Durian is a seasonal fruit that belongs to the Durio genus and Bombacaceae family. It is native to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Durian is also grown in Thailand, which is the largest exporter of this fruit. Durian farms are also located in New Guinea, Vietnam, Southern Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, West Indies, Florida, Hawaii, Madagascar, southern China, northern Australia, and the Polynesian Islands. Out of 30 recognized species, fruits borne by only one species are sold in the international market. This species is called Durio zibethinus. Other species are sold in the local markets. Species that are known to produce edible fruit include D. grandiflorus, D. testudinarum, D. graveolens, D. kutejensis, and D. oxleyanus. The fruit bears a striking resemblance to jackfruit due to its greenish color and thorny exterior. Durian is an acquired taste, and not every person might relish the fruit, especially when one is eating it for the first time. To add to that, it is a fruit that is infamous for its offensive odor. Its smell has been compared to rotten eggs, sewage, unwashed socks, etc. Some say that it is a fruit that 'tastes like heaven and smells like hell'. On account of its foul smell, it is banned in some airports, hotels, subways, and public transport in a few regions of Southeast Asia. However, this fruit does offer several wonderful health benefits, due to which one can try to develop a taste for it. It is believed that the odor of this fruit might be due to the presence of bacteriostatic, indole compounds. Durian fruit is packed with several vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients. It has an excellent nutritional profile. The following table presents the nutrition value per 100 g. The following figures have been provided by the USDA.

Nutrients (Value per 100 g)
Energy	147 kcal
Carbohydrates	27.09 g
Protein	1.47 g
Total fat	5.33 g
Cholesterol	0
Dietary fiber	3.8 g
Minerals
Calcium	6 mg
Sodium	2 mg
Iron	0.43 mg
Magnesium	30 mg
Phosphorus	39 mg
Potassium	436 mg
Copper	0.207 mg
Zinc	0.28 mg
Manganese	0.325 mg
Vitamins
Folate	36 mcg
Niacin	1.074 mg
Pantothenic acid	0.230 mg
Pyridoxine	0.316 mg
Riboflavin	0.200 mg
Thiamin	0.374 mg
Vitamin A	44IU
Vitamin C	19.7 mg

The nutritional information reveals that durian has a high nutritional value. This fruit is an excellent source of proteins and dietary fiber. Let's enumerate the health benefits of this fruit. The health benefits of the durian fruit certainly outweigh the issue of its foul odor. If you cannot get yourself to eat the fresh fruit, you can buy frozen durian, in which the odor becomes somewhat subdued.