Buzz
Star apple is a tropical fruit widely popular in Vietnam. With its sweet and refreshing taste, this fruit is loved by many. However, consuming excessive star apples may not always be ideal. In this article, Mytour Blog will delve into the details of this fruit and provide guidelines on the best way to consume it.
What is Star Apple?
Star apple, also known as sweet garlic, scientifically named Garcinia Mangostana, is a fruit belonging to the Clusiaceae family. It originates from islands in Southeast Asia, Southwest India, and some other tropical regions.
The tree has a height ranging from 7 – 25m. The peel is thick, green when young, and gradually turns into a deep purple when ripe. The edible part is the segmented white pulp with small seeds inside. The pulp is juicy, with a sweet and slightly tangy taste and a gentle fragrance. Each fruit typically contains 4 – 8 segments.
The fruit has a sweet and tangy flavor, easy to eat (Source: Internet)Nutritional Content in Star Apples
Star apples are a type of fruit with high nutritional content, beneficial for health. According to the USDA, 1 cup of approximately 196g of canned star apple syrup contains the following nutritional components:
| Thành phần | Hàm lượng |
| Lượng calo | 143 calo |
| Natri | 13.7mg |
| Chất béo | 1.1g |
| Chất xơ | 3.5g |
| Chất đạm | 0.8g |
| Carbohydrate | 35g |
This is a type of fruit rich in nutrients beneficial for health (Source: Internet)Benefits of Star Apples for the Body
In addition to the mentioned nutrients, star apples also contain various vitamins and other antioxidant compounds. As a result, this fruit offers numerous benefits for the body, including:
Anti-Aging Properties
This type of fruit contains components like Xanthones, catechin, vitamin A, B1, C, E, all of which have anti-aging effects, contribute to skin beauty, giving you youthful, smooth skin. Moreover, it has the ability to quickly restore damaged skin cells and inhibit the production of harmful cells.
Prevent aging, help maintain smooth skin (Source: Internet)Weight Management
The Xanthones compound in star apples also helps reduce bad cholesterol, prevent the risk of obesity. It softens cells and promotes the conversion of food into energy. The calorie content in this fruit is relatively low, making it an ideal choice for a safe and effective weight-loss menu.
Weight management, supporting weight loss (Source: Internet)Enhance Vitality
This fruit also contains a large amount of Tryptophan acid. This compound is associated with Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps improve sleep, mood, and fight fatigue. After consuming this fruit, many men also experience improved vitality and a healthier body.
Reduce Body Odor
The Xanthones compound in star apples, besides its anti-aging and weight loss support, also has antibacterial properties and can prevent body odor. After each main meal, indulging in star apples or rinsing your mouth with star apple water can help reduce bad breath.
Confident with fresh breath (Source: Internet)Reduce Cholesterol
Several research results have also confirmed that Xanthones antibodies in star apples have the effect of reducing bad cholesterol, preventing plaque formation in the arteries. This helps reduce the risk of strong arterial sclerosis and limits other dangerous cardiovascular diseases.
Lower cholesterol levels in the blood (Source: Internet)Support Treatment of Skin Inflammation
The Xanthones compound helps combat cellular inflammation. This ingredient is abundant in star apple peel. If your skin is facing issues like inflammation, irritation, eczema, fungal infections, psoriasis, itching, etc., use an extract from the peel to apply to the affected skin area.
Supporting the treatment of inflammatory skin symptoms (Source: Internet)Support Treatment of Diarrhea
The Xanthones component speeds up the food metabolism process, supports digestion, kills bacteria causing diarrhea, and other intestinal diseases. To enhance effectiveness, you can combine dried star apple peel with pomegranate peel to brew a drink twice a day.
Treating diarrhea (Source: Internet)Guide to Eating Star Apples Properly
The benefits of star apple can only be maximized when eaten correctly and with appropriate frequency. This fruit is suitable to be consumed after meals. The recommended daily amount is about 30g, equivalent to 2 – 3 fruits, and it's best to eat only 2 – 3 times a week.
Eat in moderation, avoid overconsumption (Source: Internet)Some Star Apple Dishes
In addition to eating ripe star apples directly, you can diversify your palate with various dishes made from this fruit, such as:
- Chicken and star apple salad (made from green fruits).
- Salad.
- Star apple sweet soup or ice cream.
- Smoothie.
Chicken and Star Apple Salad – an exotic dish (Source: Internet)Considerations when eating star apples
Star apples are delicious, with an easy-to-eat flavor that many people enjoy. If you also have a liking for this fruit, be sure not to overeat and consume it at the right time to avoid unwanted side effects:
- Excessive lactate accumulation if consumed daily, consistently for 12 months.
- May cause allergies, hives, itching, and discomfort.
- Avoid eating this fruit 2 weeks before surgery to prevent interference with blood clotting.
- Avoid during medical treatments, as it can reduce the effectiveness of medications. Consult a doctor if you wish to consume it during treatment.
- If discomfort, headaches, insomnia, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, etc., occur after eating, refrain from further consumption.
- Avoid on an empty stomach to prevent adverse effects on gastric health.
Timing and quantity matter for a healthy diet (Source: Internet)People who should avoid star apples
Star apples are beneficial for health, but not everyone is suitable to consume this fruit. To prevent adverse health effects, the following groups should avoid it:
- Individuals with allergies: Consuming excess star apples may cause swelling, itching, red rashes, and hives.
- Cancer patients: This fruit can affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
- Digestive issues: People with constipation or diarrhea should avoid consuming excessive amounts of this fruit to prevent stomach irritation and worsening symptoms.
- Anemia patients: Anemia is a condition where red blood cell count is elevated. Star apples also have the potential to increase red blood cell count.
Considerations before consumption (Source: Internet)Frequently Asked Questions:
The high sugar content in this fruit can lead to increased energy production, causing a heating effect in the body.
A 15th-century Chinese record refers to star apples as mang-chi-shih. In Malaysia and Myanmar, this fruit is called manggis hutan. In Thai and Lao, it's known as mangkut. Therefore, the Vietnamese name star apple originates from the Lao and Thai term mangkut.
Consuming too much of this fruit is not beneficial for health and may lead to adverse effects such as allergies, diarrhea, constipation, nervous system suppression, blood clotting disorders, increased risk of diabetes, etc.
The above provides you with fundamental information to better understand star apples. Through this, you've also learned how to consume this fruit properly to maximize its benefits and prevent potential side effects. To stay updated with more valuable health knowledge, don't forget to visit Mytour every day.
