GAC Fruit
Gac is a gourd shaped fruit about the size of a cantaloupe that grows on a perennial vine and is often referred to as the "fruit from heaven". It is frequently cultivated in home gardens and is found on lattices and among the branches of trees. Gac is usually picked at maturity, when it is bright red and the seeds are hardened. Although easy to grow, Gac is a seasonal fruit that is only available during a few months each year. In northern Vietnam, Gac fruits are mainly used in making a rice dish called xoi gac.

The fruit contains by far the highest content of beta-carotene of any known fruit or vegetable. Research has confirmed that the beta-carotene (vitamin A) in the fruit is highly bioavailable. In a double-blind study with 185 children, some were given a dish containing 3.5 mg beta-carotene from spiny bitter gourd, while others were given an identical-looking dish containing 5 mg beta-carotene powder. After 30 days, the former group eating natural beta-carotene had significantly greater plasma (blood) levels of
beta-carotene than the latter with synthetic beta-carotene. This oil also included high levels of vitamin E. The fatty acids in the arilare important for the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, including carotenoids, in a diet typically low in fat. Thus, gac provides an acceptable source of high levels of valuable antioxidants that have good bioavailability. Also, vitamin A is good for skin and vision.

Due to its high content of vitamin A (beta-carotene) and lycopene, gac is often sold as a food supplement in soft capsules. Gac has been shown to be especially high in lycopene content. Relative to mass, it contains up to 70 times the amount of lycopene found in tomatoes. It has also been found to contain up to 10 times the amount of beta-carotene of carrots or sweet potatoes. Additionally, the carotenoids present in gac are bound to long-chain fatty acids, resulting in what is claimed to be a more bioavailable form.[6] There has also been recent research that suggests that gac contains a protein that may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.

Nutritional Facts not available