Gac fruit (scientific name: Momordica cochinchinensis) is a popular fruit in many Asian countries. Not only is it used to cook sticky rice with gac fruit during holidays and Tet, but gac also has many wonderful uses for health. Here are some of the main uses:

✅ 1. Rich in antioxidants

Gac is rich in beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) and lycopene – both of which are powerful antioxidants.

Lycopene in gac is 70 times higher than in tomatoes.

Helps protect cells, slow down the aging process and support cancer prevention.

✅ 2. Good for eyes

The beta-carotene content in gac is very high, helping to improve eyesight, prevent macular degeneration and night blindness .

✅ 3. Strengthen the immune system

Vitamin A, E and antioxidant compounds in gac help increase resistance, protecting the body from infections.

✅ 4. Beautify skin, anti-aging

Gac essential oil is often used in cosmetics because it contains vitamin E and antioxidants that help nourish the skin, reduce dark spots and freckles , and make the skin brighter and healthier.

✅ 5. Cardiovascular support

Lycopene and essential fatty acids in gac oil help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and help prevent atherosclerosis.

✅ 6. Supports cancer prevention

Studies show that lycopene in gac can help slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells (such as breast cancer, prostate cancer…).

✅ 7. Supports children’s height development

Thanks to its richness in vitamin A and provitamin A, gac fruit supports bone development, vision and enhances calcium absorption in children.

🥣 1. Traditional sticky rice with gac fruit (a super familiar Tet dish)

Ingredient:

1 ripe gac fruit

500g delicious sticky rice

100ml white wine

1–2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 little shredded coconut (optional)

Making:

Soak sticky rice for 6-8 hours, wash clean.

Cut the gac fruit open, take the red flesh + seeds, mix with wine and a little salt to get a nice color.

Separate the seeds, keep only the red flesh and mix with rice.

Steam for 30-40 minutes, while steaming you can sprinkle a little sugar if you like it sweet.

When the sticky rice is cooked, mix in the shredded coconut and enjoy.

🍹 2. Gac smoothie – thirst quenching, beautiful skin

Ingredient:

1–2 tablespoons of gac pulp (take the soft red part)

1 ripe banana or mango

1/2 cup unsweetened yogurt or milk

1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Ice cubes

Making:

Put all ingredients in blender.

Blend well, add ice if you like it cold.

Drink immediately to absorb vitamins A, E, and lycopene, which are super good for the skin and eyes.

🧴 3. Gac mask nourishes skin and prevents aging

Ingredient:

1 tablespoon gac pulp

1 tablespoon plain yogurt or honey

Making:

Mix gac and yogurt into a thick mixture.

Wash face, apply on skin for 15-20 minutes.

Rinse with warm water. Use 2-3 times/week for brighter, smoother skin.

🥄 4. Gac oil for weaning babies (or as a vitamin A supplement)

Simple way to do at home:

Separate the red part of the gac fruit and remove the seeds.

Mix with cooking oil (coconut oil, olive oil or rice oil), cook gently over low heat for 10-15 minutes to get a nice red color.

Filter the red oil, store in a glass jar, and keep in the refrigerator.

You can add 1-2 drops to your baby’s daily porridge to supplement vitamin A and support eyesight.