Star Fruit: 6 Health Benefits, How to Eat & Recipes

Updated in October 2023

Star fruit is an exotic fruit that is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin C, gallic acid, and epicatechin. These properties help to prevent health problems like heart attacks, diabetes, incontinence and atherosclerosis. 

Star fruit is also has high water and fiber content, which help to promote optimal intestinal functioning, decrease water retention, keep you full and promote weight loss. 

This fruit can be found at supermarkets or farmer's markets, and can be consumed in its natural form or as a juice, jelly or spread. Star fruit should not be eaten if you have a history of kidney failure, as this fruit can increase caramboxine levels in the blood, leading to hiccups, vomiting, confusion, seizures, or in serious cases, death. 

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Health benefits

The main health benefits of star fruit are: 

1. Managing cholesterol levels

Star fruit has large quantities of fiber, which help to reduce fat absorption from food that is eaten. This can help to keep total cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels within normal limits. Read more about cholesterol levels and how to maintain them within normal ranges.

Star fruit is also rich in antioxidants, like vitamin C, flavonoids and gallic acid. These help prevent conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks and incontinence, as these substances fight free radicals.

2. Facilitating weight loss

Star fruit contains high amounts of fiber, which generally takes longer to digest. This helps to control hunger, which can lead to more successful weight loss. 

It is also rich in water, which can help to decrease water retention and bloating. Because it is low in calories, it is a great option to include in weight loss diets. Check out other tips you can try to incorporate into your weight loss diet.

3. Managing and preventing diabetes

Because of its high fiber content, star fruit can help to decrease the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed. Slower absorption rates can help to control blood sugar levels and lead to better diabetes management. See other tips for lowering blood sugar to better manage your diabetes.

In addition, star fruit is rich in antioxidants, like flavonoids and gallic acid, which prevent free radicals from forming. Free radicals can damage the cells that produce insulin, which is why it is important especially important to reduce free radicals in diabetics. 

4. Fighting constipation 

The fiber in star fruit can also help to add bulk to stool, making it easier to have bowel movements and treat constipation. This list of naturally laxative foods can also help to treat and prevent constipation.

These fibers also contain prebiotic properties, which strengthen the good bacteria in the intestines and improve overall stool flow within the bowels. 

5. Preventing cancer

Star fruit is rich in antioxidants, like flavonoids, vitamin C, gallic acid and epicatechin. These help to eliminate free radicals and strengthen the immune system, which can prevent some types of cancer. 

In addition, the fibers present in start fruit have a prebiotic effect in the intestine, which can help to maintain optimal flora levels in the intestines and prevent colon cancer. 

6. Controlling high blood pressure 

Star fruit is rich in potassium in water, which both help with the elimination of sodium through the urine. This can help to keep blood pressure levels within normal limits. 

How to eat it

Star fruit has a mildly sweet taste and can be eaten in its natural forms or prepared in a smoothie, jelly or spread. This fruit can also be incorporated in savory dishes, like salads or sauces. 

Although there is no specific amount recommended for star fruit consumption, the minimum daily fruit recommendation is between 2 and 3 servings, which corresponds to between 160 g and 240 g per day.

Nutritional information 

The following table outlines the nutritional composition of 70 g of start fruit  (1 small fruit):

Components

Quantity per 70 g

Energy

21.7 calories

Protein

0.7 g

Fat

0.23 g

Carbohydrates

4.7 g

Fiber

1.9 mg

Vitamin C

24.1 mg

Beta-carotenes

17.5 mcg

Calcium

2.1 mg

Magnesium

7 mg

Phosphorus

8.4 mg

Potassium

93 mg

It is important to remember that to obtain all the health benefits star fruit has to offer, you should maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity. 

Contraindications to note

People with kidney problems should not consume star fruit, as it contains caramboxine. This substance is usually filtered and eliminated through the kidneys, which people with a history of renal issues may have difficulty doing. If caramboxine levels start to accumulate in the blood, you may experience symptoms like hiccups, vomiting, confusion, seizures, and in more serious cases, death. 

Delicious star fruit recipes 

Some healthy and tasty star fruit recipes include: 

1. Star fruit smoothie

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Ingredients: 

  • 5 ripe star fruits 
  • 400 ml of filtered water  
  • Ice as desired 
  • 2 tablespoons of honey 

How to prepare:

Wash the star fruit well and cut it up into cubes. Then place the star fruit, water, ice and honey in a blender and mix until well-combined, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately after. 

2. Star fruit salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 starfruit 
  • Half a handful of green lettuce
  • Half a handful of purple lettuce 
  • Half a handful of cress
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
  • Vinegar as desired 
  • Pepper as desired
  • Half a teaspoon of salt 

How to prepare:

Wash the fruit, lettuce and cress thoroughly and dry. Slice the star fruit into star shapes and set aside. Tear up the lettuce leaves and cress. In a salad bowl, mix together both types of leaves, then add the star fruit and season with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. 

3. Star fruit vinaigrette 

Ingredients:

  • 2 star fruits
  • ½ purple onion
  • The juice of one lemon
  • 2.5 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 2 stalks of coriander
  • Ice as desires
  • ½ teaspoon of salt

How to prepare:

Wash the star fruit and coriander thoroughly and dry. Cut the onion into cubes and mix in a b owl with the vinegar and ice. Allow this mixture to soak for 10 minutes. Then cut the star fruit into small cubes, dice the coriander leaves, and set aside. Strain the onion from the mixture and place in a bowl, where you will then add the starfruit, coriander leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, the rest of the vinegar and the salt. Mix these gently with a spoon and place in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then serve immediately.