If you must have durians, it is recommended to eat two seeds of the fruit every day as part of a healthy diet, but switch around with other types of fruit.
“Having a variety of fruit in our diet can help provide different nutrients.
“Fruits like durian and banana are higher in carbohydrates and should be eaten in moderation,” Ms Chia added.
SHOULD YOU DRINK ALCOHOL AFTER EATING DURIANS?
Consuming too much durian and alcohol together may cause uncomfortable side effects.
Depending on one’s tolerance, alcohol can cause nausea, bloating and dehydration, while overeating durians can lead to bloating and sugar spikes, Ms Chia said.
It is also thought that mixing the two may worsen hangovers, a set of symptoms that occur as a consequence of drinking too much alcohol. Typical symptoms are fatigue, excessive thirst, nausea, headaches, muscles aches and weakness.
Dr Negi explained that durians contain sulphur compounds that are known to slow the metabolism of alcohol in the body. This can potentially exacerbate alcohol-related intoxication. At the same time, the liver also has to process the fat and sugar content in durian.
Studies in mice have not shown any conclusive evidence and more studies are required to understand the effects of durian on alcohol metabolism, but it would be prudent to avoid mixing the two, Dr Negi added.
DOES EATING DURIAN PROMOTE BETTER SLEEP?
It is worth mentioning that durians contain the amino acid tryptophan, which the body uses to make melatonin and serotonin.
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, while serotonin plays a role in regulating body functions such as mood, sleep, digestion and even appetite.
Would consuming durian promote better sleep then? The jury is still out on this.
Dr Negi said that a study analysing the tryptophan content in three different varieties of durian found that it is present only in the Musang King variety — but in low amounts.
“We cannot conclude with certainty that durian positively affects sleep,” she said.
If you are having sleep problems, you should avoid consuming too much fatty food such as durian, and eating it too late in the evening because that will affect digestion.
Try other sleep-promoting habits instead. For example, improving your sleep hygiene and limiting caffeine intake in the afternoon or evening.
DO DURIAN BY-PRODUCTS HAVE FEWER CALORIES THAN THE FRUIT?
When choosing between eating the fruit and a durian puff or cake to get your durian fix, opt for the fruit itself.
