The Health Benefits of Rambutan

Today I had my first ever experience with rambutan. My dad had brought two home, so we gave them a try. We have never tried them before, but I have seen them before. I must say, my first experience was quite epic. We both enjoyed them and definitely buying more.

Rambutan (aka Nephelium lappaceum) is a medium-sized exotic fruit grown by a tree called rambutan. This fruit is relatively common to Malaysia, Thailand, the Phillippines, Vietnam, Borneo, and other regions of the country. It's a member of a Sapindaceae (a plant family). Rambutan reminds me of a mini durian, a dragon fruit and an eos (a scented lip balm that looks similar to this exotic fruit). Actually, this fruit is relatively close to a lychee fruit (a fruit common in Asian cuisines and looks like a rambutan and they are both exotic). This tastes like a juicy grape with hard shell pieces and white flesh. Rambutan is naturally red in color, but sometimes it can be found yellow or orange. The taste of this fruit is sweet and divine. My dad and I were both really excited to open it up and eat it. Yet again, this is a very interesting fruit, due to its exoticness.

this is the rambutan tree vines. this is how rambutan fruits grow - exotically!

My dad asked me if I knew how to open it (which I didn't, but I used common sense to open this exotic fruit). It didn't take me long to figure out how to open this weird-looking fruit. Then, I had did some research and found out how to open and eat a rambutan. Looks like my common sense was right! I had opened my rambutan the right way on top (just like an avocado). You can cut it into two angles and directions.

Either on top or on the side. I was surprised at what I had discovered when I opened my rambutan. Like I said, it tasted like a juicy grape with a hard shell and white flesh. I wasn't expecting a shell in the center, but it was divine. I think it's amazing how this fruit comes protected in it's own shell. I find it's safer and more organic.

Plus, it will be more fresher, too. That would be very awesome, though!
Anyways, this fruit has a lot of epic health benefits and has been used as a medicine for hundreds of years by the Malaysia and the Indonesia. Read below to find more about the epicness that this exotic fruit has to offer.

this fruit is kinda cool, huh?

The Heath Benefits of Rambutan: 

• used as a treatment by the Malaysia and Indonesia for hundreds of years to treat fevers, diabetes, hypertensions and various aliments. this fruit has healing power properties.
• rambut is the malay word for "hair". this fruit is hairy and spiky. it can't get more exotic then that! 
• rich in sugar, mostly natural glucose and sucrose
• contains less calories. like 60 calories per fruit (although, i do not believe in counting calories)
• abundant in vitamin C
• contains potassium, iron, zinc, beta carotene, vitamin A, little calcium, magnesium, sodium, niacin, fiber, and protein
• researchers at the Chiang Mai University in Thailand found out the rambutan's pulp, seeds and skin have strong, plant based antioxidants called flavonoids (flavonoids is an organic compound found in the skin. it is called gallic acid. the acid acts like a free radical that protects oxidative damage in our body. the acid is so stromg that battles against cancer. 
• not all flavonoids are equal. certain kinds of flavonoids believed to to reduce cholesterol, anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory. 
• rambutan also contains copper, manganese, phosphorous and therapeutic functions
• researchers at The Online Culinary School claimed that eating this fruit may help kill intestinal parasites and may aid in symptoms of diarrhea. 
• reduces body fat
• good for hair care
• makes skin softer 
• research studies found out that eating 9 to 10 of rambutan fruit per day is lowers blood pressure
• and much more epic health benefits!

You can add rambutan in fruit salads. I liked the taste of this fruit, but I did not like the hard shell pieces. I put the whole fruit in my mouth, took a bite, bu then bit into the little shell pieces. Like I said, I wasn't expecting the shell, but it's all good. You will either like it, love it or hate it. We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Besides the taste of the exotic fruit, I think this fruit is very colourful and pretty! Okay, it may be spiky and weird-looking, it is very pretty. It looks like spiky strawberries (if strawberries were spiky, they would look like rambutan fruit). These look like some exotic berry of some type. This fruit may be funny looking, but it is a very exotic and interesting fruit. Wouldn't you say? 

exotic, but pretty!

imagine serving this exotic fruit for someone for a meal, huh? how exotic is that?!

Questions of the Day:

Have you ever heard, seen, touched or tasted a rambutan before? If so, did you like it? If not, do you think you will give this exotic fruit a try, considering it is weird-looking? What do you think about this exotic fruit? 

I hope you enjoyed this post and please feel free to post a comment. 

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