7 Major Side Effects of Overeating Durian Fruit
Durian is an edible fruit that grows on a tree of the same name and belongs to the genus Durio. There are about 30 varieties of Durio fruit, and 9 are suitable for edible purposes. Durio is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Phillippines. Durian fruit is strong on the olfactory senses, and its smell can either be extremely pleasant like a fragrance or it can have a terrible odor. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc, and provides many health and beauty benefits. However, there are some side effects of overeating durian fruit.
Side Effects of Overeating Durian Fruit
Following are the major side effects of overeating durians.
(1) May Cause Digestive Problems
The laxative properties of dietary fibers in durian fruit improve bowel movement, relieve constipation, and provide relief from other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and flatulence.
However, too many dietary fibers may cause poor absorption of nutrients and increase the risk of diarrhea. It may also cause gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, intestinal gas, and intestinal blockage, etc.
Eat durians in moderation, and if you are already enjoying a fiber-rich diet, be cautious of adding other sources of fibers (such as durian) to your diet.
Dietary fibers absorb excess water from the intestines and may harden the stool.
Eating fiber-rich food without drinking plenty of water increases the risk of constipation.
(2) Too Many Antioxidants Are Bad
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids, etc in durian protect our cells from free radical damage and reduce the risk of various cancers.
Antioxidants also provide other benefits such as boosting immunity, protecting the cardiovascular system, providing cognitive benefits, improving respiratory health, protecting vital organs like the liver and kidneys, and so on.
However, high dose of antioxidants are bad for our health as in large doses antioxidants not only targets the cancer cells but also the healthy cells around them.
As per a study by the National Cancer Institute, smokers who took beta-carotene supplements were more likely to develop lung cancer than those who didn’t take beta-carotene.
Large doses of vitamin E increase the risk of prostate cancer and hemorrhagic stroke.
It’s very unlikely to overdose on antioxidants from durian alone.
However, if you are already taking antioxidant supplements, eating large doses of antioxidants may disrupt the recommended antioxidants level.
Depending on the nutrient ( vitamin or mineral) you are taking, durian may also interfere with the absorption of that nutrient.
Eat durian in moderation and consult your doctor to ensure there is no food-drug interference risk.
(3) Increases The Risk Of Hypoglycemia
Durian has a low glycemic index and slows down the rate at which sugar is released into the bloodstream. This prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar levels and helps in managing diabetes.
Dietary fibers in durian slow down sugar absorption by the bloodstream and regulate blood sugar levels.
But still, eat durians in moderation as otherwise they may drop our blood sugar below the healthy range and cause symptoms like excessive hunger, excessive sweating, dizziness, shakiness, irregular heartbeat, confusion, or moodiness.
If you take diabetic medication, eat durians after consulting with your doctor and ensure there is no food-drug interference risk.
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(4) May Cause Allergic Reactions
Those who are allergic to durians may experience allergic reactions on consuming as well as topical application of durians.
Some allergic reactions that may occur are hives, nasal congestion, runny nose, throat discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting. It may also cause skin rashes, redness, and itching.
Avoid durians if you are allergic to them.
(5) Eating Durians During Pregnancy
The abundance of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc in the durian fruit help in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds in durian fruit protects the fetus from free radical damage.
Durian drops our blood sugar level and reduces the risk of gestational diabetes.
Durian contains folate, an essential mineral for the brain development of the fetus, and for reducing the risk of birth defects like neural tube defects and Spina Bifida.
Calcium, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, etc in durian also play an important role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
However, when consumed in excess, dietary fibers in durain fruit may increase the risk of diarrhea and digestive problems like abdominal pain, bloating, and gas.
It may also cause poor absorption of nutrients during pregnancy.
To stay safe, pregnant women and nursing women should eat durians after consulting with their doctor and ensure there is no risk involved.
(6) May Drop Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common health problem that affects millions around the world and is a leading cause of cardiovascular and other health problems.
Durians contain potassium, a natural vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels, improve blood circulation and provide relief from hypertension.
The low sodium level in during also helps in regulating blood pressure.
Eat durians in moderation as otherwise high potassium levels may drop our blood pressure below the healthy range and cause fainting, nausea, trouble breathing, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulty, vision problems, and blood in the urine.
Eating durians while being on blood pressure medication should be considered only after consulting with your doctor.
This is to ensure there’s no food-drug interference risk.
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(7) May Lead To Weight Gain
Durians are high in calories ( 357 calories per cup of chopped durians) and promote weight gain.
If you are underweight, moderate consumption of durians can help.
In large doses, durian may increase the fat level in our body and increase the risk of health problems.
And, moderate consumption of durian also helps with weight loss as dietary fibers in them provide stomach satiety and controls overeating, a major cause of obesity.
Disclaimer
The information contained in the post is for general purpose only and shouldn’t be considered as medical advice or as an alternative to medical advice. Although I’ve tried my best to keep the information contained in this post as accurate and updated as possible, I make no guarantee of the accurateness of the same.
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