Benefits of Agbalumo (Africa Star Apple)

 

Agbalumo: Health Benefits Of African Star Apple

It’s the season of African Star Apple, known as Agbalumo in Yoruba,

Udara in Igbo, Agwaluma in Hausa and botanically called Chrysophyllum albidum.

African Star Apple is a tropical plant and abundant in Nigeria.

Agbalumo is a great fruit that gives you a star shape when you cut it open like.

This is the reason it is referred to as star apple.

The rounded brown fruit can be so sweet but sometimes people avoid buying it because of the disappointment that could come from taking a sour one.

One cannot always be sure of how it will taste until you it is opened for consumption.

When you get a sour African Star Apple, you have no other option sometimes than to throw it away.

However, beyond the sweetness or sourness are hidden health benefits.

There are different researches on this fruit with interesting revelations on its health benefits.

Compounds In Agbalumo

The compounds in Agbalumo are numerous.

According to a study, “the peel contains 58•9% moisture, 6•1% protein, 12•4% lipid, 4•6% ash, 62•4% carbohydrate and 14•5% crude fibre.

Also, the peel contains ascorbic acid 239•1 mg/100 g and the pulp, 446•1 mg/100 g.

Some toxicants are also present. The peel also contains 264 mg/100 g tannins and the pulp, 627 mg/100 g.

The total oxalate content in the peel is 211 mg/100 g and in the pulp, 167 mg/100 g..

Further analysis of the fruit on its mineral components shows the peel contains (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 250; potassium, 1175; sodium, 12; copper, 2•0; magnesium, 90; zinc, 3•8; iron, 200; and phosphorus, 76•8.

The pulp, the one you love eating, contains 67•5% moisture, 8•8% protein, 15•1% lipid, 68•7% carbohydrate, 4•0% crude fibre and 3•4% ash.

Also, the pulp contains (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 100; potassium, 1175; sodium, 10; copper 2•0; magnesium, 75; zinc, 3•2; iron, 10; and phosphorus, 75•4.

The hydrocyanic acid content was 5•4 mg/100 g in the peel and 6•8 mg/100 g in the pulp. The study gave the phytic acid content as 0•8 mg/100 g in the peel and 1•6 mg/100 g in the pulp.

Due to the compounds in the fruit, Agbalumo has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different ailments.

Health Benefits Of Agbalumo

A 2020 study is elaborate with the compounds in African Star Apple. It further highlighted the health benefits you derive from the fruit when you eat it.

1. Improves Heart Health
   According to the 2020 study, the African Star Apple contains glycoside. This compound makes the fruit a good remedy for congestive heart failure.
   The presence of potassium in high amount in the fruit also makes it a great remedy for alleviating heart-related diseases and stroke.
2. Boosts Immune System
   The fruit is rich in vitamins C, vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and vitamin B2.
   Vitamin C boosts your immune system and the truth is that in an era where the world is fighting coronavirus it makes so much sense to eat this fruit whenever you find it.

Apart from the immune boosting benefits, it also supports good functioning of your nervous system.

This is the function of vitamin B1 and B2 that are present in the fruit.

One interesting thing about the fruit is that the vitamin content remains the same in both sweet and sour Agbalumo.

The only difference is that the sweet ones are low in carbohydrates while the sour ones are high in carbohydrates.

3. Anti-bacterial Property
   The fruit also contains anti bacteria properties. These were identified in the earlier cited research.
   According to the research, the extracts of the seed cotyledons was successful in the treatment of C. albicans while the root extracts inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, C. tetani, Bacillus subtilis and Candid albicans.
4. Anti-inflammatory Properties
   The fruit contains some phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin. This compounds help in reducing inflammation in your system.
5. Also, Alkaloids are beneficial for anti-inflammatory properties and these are in abundance in the African Star fruit.
   Eating some Agbalumo aids digestion. Also, it has anti-diarrheal and anti-hemorrhiodal (pile) qualities.
   If you find it hard to move your bowels, add some Agbalumo to your diet and take it for few days. You will notice a reasonable difference and total relief in few days.
   The fruit equally contains probiotics such as Lactobacillus lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum.
   These are friendly bacteria that promote a good gut and large intestinal health.
6. Rich In Anti-oxidants
   Anti-oxidants help aid detoxification in our body.
   Everyday, toxins find their way into our system and we need some scavengers to fight them.
   Agbalumo contains flavonoids and one function of this antioxidant is to scavenge free radicals.
   It binds to them and ensure that they are properly excreted from the body.
7. Lowers Bad Cholesterol Level
   As we feed our body different foods, some with trans fat pose grave danger to us.
   This fat finds its way into the bloodstream when some compounds that could stop them are not present.
   This fat deposits clog the arteries and make blood flow difficult. This condition could result to heart disease after a period of time.
   Interestingly, there are compounds in some foods that bind to this fat and stop them from sneaking into your bloodstream.
   The Star Apple contains Saponins which possess hypocholesterolaemia property. They are able to form insoluble complexes with cholesterol significantly reducing its absorption.
   7.Weight Loss Food
   Fruits and vegetables have been identified as good foods for persons who are trying to lose weight or control their weight.
   Vitamin B and other blood sugar and cholesterol lowering properties of this fruit further aids weight loss.
   Also, the fruit is rich in fibre and this helps you stay full with a lowered appetite for food.
   Lowering the amount of food consumed is known to aid weight loss.
8. Agbalumo Is A Good Fertility Boost
   Pregnant women and those trying to Conceive are in luck with Agbalumo in their system.
   Potassium and magnesium are great for women who are trying to conceive and those that are pregnant.
   For men, the presence of zinc and potassium in the fruit can also boost male fertility.

Titilayo Kupoliyi

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