Star apple benefits a lot. Star apple is rich in trace minerals, multiple vitamins, and other elements the body needs for health. It’s become a staple in traditional medicinal practices throughout the Caribbean. The rind is bitter, full of latex, and isn’t consumed. There’s also a green-skinned variety that contains the same properties.
Star Apple Benefits
Aids in Digestive Health
The active fiber content, which is mainly a carbohydrate in star apple, helps keep the digestive system healthy and helps to overcome constipation and other digestive problems. It helps in normalizing your bowel movements and aids in getting rid of constipation as well as other problems of the digestive system. Consumption of star apple helps in preventing the most dangerous health problem like cancer of the colon.
Natural Antioxidants
African Star apple serves as a natural source of antioxidants which helps to remove damaging oxidizing agents in the body system and keep the immune system healthy. Antioxidant-rich foods like star apple can prevent free radicals like heart attack and cancer. Regular and moderate eating of star apples can help reduce the development of dead cells by removing free radicals.
Boosts Immune system
These vitamins present in star apples help produce collagen that promotes immune health and moderates sugar levels in diabetic patients. Africa Star apple consumption helps boost immunity due to the presence of vitamin C and carotene in it.
Prevents Anemia
Iron deficiency is a type of anemia that occurs because of insufficient iron in the body. It has a content of iron that is necessary for the body to produce hemoglobin and prevent iron deficiency anemia. It can lead to dizziness, loss of appetite, weakness, rapid heartbeat, headache, shortness of breath, and fatigue. All these can be prevented by consuming foods with high iron content, such as African star apples and vegetables.
Good for Anemia
The iron content of star apple helps prevent anemia and aids in building red blood cells. Iron is essential for carrying oxygen in red blood cells throughout the body.
Strengthens Bones
Important minerals such as calcium and phosphorus that are important for maintaining strong bones and teeth are contained in African star apples. Because of are rich in calcium and phosphorus, regular eating of these fruits contributes a lot to strengthening your bones and preventing numerous bone diseases.
Helps in Weight Loss
Proper consumption of African star apples helps in managing weight loss and maintaining complete body health and beauty. African Star apple is one of the best fruits for weight loss due to its low in fat, and also it contains a high amount of dietary fiber that improves satiety, making you feel more satisfied even after a long time. It is an excellent fruit to take when you are trying to lose weight.
Good Source of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that is important to assist several essential functions in the human body. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant and controls collagen production, protects the heart, healing wounds, enhances vision, improves immune health, and decreases blood sugar levels. Vitamin C antioxidant properties help neutralize the harmful effect of free radicals and prevent fatal diseases like heart disease and cancer. Since the human body cannot produce vitamin C itself, we can easily get it from outside by consuming the African star apple because it is one of those foods with a high vitamin C content.
Prevents Diabetes
Another essential benefit of the African star apple is that it aids in controlling sugar levels in the blood, which is the best food for people who have diabetes. Star apple fiber aids in keeping the blood sugar level under control. It’s rich in antioxidants and helps in protecting the body against health problems such as cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
Low Calories
African Star apple is known for its low calories. One portion of this fruit contains 67 calories making it good for those trying to lose weight. Star apple is rich in fiber which can make you get satiated easily.
Can be used as Medicinal Drugs
The leaves, seeds, and fruits are good herbal medicine for treating various health issues. You can use the cooking of the leaves or bark to treat diarrhea and dysentery—the shell of the star apple tree aids in treating yellow fever and malaria. African Star apple leaves treat skin rash, stomach pain, diarrhea, and stomach pain. The seeds of star apple are also used in preparing ointments for treating skin infections and virginals.
Nerves and Kidney Stones
Potassium promotes a healthy nerve system and aids in regulating fluid levels within the body to prevent water retention. The mineral can also help people with high blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of stroke. Potassium assists in preventing kidney stones and osteoporosis.
Sore Throats and Colds
High in vitamins A, B, and C, star apple is a source of nutrients that are used to address sore throats, colds, and soothing inflammation in laryngitis.
Wounds, Burns, Mind
The zinc found in the star apple is beneficial for treating wounds and burns. It’s also beneficial for enhancing learning and memory function.
Good for Pregnant Women
African Star apple has an acidic taste and is mostly liked by women during pregnancy because it helps prevent the urge to vomit. Star apple helps a lot with some problems women face during pregnancy, like treating sore throat, constipation, and indigestion. Therefore you should consume this fruit during pregnancy because it will be of great help.
Nutritional Values of Star Apple
- Energy 91.09 Kcal
- Carbohydrates 10.49 g
- Protein 6.99 g
- Total fat 2.49 g
- Moisture 73 g
- Vitamin C 25
- Vitamin B3 1.137 g
- Vitamin B1 0.049 mg
- Vitamin B2 0.038 mg
- Iron 0.49 g
- Total dietary fiber 1.92 mg
- Protein 1.52 g
- Phosphorus 18. 95 mg
- Tryptophan 0.004 g
- Lysine 0.022 g
- Methionine 0.022 g
- Calcium 12.35 mg
They contain several nutrients such as protein, lysine, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, dietary fiber, amino acids, methionine, vitamin A, C, B3, B2, and B2 in moderate quantities added to other traces of elements like tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and others that are beneficial to human health.
Side Effects of Star Apples
The star apple peel contains natural latex, which is a potential allergen. If you are allergic to natural rubber latex, you may avoid the fruit. While star apple allergies are rare, eating them may trigger symptoms of the latex-fruit syndrome, which include runny nose, hives, itching, wheezing, and breathlessness. Although the data about the allergens that trigger the syndrome is unclear, seek medical advice if you experience the symptoms.
Star apple’s benefits are numerous. These benefits can be attributed to its rich nutrients. You can include it in your regular diet as this fruit can combat the harmful action of free radicals and fight inflammation. It also protects the gut, cardiovascular, skin, and bone health and lowers blood pressure. In addition, this fruit prevents stomach ulcers and has anti-cancer properties. But if you have a natural latex allergy, you should avoid this fruit as its peel has latex in it. Having it in moderate amounts helps you reap its benefits.
