Are you familiar with the star shaped fruit called carambola fruit? It originates from the Malayan peninsula and could be also found in the Southeast Asia, Latin America, southern US and the Caribbean.
The ripe fruit is yellow in color with some mixed taste of sour and sweet, resembling to the flavors of citrus fruits, pear and grapes.
This flavor is what makes this fruit unique and popular among people.
Along its extraordinary taste, the star fruit is excellent source of many health benefits. It is a low-caloric fruit, with only 31 calories in 100 grams and is rich in antioxidants, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B and C, folate and minerals including iron, potassium, zinc, calcium and manganese.
These are some of the most incredible benefits of this beneficial fruit:
1.Regulator of Hypertension
Although sodium is the strongest regulator of hypertension, the carambola fruit is low in it. However, it is loaded with potassium, another powerful regulator. If you consume this fruit on a regular basis it will help you treat hypertension.
2.Lowers Cholesterol
It’s the high fiber content that improves the heart health and lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. Bad cholesterol causes clogged arteries thus causing heart attacks. The star fruit intake will increase the HDL level of good cholesterol.
3.Improves the Immune System
Carambola fruit is high in vitamin C, a potent immune booster and prevents many viral diseases such as like, influenza or colds.
4.Promotes Sleep and Treats Insomnia
The star fruit is loaded with magnesium, an essential mineral for treating disturbed night sleep and insomnia. Its consumption will improve the quality of sleep and rest.
5.Improves Digestion
It’s the fiber in this fruit that improves the digestion process because it cleanses the intestines and fights constipation by bounding high amount of water. If you consume it after some heavy meals, you will improve your digestion process and will prevent digestive issues.
6.Beneficial for the Skin
It provides excellent skin health due to the high amount of flavonoid and zinc. It prevents many diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
7.Proper fetus development
The star fruit is high in vitamin B9 and folic acid, very important substances in the state of pregnancy. The folic acid is especially important for the first months of gestation and for the proper development of the brain and the neural tube of the baby.
After the delivery, this fruit stimulates the formation of breast milk.
8.Controls Diabetes
This fruit is especially useful for diabetics because it is low in sugar. It’s the fiber that balances the blood sugar level throughout the day and prevents fast glucose absorption.
9.Antimicrobial Properties
It effectively fights infections such as Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella.
10.Promotes Eye Health
Star fruit is especially high in vitamin A and magical vitamin that promotes good eye health.
Note: Although the star fruit provides many health benefits, it should not be consumed in the case of kidney failure, kidney disease or kidney dialysis because it is rich in oxalic acid and may cause vomiting, nausea and confusion.
Be careful with its consumption if you take some benzodiazepines, statins, or opiates because it has substances that can interfere with these drugs.
