Star fruit, or carambola, gets its name from the shape of its star-shaped fruit when it is cut. With its waxy green to yellow color, this star-shaped fruit tastes like a pineapple, lemon and plum, all in one. It is a healthy snack as there are less than 75 star fruit calories in this tropical fruit . Grown in Malaysia and Southeast Asia for centuries, star fruit is also called a Chinese star, five-angled fruit and star apple. Today, star fruit thrives in Hawaii and southern Florida as a result of the warm tropical climate.
What is the Difference Between the Sweet and Sour Varieties?
There are two different varieties of star fruit. There is a sweet and a sour variety. How can anyone tell the difference? The sour varieties have narrower-spaced ribs. The sweeter varieties carry wider flesher-spaced ribs. The sweeter varieties have thicker-spaced ribs. And, it is hard to distinguish between the sour or sweet star fruit because even the sour fruit has a certain amount of sweetness to it.
When is the Best Time to Buy Star fruit?
If there are no neighbors in southern Florida who grow star fruit, this tropical fruit is available in the produce section from July to February. If buying this fruit, whose taste is a cross between a lemon, plum and pineapple, for the first time, look for fruit that is shiny and has a firm appearance. Star fruit doesn't have to be placed in the fridge to ripen; it will ripen simply sitting on the kitchen counter. How do you know if a piece of fruit is fully ripe? Ripe star fruit will have light brownish edges on the ribs. This is how you know this fruit is ready to eat.
Will Star Fruit Help You Lose Weight?
This odd-shaped fruit is a source of folic acid. This is used in maintaining healthy bones, teeth mucus membranes, skin and improving the immune system. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a single cup of carambola offers 37.2 grams of vitamin C. Star fruit also has beta carotene. This is good for good sight and a healthy appetite.
Why Should Heart Attack Patients Eat a Fruit a Day?
Star fruit may not do much to repair any damage from a previous heart attack. But, it can help lower cholesterol and prevent risk of future heart attacks. With its small amounts of potassium, it can also help regulate a patient's blood pressure. This can also be used to balance a patient's risk of stroke.
Is Star fruit a Superfruit?
While doctors are not calling star fruit a superfruit, this tropical fruit is known to be a good source of fruit for pregnant women. Because this tropical fruit contains folate or vitamin B9, this is essential to helping reduce birth defects in pregnant mothers. Also, it is believed giving this tropical fruit to nursing mothers encourages the flow of breast milk. In any case, this fruit also contains iron, calcium and magnesium.
Why is Star Fruit Good for Cooking?
Star fruit is best consumed after it is ripe and it contains no more than four percent sugar. In China, star fruit are cooked with fish. In Jamaica, sometimes the fruit is dried and in Southeast Asia, this tropical fruit is stewed with cloves and sometimes, apples. This is why star fruit can be used for a variety of uses, in a variety of ways. Whether the sour juice is used to make ice cream in Hawaii, there are plenty of options to enjoy this sweet-sour fruit.
Star fruit are not just made into another relish. They are also added to fish in China, stewed with cloves and apples in Southeast Asia, dried in Jamaica and pickled in Australia. Though they may only been in-season a few months, this star-shaped fruit is sweet and a little sour. It is also a very good source to lower cholesterol, help pregnant women reduce birth defects and it helps prevent heart attacks. Star fruit and calories go hand in hand, as star fruit is low-calorie and good-for-you. Though it is not a superfruit, star fruit is packed with vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, B9 and iron. Only in season from July to February, this plum, pineapple and apple crossed-fruit makes for a healthy and tasty treat.
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