Benefits Fruit Carambola (Star Fruit, Averrhoa carambola Linn)

Benefits Fruit Carambola (Star Fruit, Averrhoa carambola Linn)

Carambola, also known as starfruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Star fruit is a five-ribbed fruit and when cut crosswise to form stars. When young, his skin pale green and turn yellow to reddish when ripe. The flesh is thick, yellow, and lots of water. It was sweet to sour.

 
The content of StarFruit

• Vitamin C and provitamin A (carotenoids).
• Minerals iron, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium / potassium.
• Pectin. 
• fiber

Health Benefits of starfruit

• Lowering blood pressure. 
• As an antioxidant and anticancer.
• Increase endurance.
• Prevent and treat ulcers.
• Facilitate digestion and prevent constipation.
• Lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
• Dilute phlegm and re-treat cough.

In addition, it is a good source of B-complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). Together, these vitamins help as co-factors for enzymes in metabolism as well as in various synthetic functions inside the body.

Star fruit is one of very low calorie exotic fruits. 100 g fruit just provides 31 calories, which is much lower than for any other popular tropical fruits. Nonetheless, it has an impressive list of essential nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins required for well-being.

Star fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 34.7 mg or 57% of daily-required levels of vitamin C. In general, consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

Star fruit is rich in antioxidant phyto-nutrient polyphenolic flavonoids. Some of the important flavonoids present are quercetin, epicatechin, and gallic acid. Total polyphenol contents (Folin assay) in this fruit is 143 mg/100 g. Altogether, these compounds help protect from deleterious effects of oxygen derived free radicals by warding them off the body.

The fruit along with its waxy peel provides a good amount of dietary fiber. Fiber helps prevent absorption of dietary LDL cholesterol in the gut. The dietary fibers also help protect the mucous membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.

It also carry small amount of minerals and electrolytes like potassium, phosphorus, and zinc and iron. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus, it counters bad influences of sodium.