Gac fruit

Yes, it has a strange name. No, you most likely haven’t heard of it before. And yes, it is a fruit you need to know. It’s Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), a strange and beautiful red fruit originating from Vietnam, where it is harvested in December and January. The fruit fat-free throughout Southeast Asia and China, often as an ornamental plant due to its magnificent colour. Also known as Chinese bitter cucumber, cundeamor and bhat karela, Gac fruit is rich in the antioxidants beta-carotene, lycopene (seventy times more than in tomatoes), and zeaxanthin. It contains the highest concentration of beta carotene of any known fruit or vegetable (ten times as much as carrots). Beta carotene is a reddish antioxidant that shows up in a host of fresh fruit and vegetables, from apricots to pumpkins. It converts to vitamin A in the body and has a variety of protective properties.^[1]

Gac fruit is also a rich source of saturated, unsaturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fatty acids, which together represent a highly unique profile among fresh fruit. Most fruits are "fat-free", which limits the absorption of their nutrients in the body. But the diverse array of fats in Gac fruit ensures high bioavailability and maximum absorption of nutrients.

As a traditional medicine, Gac fruit has been employed to treat conditions of the eyes, burns, skin problems, and wounds. The juice of the fruit is used as a healthy beverage that is beneficial for the eyes, immunity, reproduction, skin, heart health, and the prostate.^[1]

Because of its unusually high concentration of beta-carotene, Gac fruit is a valuable aid in preventing or treating vitamin A deficiency. One study of children conducted in Vietnam measured blood plasma levels of vitamin A before and after the consumption of a Gac fruit extract. The study showed that vitamin A levels increased with supplementation. In many developing countries, vitamin A deficiency is an epidemic. Such deficiency can cause poor night vision, blindness, reduced ability to fight infections, higher rates of maternal mortality, poor embryonic growth, and reduced lactation. Supplementation with Gac fruit extract can alleviate chronic vitamin A deficiency and help to reduce these health problems.^[1]

One Japanese study reported in the International Journal of Oncology suggested that Gac fruit may be a cancer-fighter. In this lab study, a water extract of the fruit inhibited the growth of certain tumour cells. This does not mean that Gac fruit is a cancer cure, but it almost surely will help to reduce the risk of some types of cancer. No doubt more science on the anti-cancer properties of Gac fruit will be conducted over time.^[1]

Rich in many powerful antioxidants, Gac fruit naturally helps to reduce damage to skin tissue by protecting it against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress ages skin and causes it to lose its elasticity and healthy appearance, but both the lycopene and beta-carotene in Gac fruit not only protect skin, but also help to improve its appearance.^[2]

Good nutrition is important to keep your eyes healthy and to function their best throughout your lifetime. And the zeaxanthin in Gac fruit protects the tissues of the eyes against exposure to ultraviolet rays and helps to reduce oxidation of eye tissue, thereby enhancing overall eye health.
Some studies have found that zeaxanthin either help prevent AMD or may slow progression of the Nutrition & Metabolism, as well eyes with greater levels of macular pigments were less likely to have or develop macular degeneration.
As published journal Optometry, participants with early AMD who consumed 8 mg per day of dietary zeaxanthin for one year improved their night driving, and their visual acuity improved an average of 1.5 lines on an eye chart.

Beta-carotene from Gac fruit has powerful antioxidant functions; it helps the body scavenge free radicals, thereby limiting the damage to cell membranes, DNA and protein structures in the cell.

Research studies suggest that intake of β-carotene has a positive association with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease as well as oral cavity, and lung cancers.

When converted to vitamin A in the intestines it has all the functions of vitamin A such as visual cycle, reproduction (sperm production), maintenance of epithelial functions, growth, and development.

The various antioxidants in Gac fruit enhance heart health by specifically combating atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Additionally, both lycopene and beta-carotene show protective activity against the risk of heart attack.^[1]

Additionally, lycopene, which is super-abundant in Gac fruit, helps to reduce BPH, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, a five-dollar term for enlargement of the prostate. Lycopene can help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.^[1]

References:
[1] http://www.foxnews.com
[2] http://www.naturalnews.com