The fruit I will discussing now is a fruit that not one of the Asian Fruits and Its Health Benefits. The thing that i want discuss this time is about health benefits of African star apple. African star apple is one of the African Fruits and The Health Benefits that we should know. African star apple is a fruit that comes from tropical Africa but is known and widely consumed in Nigeria.
African star apple is also very productive in the Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana. Another name is Agbalumo (Yoruba language) or Air (Igbo language). Chrysophyllum albidum is the scientific name of african star apple. The fruit is available around December – April. African star apple has 4 to 6 seeds in it, that have a star-like shape that causes this fruit is named african star apple.
Whats the interesting thing about this fruit is that some people take the fruit before falling naturally to the ground. When they eat that, the taste of the fruit is very acidic. However, when african star apple is fall naturally to the ground, the fruit will have a very sweet taste because that means the fruit is ripe with a dark orange color. Which do you like more? Acid or sweet? A sweet African star apple fits you as a dessert or can be one of the ingredients to add to a cocktail.
Tree or the fruit of african star apple is issued a white sap that has a texture like chewing gum. Just as information, according to a study, insects that can be disturbance in this fruit is a scale insect Coccus hesperidum L. on the fruit that is still raw and fruit flies in the fruit that is ripe.
African Star Apple NutrientsÂ
African star apple has nutrients :
Nutrient Content per 100g of african star apple
Energy                        91.09 Kcal
Carbohydrate             10.49 g
Protein                        6.99 g
Fat                              2.49 g
Moisture                     73 g
Vitamin CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 25
Vitamin B3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.137 mg
Vitamin B1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.049 mg
Vitamin B2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.038 mg
Iron                            0.49
Total dietary fiber      1.92 g
Protein                        1.52 g
Phosphorus                 18.95 mg
Tryptophan                 0.004 g
Lysine                        0.022 g
Methionine                 0.002 g
Moreover, african star apple content 119 calories, total fat 6 g, 683 mg potassium, 10 g of total carbs, with 4 g of calcium. Furthermore, african star apple content tannis, flavonoids, terpenoids, proteins, carbohydates and resin.
Now, we will discuss about health benefits of african star apple for our body. Please, pay the attention at the list below.
- Preventing and curing heart disease
Using african star aple is one way to Early Heart Attack Symptoms : Preventing & What To Do in addition to other ways. The results of research conducted by researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ogun State in Nigeria showed that african star apple can be beneficial to the body because it can lower blood sugar and also lower cholesterol that can be the cause of heart disease.
- Useful for herbal medicine
Bark of african star apple can be used to treat yellow fever and malaria. For those of you who are suffering skin eruptions, stomach ache, and diarrhea, you will get the benefit if using leaves from african star apple tree as a treatment. Ointments that come from cotyledons of african star apple seeds can be used to treat vaginal and dermatological infections. This treatment is done in western nigeria.
- Contains compounds that are important for the body
African star apple is one of source to do a Diabetes Treatments With Natural Sources and Activities. African star apple contains eleagnine that works against microbes. Furthermore, eleagnine contains anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Once again, the cotyledons contained in the african star apple seeds have an anti-hyperglycemia effect that has an effect on the decrease in high sugar levels and the hypolipidemic that is lowering the blood cholesterol.
According to a study, the extract leaf of african star apple has anti-platelet and hypoglycemic properties that have a function that is almost similar to the fruit’s seed kotiledeon that lowers blood sugar levels and may have an effect in the management of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and diabetes mellitus. But, specifically for this, still need further research. African star apple can also be used to resolve toothache problem, constipation, sore throat, etc.
- High content of vitamin C
We know the importance of Vitamin C Benefits For Health & Beauty . But, the human body can not produce ascorbic acid or vitamin C itself. So, we need to get it from an outside source. Then, you can get vitamin C not only from the orange but from this fruit too, african star apple. From 100 g of african star apple we can get 25 g vitamin C. It’s rich, right?
- Natural Anti-oxidant
Our bodies are vulnerable to cigarette smoke and radiation. This can lead to free radicals that have a harmful effect one of those is heart attack and cancer. Protect your body from free radicals effect. Free radical effects can be overcome with antioxidants. And, antioxidant substances is also one of the content of african star apple. You see the connection right? Indeed, by consuming this fruit, you can maintain heart health and the health of your other organs.
- Low calories
African star aple is known for its low calorie. 1 portion of african star apple contains only 67 calories. For those of you who are running a diet program and who want to lose weight, it is suitable for consume this fruit. African star apple can also make you full quickly and can stop your hunger because of the fiber.
- The useful of the fruit
According to research that conducted by ICRAF in 2007 and also research conducted by Okafor in 1981, showed african star apple can be used as a juice and one source of soft drinks. Other than that, african star apple can be used as jam fruit or jelly based on research by Ureigho and Ekeke in 2010.
- High water content
African star apple is a fruit that has a high water content. Other than that, the fruit is also low in carbohydrate, protein, crude fiber and very low in fat.
According to a research, the longer you store african star apple that has been picked, the more nutrients you will get. So, for the next time, make sure that you will try this fruit that full of benefit.
- Good during pregancy
African star apple is very liked by some women while pregnant. Because of its acidic taste, it can help pregnant women to stop the urge to vomit.
Researches say that african star apple can help some of the problems that facing by women who are pregnant such as reducing constipation, overcoming a sore throat, and helping with digestion.
Cautions of African Star Apple
Do not eat too much african star apple. this can cause stomach chills. For those of you who suffering heart disease, make sure you contact your doctor to discuss how much you should consume this fruit.
Thats the health benefits of african star apple. So, if you want to get it to try, i will give you some recipe about how we can combining the african star fruit with coctail and how we can make it into a fresh and good drink.
African Star Apple Fruit combining with Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients :
- 400 g of african star apples
- 60 ml cognag hennessy
- 2 table spoon brown sugar
- 4 table spoon honey
- 50 ml soda water
- A little bit salt
- Ice
How to make
- Peel and slice the African Star Apples lengthwise into half, then quarters, then eights. Remove and discard the seeds, after you have ensured you get as much of the flesh and the whitish sap-like stuff around the seeds into your bowl.
- Add the sugar, honey and salt, mix well and cover with clingfilm, and soak in the refrigerator for 48 hours.
- At the end of the maceration process, decant the liquid into a glass. Top up the liquid with soda water or sparkling water, add some ice and serve.
To preparation this need time 48 hours (2 days). And, the cooking time take several hours. The nutrition of this drink is 494 of calories, 71 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of protein, 12 g of fat, 14 mg of sodium, 1440 mg of potassium, 8 of fiber, 51 g of sugar, 16 of calcium, 6 of iron.
Nigerian Agbalumo Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- Skin and seeds of 6 african start apple
- 1/2 cup of white, granulated sugar (to taste)
- Seeds of 6 green cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of saffron – 10 to 15 strands
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a pan
- Top with a litre of water
- Bring to the boil and then turn down to simmer for 12 – 15 minutes
- Remove from heat and let cook down
- Decant (straining if you like)
- Serve on ice
So, thats the recipe. Give it a try and feel the benefit of african star apple. Thank you for reading.