Star Fruit Facts

A native of India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the star fruit has lots of health benefits and it is also a source of certain side effects. Know all about this fruit in this article about the star fruit facts.

The star fruit is also known as carambola and when cut across its middle it has a five pointed star shape and thus, its name ‘star fruit’. It is the fruit of the tree Averrhoa carambola, which as mentioned is a native species of India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, but is gaining popularity in the United States. The flavor of this fruit is a combination of the taste of plums, pineapples and lemons. However, some people find the star fruit taste which is similar to the mix of papaya fruit, orange and grapefruit. One can consume the star fruit entirely. It has a waxy skin which is green when raw and golden yellow when ripe. Above all, it is extremely juicy! In the below description of star fruit facts, you will come to know about its nutritional value, growing tips and health benefits. As mentioned, there are also some negative aspects of the star fruit facts which you will be made aware of, as well.

Carambola Fruit Facts Let’s start with the star fruit

nutrition facts. The fruit is high in dietary fiber, Vitamin C, copper, pantothenic acid and potassium. It is also low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. The below table is a list of the star fruit nutritional value for a serving size 125 g.

Nutrients

Amount (Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet)

Calories

40

Total Fat

0 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Vitamin C

45 %

Vitamin A

15%

Calcium

0 %

Iron

2%

Cholesterol

0 mg

Sodium

0 mg

Total Carbohydrates

10 g

Dietary Fiber

3 g g

Sugars

7 g

Protein

1 g

Star fruit comes in two varieties; sweet (with 5% sugars) and tart (with 1% acid). The sweet star fruit season falls in summer to late winter and that of the tart variety is from late summer to midwinter.

Fruits

which are unripe can be ripened at room temperature until the fruits become glowing gold.

Warm, high humidity climate favors growing star fruit trees. Rainfall all year round promote healthy growth and rich bearing of fruits. Places with 70 inch annual rainfall are ideal for growing the trees. Although, these tree can grow in all soil types, they prefer deep rich acid soil for better growth and productivity. It is to be ensured that the soil must provide a good drainage.

The usual propagation of the star fruit tree is done by planting its seeds. Before being sown, the seeds must be cleaned, dried and must be sown fresh. Prior to growing the seeds in outdoor soils, it is better to sow them in small pots or containers. Damp peat moss is good for the purpose. When the seedlings appear, they can be transplanted outdoors and the pots can be used as root stock. In summer, germination will take about 5 – 7 days, while in winter, 12 – 18 days. Moderate amount of watering is required for growing a star fruit tree. Do not over water nor leave it to dry. Fertilizer such as organic compost/manure is good for its growth.

This was about the growing of the star fruit tree. The next section of this article of star fruit facts is about a quick summary on the fruit’s benefits and some side effects.

Star Fruit Health Benefits

• Lowering cholesterol
• Prevents and treats constipation
• Treats jaundice
• The water extracted from the leaves and roots by boiling, helps in the treatment of headaches, ringworm, and chickenpox
• Manages hangover and prickly heat in summers
• Treating sore eyes and stimulating milk in nursing mothers
• Treating sunstroke, nausea, indigestion, colds and flu
• Helpful in losing weight and maintaining optimum health due to its richness in antioxidants

Star Fruit Side Effects

The star fruit, although, provides so many benefits, some people must avoid its consumption for good. These people are those who are suffering from kidney problems, most commonly, chronic renal failure or those who are under kidney dialysis treatment. The fruit is abundant in oxalic acid which is the main source of concern and that is the reason even a minimal amount of it can do a lot of harm. Insomnia, hiccups, agitation, muscle weakness, confusion, consciousness disturbances, seizures and cardiorespiratory arrest are the symptoms which may occur upon consumption of this fruit.

This was all about the star fruit facts which encompassed its nutritional values, cultivation, health benefits and a few side effects. Before I sign off, while you are shopping for these stars, look for large, plump, firm, crispy, shiny, well-shaped ones!