Carambola(star fruit)

star fruits

     Names of Carambola  in different languages

Carambola or Starfruit is also known as Coromandel Gooseberry, Five Finger or five corner etc.

It is called Karmal, Dantasatha, Shiral,  Kamarakha, Pitaphala, Parnamachal etc.  in Hindi

- Kamarana in Bengali

- Rohdoi, Kordoi or Kordoi-Tengain Assamese

- Heinoujom in Manipuri

- Carmbala in Marathi

- Tamarattai , Kantacatkam, Tamarattampazam in Tamil

- Caturappuli, Vajrappuli in Malayalam

- Ambanapukaya, Karmarangamu, Tamatakaya in Telugu

- Kaparakhi Hannu, Kamaraakshi in Kannada

- In Sanskrit it is called Karmarakah, Brihadamla, Sralam, Rujaraka etc.

 We call it Karamanga in my mother tongue Oriya.

The Botanical name is Averrhoa carambola (Family: Oxalidaceae)

carambola flowers

Star fruit nutrition

Food Value Per 100 g of Edible Portion

Calories 35.7	Calcium 4.4-6.O mg
Protein 0.38 g	Phosphorus 15.5-21.0 mg
Fat 0.08 g	Iron 0.32-1.65 mg
Carbohydrates 9.38 g	Ascorbic Acid  26.0-53.1 mg
Fiber 0.80-0.90 g	Carotene 0.003-0.552 mg
Moisture 89.0-91.0 g	Thiamine 0.03-0.038 mg
Riboflavin 0.019-0.03 mg	Niacin 0.294-0.38 mg

star fruit tree

Health benefits and uses of Carambola or star fruit

Therapeutic Use of karmanga 

It is used to stop hemorrhages and to diminish draining hemorrhoids 

dried organic product or the juice might be taken to neutralize fevers 

Is said to mollify biliousness and looseness of the bowels and to lessen the aftereffect of over consumption of liquor. 

A balm made of the natural product is utilized to diminish eye contamination 

In Brazil, the carambola is suggested as a diuretic in kidney and bladder grievances, 

It is used for  treatment of skin inflammation. 

Leaves and shoots are mashed and as a poultice used on chicken-pox.

The roots mixed with sugar are given for cure of poison. 

Side effects and risk of star fruit or Carambola 

There is some hazards involved in its intake too;  so before anything please take prior direction of specialist doctors advice. Because Carambola contains oxalic corrosive, it can be unsafe to people experiencing kidney disappointment, kidney stones, or those under kidney dialysis treatment. Utilization by those with kidney trouble can create  retching, sickness, hiccups and mental disarray. 

Starfruit juice for health

Carambola juice is a cooling drink. 

Juice of Carambola mixed with gelatin, sugar, lemon juice makes a fantastic sherbet. 

Starfruit  as a healthy recipe

ingredients for starfruit pickle recipe

• Star fruit slices

• Jaggery - 100 grams or according to taste

• Salt - 1 teaspoon or according to taste 

•  Cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds-  1/4 each

• 1 teaspoon Oil 

• 1 cup Water 

Heat a pan. Put oil and cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds and let them splutter. Now put salt, turmeric powder and then Star fruit slices. Saute for 2 or 3 minutes in medium flame. Now include water and let it cook till tender. Then include jaggery and cook till the required consistency. Serve hot or cold as you wish.

It is a favorite dish in feasts especially in rural area in my state Odisha.

N.B. All the above is solely for informational purpose and NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ADVICE. A REGD. AYURVEDIC/MEDICAL PRACTITIONER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED FOR IT.