Do you want to know the benefits and contraindications of carambola or star fruit? Here we explain it to you but first let’s see its botanical aspect.
The carambola. Also known as star fruit, it is a deciduous, slow-growing, short-trunked tree with a highly branched, bushy, broad, rounded crown. It can reach 20 – 30 feet (6 – 9 m) in height. Its leaves grow in a spiral pattern, up to 6-10 inches (15-20 cm) long, with five to eleven nearly opposite, ovate or ovate-oblong leaflets.
Starfruit can grow up to 2.5 – 6.0 inches (6.35 – 15 cm) long and up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide, and have thin, waxy, yellow-orange skin and juicy, crisp, yellow flesh when fully mature. They have a more or less pronounced odor of oxalic acid, and the taste varies from very sour to slightly sweet.
There are not many countries that produce carambola at a competitive commercial level. Taiwan is the largest producer and devotes 710,428 acres (2,875 ha) to carambola cultivation, while Malaysia has 1,235 acres (500 ha) of the crop, followed by Indonesia and the United States with a combined area of 434,906 acres (176 ha). .
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Other uses
Polished. Acid varieties of carambola are used to polish metal, especially brass, as they are capable of dissolving tarnish and rust, while its juice is applied to white fabric to whiten stains.
Wood. Carambola wood, white during its youth and reddish as it ages, is also used by the timber industry for construction and furniture.
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Carambola Benefits
For centuries, in indigenous medicine around the world, star fruit’s anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic properties have been used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including headaches and chronic colds, stomach flu, postpartum edema and worm infestation. Some traditional star fruit applications that have proven effective over time include:
Reduces inflammation Star fruit stem extract has shown an anti-inflammatory effect comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid, which is the main ingredient in aspirin.
nausea relief. This tropical fruit is widely used to alleviate the symptoms of hangover.
Helping coagulation. Carambola have been used traditionally to stop bleeding and relieve bleeding hemorrhoids. Additionally, preliminary research has supported the uses of star fruit for:
Treats skin disorders. As an external application, it is also used for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
lower blood sugar. Carambola has hypoglycemic properties, lowering blood glucose levels.
Eliminate worm infestations. As an anthelmintic, carambola leaf extract effectively helps exterminate and expel parasites.
soothes ulcers. Due to its triterpenoid, flavonoid and mucilage content, star fruit has partial anti-ulcer activity.
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How does it work
Although it is not clear which active components contribute to the properties of carambola, the main antioxidant activity of the fruit has been attributed to its phenolic compounds, mainly epicatechin and gallotanin in the form of gallotanin.
Studies indicate that the riper the fruit, the more antioxidants it contains. These antioxidants are responsible for destroying free radicals in the body, making it difficult for cells to oxidize. This powerful action not only strengthens the body against disease, but also slows down the aging process.
Ginger also possesses antiemetic properties, and similar anti-inflammatory benefits can be found in herbs like grapevine and turmeric.
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Contraindications and side effects
Although carambola is quite harmless, it all depends on the doses ingested. Excessive consumption can cause acute inflammation in the urinary tract (nephropathy) due to the oxalates contained in star fruit juice.
Ingestion of carambola fruits by patients with renal failure causes high mortality even after dialysis. Toxicity has been reported in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, with symptoms ranging from hiccups, nausea, insomnia, and agitation to mental confusion, seizures, and hypotension.
People who tend to form calcium and oxalate stones should also use caution when consuming star fruit, which is one of the foods high in oxalate.
On the other hand, diabetics who take medications to control blood sugar levels should avoid star fruit consumption in therapeutic doses, as it can enhance the hypoglycemic effect of the medication.
Also know Carambola Seeds: Benefits and Disadvantages (ajwain)
Those who are scheduled for surgery should avoid star fruit consumption, as it contains agents that inhibit drug metabolism. Starfruit has been shown to reduce the effect of midazolam, which is a benzodiazepine commonly used before medical procedures and surgery to induce relaxation, as well as temporary loss of consciousness.
In large amounts, star fruit has also been shown to negatively affect the absorption of medications such as salmeterol, saxagliptin, amiodarone, codeine, and iloperidone.
In high doses, carambola has abortifacient properties. During pregnancy, women should consume this fruit with extreme caution or avoid it altogether to avoid miscarriage.
It is recommended to seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any type of herbal treatment.
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