular and consistent consumption of gac can lower unwanted cholesterol levels, strengthen blood vessel walls, prevent atherosclerosis, and reduce the risk of strokes, leading to a healthier circulatory system and a longer life. Gac also plays a key role in stabilizing the nervous system.

Gac contains selenium, minerals, and vitamins, all of which are beneficial for maintaining a healthy nervous system and combating symptoms of depression, which is increasingly common among children and individuals dealing with high stress levels. Additionally, it helps the body relax, clear the mind, and reduce work-related stress.

You can enjoy gac in various dishes like gac sticky rice, stir-fried ribs with gac, or roasted chicken with gac and lotus seeds. The selenium in gac will contribute to a more balanced nervous system.