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Star Fruit
(Carambola)
Averrhoa carambola |
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| Fruit Description |
Star Fruit
Star Fruit (carambola) has been cultivated in Asia since ancient times. The fruit is oval and consists of five prominent ribs (sometimes four or six), which run its entire length. The thin, waxy skin of star fruit is either a translucent pale yellow or green. Two to 12 flat seeds are lodged inside the ribs. Slicing crosswise produces star shaped slices, which explains why it is known as “Star Fruit.”
Star fruit is one of the very low calorie tropical fruits. 100 g fruit just provides 31 calories, which is much lower than than any other popular tropical fruits. Nonetheless, it has an impressive list of essential nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins required for well-being.
The super-food reputation for fruits and vegetables is often based on their prodigious anti-oxidant activity. Preliminary findings by U.S. Federal researchers show that star fruit (carambola) belongs in this league. Star fruit contain plant phytochemicals that have the power to neutralize free radicals -- unstable compounds generated by our bodies (and found in pollutants like cigarette smoke) that can wreak havoc with our health.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/008140_guava_fruits.html#ixzz2AQYTjDe
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| International Scientific Research |
Vitamin & Mineral Medicine |
Optimal Health & Nutrition |
"The tamarind fruit pulp has been official in the British and American pharmacopoeias and most other international pharmacopoeias for its medicinal properties.
Some 200,000 lbs (90,000 kg) of the shelled fruits have been annually imported into the United States for the medicinal drug trade."
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| Nutritional Information |
Health Benefits - Star Fruit
Star fruit contain any impressive list of essential nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins required for well-being. Abundant in antioxidants and Vitamin C, Carambola has no cholesterol, making it ideal diet for those who wish to have a healthy lifestyle or those who are on a weight loss diet.
Star fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. 100 g of carambola provides 34.7 mg of vitamin C. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
In addition, star fruit 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.
The essential phytochemicals that present in star fruit reduces cholesterol, and the leaves of fruit if taken as decoction it relieves headache, ringworm infection, used in the treatment of hangover also. It has been recommended for the treatment of sore eyes and the fruit juice, if given to nursing mothers, considerably stimulates the secretion of milk.
Star fruit and its juice is often recommended in many folk medicine in Brazil as a diuretic (to increase urine output), expectorant, and to suppress cough.
Star fruits health benefits are, due to presence of high content of ascorbic acid which boosts immune system, promotes healthy bones, teeth, mucus membrane and skin, lowers cholesterol, improves heart health, prevents birth defects due to presence of rich Vitamin B6, Vitamin B5, panthotheninc acid and folates. Another antioxidant beta carotene which is converted into retinol improves vision and appetite.
As it is rich in iron content, it provides relief from anemia, the presence of potassium controls hypertension, improves bone health due to presence of calcium and magnesium. The presence of soluble fiber acts as laxative, improves colon health, regulates bowel movement and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.
Star fruit juice is also recommended for the treatment of sun stroke, vomiting and nausea and the presence of rich content of vitamin C acts against common colds, flu and common infections.
Those who have impaired kidney function are advised to refrain from this fruit, as the impaired kidneys are unable to process the fruit effectively and may aggravate the problem. A healthy person with healthy kidney and organ function can eat as much star fruit as they like and can experience the full health benefits the star fruit has to offer.
Source: http://ideas4health.in/health-ideas/tag/carambola-health-benefits/
Anti-Bacterial - Anti-Microbial - Star Fruit
Star fruit has been found effective for its antimicrobial action, the juice of which eliminates bacteria like salmonella, staphylococci, and E-Coli, thus prevents many gastrointestinal disorders associated that are common with these bacteria.
Digestive Health - Star Fruit
The fruit along with its waxy peel provides 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. The presence of soluble fiber acts as laxative, improves colon health, regulates bowel movement and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.
Heart Health - Cholesterol - Star Fruit
The presence of potassium controls hypertension and the essential phytochemicals in star fruit helps in reducing cholesterol levels and improving heart health. The dietary fiber of star fruits also provide relief from helps in absorption of cholesterol, thus reduces LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, increases HDL Cholesterol. The presence of soluble fiber acts as laxative, improves colon health, regulates bowel movement and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.
Rich in potassium, copper, etc., star fruit regulates heart rate and hypertension and counters the effects of sodium. The presence of Iron and manganese contribute to the production hemoglobin in RBC’s in blood cells. The other B complex vitamins improve the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats along with other flavanoids and antioxidants.
Polyphenols - Quercetin - Epicatechin - Gallic Acid - Star Fruit
Star fruit is rich in antioxidant phyto-nutrients polyphenolic flavonoids. Some of important flavonoids are quercetin, epicatechin, and gallic acid. Total polyphenol contents (Folin assay) in star fruit are143 mg/100 g. These compounds help protect from deleterious effects of oxygen derived free radicals by warding them off the body.
Star fruit also contains 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 counters the bad influences of sodium.
Source: http://ideas4health.in/health-ideas/tag/carambola-health-benefits/
Source: http://nutrionomics.com/
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Anti-Oxidants - Super Foods - Research
Two important messages are emerging from anti-oxidant research:
1. First, that the health benefits of these phytochemicals are derived from whole foods ... and not from supplements.
2. Second, that "the synergistic effect is powerful" - in other words, antioxidant activity isn't the function of a single vitamin or nutrient alone,
... "it is the combination of countless compounds in a fruit working together."
Source: www.eatingwell.com - Alison Cleary
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"The tamarind fruit pulp has been official in the British and American pharmacopoeias and most other international pharmacopoeias for its medicinal properties.
Some 200,000 lbs (90,000 kg) of the shelled fruits have been annually imported into the United States for the medicinal drug trade."
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"The Bait and Switch" ... How Big Pharma Repackages Vitamins as Expensive Drugs !!!
The latest prescription medicine called Niaspan, which targeted to men and women with coronary artery disease and high cholesterol:
“...works to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in people with abnormal cholesterol levels ... also works to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.”
Plus, Niaspan can "reduce the risk of another heart attack in people who have high cholesterol and a history of heart attacks."
Now, here's the thing about Niaspan... it isn't really a drug! ... it's nothing more than time-released niacin (vitamin B3)!
You can get a month's supply (without a doctor's order) from most vitamin shops for under $7. Without a doubt, you're much better off going that route... because Abbott Labs will charge you a heck of a lot more ... this profitable hoax, earning hundreds of millions of dollars for the drug giant Abbott Labs!
Source: Dr. Allan Spreen - Nationally acclaimed as America’s “Nutrition Physician” - www.healthiertalk.com
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"The Bait and Switch" ... How Big Pharma Repackages Fish Oil as Expensive Drugs !!!
You've probably heard of a prescription drug called Lovaza, right? I chuckled when I first heard about it, because it's nothing more than refined fish oil.
But it sounds snazzy and you need a doctor's prescription for it ... so it must work better than regular fish oil, right?
Wrong. It doesn't. It contains the same active ingredients you find in fish oil: EPA and DHA.
But Big Pharma managed to fool many, many Americans with this hoax.
In fact, this kind of con is hugely profitable for Big Pharma ... earning billions of dollars for the drug giant Abbott Labs.
For this reason alone, we will see more and more vitamins magically "repackaged" and sold as drugs.
Source: Dr. Allan Spreen - Nationally acclaimed as America’s “Nutrition Physician” - www.healthiertalk.com
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| "Let food be thy medicine ... and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates |
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Read more International Scientific Studies and Nutritional Medical Research at "Nutrionomics ... the Science of Nutrition" (www.nutrionomics.com)
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| Star Fruit - Food Uses |
Star Fruit - Food Uses |
Star Fruit - Food Uses |
| Consumer Information |
Taste - Star Fruit
Taste: Very crisp, juicy and refreshing. Yellow fruit tend to be sweet and green ones more acidic.
Food Uses - Star Fruit
Star fruits are generally eaten fresh and used as garnish in salads, sorbets, drinks, as well as to impart tart flavor in dishes. To prepare, wash them thoroughly in cold water, dry mop using absorbent cloth. Trim off the ends and dry edges of the ribbed angles. Cut the fruit crossway into thin sections, which resemble like starfish. Pick out any seeds located near center.
If the carambola ribs show brown lines, remove before slicing to give a sweeter taste. Slicing crosswise produces star shaped slices that are great for decoration. It is also a good fruit for salads, juicing, ice tea, tropical drinks, chutneys or on skewers with shrimp or chicken.
The green fruit can be used as a vegetable and for pickling. Immature fruit can be used as a souring agent in curries. Star Fruit
are also a good substitute for apples in recipes.
Source: http://www.australiantropicalfoods.com/index.php/exotic-fruits/carambola/
More Serving Tips:
- Only sweet variety star fruits are eaten fresh, or mixed with other fruits in salads. Fresh fruit can also be processed into juice and used in cocktails with other tropical fruit juice.
- Sour type star fruits are favored in cooking as they give unique tart flavor to poultry, meat, and seafood dishes.
- Cut sections of fresh star fruit added in stews, curries, and stir-fries with chicken, and, fish and shrimp.
- The star fruit can be used to make sauce, pickle, chutney, tarts, and jam.
Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/star-fruit.html
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| Food Gallery - Star Fruit |
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| Star Fruit - Juice |
Star Fruit - Cocktail |
Star Fruit - Juice |
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| Star Fruit - Salad |
Star Fruit - Salad |
Star Fruit - Salad |
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| Star Fruit - Pizza |
Star Fruit - Snack / Dip |
Star Fruit - Dessert |
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| Star Fruit - Dessert |
Star Fruit - Bread |
Star Fruit - Dessert |
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Star Fruit - Dried Snack |
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| Star Fruit |
Star Fruit - Blossom |
Star Fruit- Tree |
| Fruit Grower - Information |
TMF Florida Fruits
Southern Florida has long been the site of tropical and subtropical fruit production and research. Specialty tropical fruits have been part of the Florida tropical fruits research program at the TREC - Tropical Research and Educational Center - (www.trec.ifas.ufl.edu) since its establishment in 1930.
The future of tropical fruits in South Florida seems very bright, especially considering the involvement and investment of local growers in the important research efforts. The 1980's saw a major increase in the areas planted to specialty tropical fruits in southern Florida.
A wealth of International scientific and medical research (www.nutrionomics.com) supports the medical and nutritional health benefits of tropical and subtropical fruits, high in bio-natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other vital nutrients. Exemplary marketing campaigns supported by proven scientific research have accompanied increases in fruit production and should serve as a model for other industries and societies.
For the consumers... the immediate goal of TMF Florida is to promote the campaign for healthy living and support the finally emerging "Green Wave" in Nutrition, to help the end consumer to better understand the cardinal importance of their daily nutritional decisions, and to experience the significance of optimal bio-natural nutrition upon their health and lifestyle.
For the Florida fruit grower... TMF Florida represents the show window for their wonderful fruits and the marketing strategy so deeply ignored in the past - based on all the internet possibilities available today and certainly increasing exponentially in the future.
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Copyright @ 2012 www.TMFflorida.com. www.TropicalMedicalFruits.com. All rights reserved.
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