Top 7 Reasons to Eat Star Fruit
I can go on about the reasons to eat star fruit. We all want to get healthier, and there’s no better way to do so than consuming more fruits and vegetables. What makes a healthy lifestyle interesting is creativity, and always looking for different fruit and vegetable options. If you feel a little fed up with the same old fruit bowl, why not try some of the famous star fruit?
Also known as Carambola, Star fruit ranks among the topmost sought after fruits, and rightly so. They are incredibly rich in nutrients and sweet and tart in terms of taste. These irresistible fruits earn their name from their shape when cut and are often found in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.
If you’re looking for something new to add to your fruit bowl, you cannot go wrong with star fruits. Below are the top benefits of these popular fruits and reasons to eat star fruit.
Aids Weight Loss
Star fruits are low in calories, but very rich in fiber. The high fiber content in this fruit has been found to slow down digestion, which helps increase satiety. Additionally, fiber takes longer to chew, giving your stomach time to realize when you’ve eaten more than enough.
Star Fruit Supports the Digestive System
If you’re suffering from digestive issues, star fruit could be the answer to your problems. According to a gastroenterologist known as Lisa Ganjhu, DO, fiber helps keep the bowel movements regular. In other words, fiber adds bulk to stool movement, providing colon lubrication, and ensuring smooth transit.
Don’t overdo it with fiber consumption because it can lead to diarrhea or loose stool. Keep it balanced.
Boost Immunity
Star fruits are rich in antioxidants, giving them anti-inflammatory properties. This means that these sweet-tasting fruits have the ability to fight free radicals and prevent diseases. Additionally, star-fruits are also rich in Vitamin C, which aid in the excretion of toxins and the strengthening of the immune system. No scurvy here!
Maintain Cardiovascular Health
The older we get, the higher the risk of developing a complication with our cardiovascular health. This is especially true if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Foods high in fat, sugar, and salt is known to increase fat around significant parts of the body, including the lining of the arteries. This is how high blood pressure and complications such as stroke tend to develop.
To help lower cholesterol levels in the body is a reason you should eat more star fruit. The star fruit is loaded with potassium, sodium, and folic acid, which can help prevent, manage, and lower the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.
Improve Respiratory Health
Nobody is immune to respiratory problems. All it takes is the overproduction of mucus or phlegm within our bodies to suffer from a sore throat or congested chest. The star fruit (otherwise known as carambola fruit), thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, can prevent the accumulation of mucus within the body.
Boost Metabolism with Star Fruit
People with a slow metabolism tend to add weight quickly and vice-versa. You can improve your metabolism by drinking more water and exercising some more. Another way is to eat more star fruit.
Star fruit is rich in riboflavin and folate that help increase metabolism, and hence, aid weight loss. This, in turn, keeps insulin levels within the body at an optimum level.
How do you eat a star fruit, and what does it taste like?
That is an excellent question if you never ate star fruit before. As all fruit and vegetables, be sure to wash them thoroughly. The good news is that the entire star fruit is edible, skin, seeds, and all — no need to peel it.
Cut the star fruit broadside about a 1/4 inch thick. Now you will understand how it was named. The star fruit taste is like a blend of orange and papaya, especially if it is ripe. The bright yellow skin with brown edges will make this apparent.
Go ahead and brighten up your dinner with star fruit; they will surely be the life of the party.
Warning: If you have kidney disease, eating starfruit can be toxic. There is a neurotoxin in star fruit that can cause neurological disorders. Some of those include hiccups, confusion, seizures, and in the most severe cases, death!
In conclusion, if you don’t have any kidney problems, star fruit is incredibly rich in antioxidants and antioxidants that are extremely good for our health. Other than the benefits, star-fruits are known to contain cancer-fighting properties. Additionally, by eating star fruit regularly, you’ll notice that your skin and hair will look healthier. Those are the reasons to eat star fruit!
Here is another plant that is super healthy and has many surprising benefits that you can drink or put on your skin! Can you guess what it is?
