Stinking Toe
With Jamaica’s rich tropical climate, many delicious and tasty fruits have been able to thrive on the island. Some of these fruits include ‘Locust fruit’ or the ‘Jatobá’, more popularly known as Stinking Toe, which is the fruit of the West Indian Locust. One of the largest trees in the Caribbean, the stinking toe can be found in a large brown pod, that somewhat resembles the shape of a toe, and on the inside contains powdery, creamy-colored fleshed seeds.
The flavor has been likened to powdered sugar and can be eaten raw for a sweet treat. Because of its low calories, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and aphrodisiac status, no wonder many athletes use stinking toe in their smoothies and shakes as an energy booster.
Stinking toe’s anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, such as asthma, laryngitis, and bronchitis. The fruit is also known for helping with rheumatism – any disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue, especially rheumatoid arthritis.
The stinking toe may prevent anemia because of its richness in dietary iron. When consumed, the iron from the stinking toe is absorbed by the body and helps to produce hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. The hemoglobin transports oxygen to tissues around the body. The more oxygen distributed around the body, the less likely one is to experience anemia.
Stinking toe has significant amounts of vitamin A for reproductive health, and to bolster the immune system.
Like iron, the fruit plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea. Consuming stinking toes may help to replenish the cells within the eyes for proper functionality.
Stinking toe is said to have strong antifungal and antibacterial properties and can be used to treat both topical and internal infections. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs), athlete’s foot, headaches, diarrhea, or nail fungus.
This fruit also satiates the body, making it popular with those that are seeking to lose weight
It can promote lactation in nursing mothers.
It’s beneficial for gastrointestinal issues.
It is also consumed or given to those who appear to have a loss of appetite.
It’s rich in calcium required for strong bones.
Stinking toe is sometimes referred to as the free radicals’ “power off button”. The antioxidants found in the fruit track down free radicals within the body and neutralize the harmful effects they may pose, such as aging, heart disease, and cancer.