There’s a lot of controversy over so-called “antinutrients” and whether or not they’re good for you. But researchers have found they serve a protective purpose for plants — and people.

Jacalin, a lectin found in jackfruit flesh and seeds, may be particularly beneficial for the immune system and staving off cancer. One study tested jackfruit’s phytochemical activity against human colon cancer cells. The study’s findings showed that jackfruit had an impact on both normal and cancerous cells, mainly through its impact on the immune system and its antioxidant activity.

Another study took this evidence further by demonstrating jacalin’s ability to modulate macrophages (an important type of white blood cell), effectively initiating the elimination of tumors in the body.

Saponins can also stop cancer cells from replicating. In one study, 35 mg/mL of jackfruit seed extract showed evidence of angiogenesis prevention, stopping the creation of new blood cells in tumors.

A Sustainable Choice for a Growing World

With its huge size, impressive nutrient density, and crowd-pleasing taste, jackfruit could be one of the most promising solutions for sustainably feeding the world.

Amazingly, one jackfruit tree can grow about 100–200 fruits in a year. That’s up to a ton of fruit per year, from one tree!

Compared to the intensive land and water resources necessary to produce meat, jackfruit is far more efficient as a global food source.

Danielle Nierenberg, president of Food Tank (which promotes healthy and sustainable agriculture) told The Guardian this about jackfruit:

“It is easy to grow. It survives pests and diseases and high temperatures. It is drought-resistant. […] It achieves what farmers need in food production when facing a lot of challenges under climate change.”

Some jackfruit producers, such as The Jackfruit Company, are also working to produce the fruits with regenerative agriculture and help secure organic certifications for farmers.

Crudely nicknamed the “poor man’s fruit,” researchers are aiming to increase jackfruit consumption in India, where the food has mostly fallen out of favor and often goes to waste. Making jackfruit a favorite staple food again could help feed millions of people who are facing food insecurity. It could also help boost the income of farmers, due to the many marketable products derived from jackfruit trees and fruit.