The dangers Behind Sweet Star Fruit

Makintau - Star fruit is a typical fruit of the tropics. It was initially spread in southeast Asia and was also found in India and Pakistan. Star fruit is favored because of its refreshing sour-sweet taste. But who would have thought, this fruit can bring danger as well.

Now the spread of star fruit plants extends to the United States (Florida) and Latin America. Star fruit or known as star fruit, has a distinctive shape. When cut across the cross, it looks like a star.

The star fruit plant has the scientific name Averrhoa carambola, belonging to the family Oxalidaceae. The fruit contains a lot of oxalic acid. The substance becomes a deadly poison when consumed in high concentrations.

Star fruit trees have compound leaves, their size is small but lush. The color of the flowers is red to pink and clusters around the branching. The flowers are easy to fall especially when it is hit by rain. The color of the star fruit, deep green when young and turns bright to golden yellow after ripening.

Star Fruit Nutrition

The taste of sweet-sour star fruit, suitable for thirst relief in the summer. In perfectly ripened fruits, the sugar content is quite high. It can be seen from the very sweet taste. Commonly consumed in fresh, juice, candied or pickled form.

Star fruit is one of the fruits with a high vitamin C content. As is commonly known, vitamin C is very useful to maintain endurance, skin health and beauty. Another speciality of star fruit is full of antioxidants and flavonoids. Substances that play a role in combating premature aging, repairing damaged cells and preventing cancer.

On average, in one star fruit contains only 30 calories. The fiber content is very high, good for launching bowel movement disorders. Star fruit can be consumed in fresh or processed form without experiencing much decrease in nutrient content.

Dangers for Kidney Patients

For those of you who have healthy kidneys, you can eat this fruit as much as you like. But, do not try for those who have impaired kidney function.

For people with kidney disease consuming star fruit in excess can cause poisoning. Symptoms ranging from hiccups, vomiting, impaired consciousness, decreased muscle strength, numbness of the limbs, insomnia, seizures to cause death although rare.

Star fruit poisoning is suspected due to the high content of oxalic acid. In people with kidney disease, oxalic acid will accumulate aka not wasted with urine. So that the concentration is higher to cause poisoning.

But other studies refute it, because eating foods rich in oxalic acid such as spinach, does not show the same symptoms. So it is concluded that the poisoning is caused by an unknown substance.

Treatment due to star fruit poisoning can be cured by dialysis and hemodialysis or dialysis methods. In severe symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, the dialysis method shows no meaningful effect. Healing should be done by means of hemodialysis.

Patients who suffer from severe poisoning and hemodialysis can be completely cured. No longer show symptoms of poisoning. However, untreated patients can cause death.

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