Star fruit, an edible star

An attractive and beautiful fruit that, after cutting, turns into a five-pointed star; that is why it is known as star fruit. The skin of star fruit varies from green to yellow and the inside is usually very juicy and white.

Starfruit, also known by the strange name of carambola, is a tropical juicy fruit native to India and Southeast Asia, which is popular in that region but somehow unknown in the world. Starfruit is often used as a garnish for juices, cocktails and salads due to its attractive star shape. The properties of star fruit are very diverse, and that is why it is included in the diet of many people in raw or cooked form.

The taste of this fruit is slightly sour and somewhat like a mixture of ripe pears, green grapes and oranges. Its juicy and firm flesh resembles grapes. All parts of the star fruit are edible, including its waxy skin, which makes it easy to eat raw.

Nutritional value of star fruit

Starfruit is low in calories and an excellent source of vitamins and other nutrients, as well as the following antioxidants:

Fiber
1Protein
Vitamin C
Vitamin B5
Calcium
Sodium
Folate
Copper
Potassium
Magnesium

Properties of star fruit

Anti-cancer property: research shows that star fruit can help prevent all types of cancer due to its high fiber content.
Helps to lose weight: The high fiber in star fruit helps to increase the body’s metabolism and lose weight. Also, since this fruit is low in calories, you can enjoy it as a delicious snack without worrying about gaining weight.
Strengthening the body’s immune system: Another property of star fruit is strengthening the body’s system. This fruit is rich in vitamin C, which makes your body produce the right level of white blood cells for a strong immune system.
Help to improve respiratory health: This fruit has anti-inflammatory properties due to its many antioxidants. One of the properties of star fruit is to help relieve sore throat during illness.
Help to improve heart health: The high amounts of sodium and potassium in star fruit help to regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Calcium in this fruit reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Helps to improve digestion: The fiber in star fruit helps the digestive system to digest food and improves the symptoms of constipation, bloating, muscle cramps and diarrhea.
Anti-aging: Another reason to eat star fruit is the presence of antioxidants such as vitamin C, quercetin, Gallic acid and other polyphenolic flavonoids, which are very beneficial for the skin. Antioxidants counteract the effects of oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals before they can damage the skin. Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen production, so it can prevent or minimize the appearance of wrinkles, while keeping skin glowing and blemish-free as we age.

How to use star fruit

Star fruit is known as a special fruit and is very popular in some countries. In the following, we review some of the special uses of star fruit in foods:

Food decoration: The shape of star fruit and its unique design can be used as a beautiful decoration in food and drinks. Starfruit slices can be added to salads, desserts, cakes and other foods.
Juice and drinks: Star fruit can be used alone or combined with other fruits and used in the preparation of juices, cocktails, smoothies and fruit salad. Star fruit juice has a sour taste and can be a hearty drink on hot days.
Preparation of jams and pickles: Star fruit can be used in the preparation of jams, pickles and sauces. Star fruit jam has a special taste that gives a unique taste to sourness and sweetness.
Traditional medicine: In some traditional medicine systems, star fruit is used as medicine. For example, in traditional medicine in India, star fruit is prescribed to treat certain digestive problems, antiseptic, cooling and immune system booster.
Use in cooking: Star fruit can be used in the preparation of various dishes and desserts. Its uses include sauces, compotes, cakes, pies, preserves, and fruit sauces.

This diversity of uses shows that star fruit is a useful fruit that can be used in a variety of foods and beverages as a flavoring or decorative element.

5 delicious suggestion for how to consume star fruit

Starfruit can be used in many ways. Here we have prepared 5 attractive suggestions for using this delicious fruit:

Add starfruit to fruit salad

Mix starfruit slices with other tropical fruits to create a colorful mix of sweet and sour flavors.

Make a tropical smoothie

Mix Starfruit with fruits such as bananas, strawberries, kiwi, mango, pineapple, grapes and citrus fruits and prepare a thick and delicious drink. For this, you can get help from pineapple and star fruit nectar.

Make a carbonated drink with star fruit juice

To make this drink, mix star fruit juice with carbonated water. With this delicious drink, you will benefit from all the properties of star fruit.

Try the star fruit smoothie with mango

Put the sliced mango and strawberry in the freezer to freeze, then put the frozen fruit in a blender with some Starfruit juice. This delicious and characteristic smoothie is prepared quickly and does not need any other sweetener.

Make starfruit ice cream

Fruit sorbet are very popular in summer because they are easy to make and very tasty. Starfruit ice cream is no exception to this rule. You can prepare Sunich pineapple and star fruit nectar and make sorbet with it. This is a popular food for children and in this way they benefit from the properties of star fruit.

Final word

In addition to the good taste and countless properties of star fruit, the use of this fruit in limited cases may be harmful for some people. For example, for those who have problems such as kidney stones or kidney failure, oxalic acid in star fruit is harmful.

Also, in some cases, it has been reported that high consumption of star fruit can have a negative effect on patients with neurological disorders, especially in cases where star fruit is combined with certain medications. Apart from the contraindications, experience the taste of this unique star fruit once and enjoy the taste and properties of star fruit.