I was walking along Urua Ikpa road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State today and I came across this nutritious fruitAgbalumo(yoruba language)/Udara(igbo language) African Star Apple or Cherry(english language),couldn't resist it so I had to get it and I stopped for some seconds and thought about the health benefit of this fruit,i was licking this fruit but yet didn't know what it does to the body, I googled about it and was amazed at what a small fruit could to the Human system.
I remember when my sis and I used to chew the flesh and skin so hard, it turned to gum...sweet old days ,
it is currently in season and flooding the market places and street walkways. The fruit is mostly cultivated in the rural areas and is very common during the months of December to April. It's bright orange and has a brown touch to it & dark brown seeds covered with creamy pulp which is usually licked off
The unripe udara is sour while the ripe fruit is usually very sweet also known as Nwanu(igbo language) . The sweet fruits(Nwanu) are not usually harvested from the trees, but left to fall to the ground where they are picked up from the for consumption or sent to the market
The fruit is mostly seen in African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Uganda,Cameroon and Niger Republic.
Health Benefits:::
Here are some really good news about the nutritious load of Udara/Agbalumo/African star apple;
- The african star apple contains more vitamin A & C than orange and guava, the fruit is also rich in calcium which is For strong bones and teeth
According to research, the African star apple decreases the level of blood sugar and cholesterol, and could be useful in treating heart diseases.
In traditional medicine, the roots, barks and leaves of udara are being used in the treatment of diseases. The bark is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf is used as a mosturiser and for the treatment of skin diseases
-The fruit is known to act against and help fight against cancer.
-As with most fruits, it has low calories because of its little fat content so it is a healthy food and very ideal for weight watchers.
-Recently researches done here in Nigeria about Udara/Agbalumo leaf carried out on rats showed two possible medicinal uses:
i) It could serve as a natural source of Anti-Oxidant booster to remove free radicals from oxidative stress disorders, and
ii) Its leaf extract contains low level of blood glucose (to treat Diabetes)
Basic Nutrition
1 fresh star apple contains 67 calories. Taking star apple(cherry) The Diet Channel notes that 100 to 200 calories per snack is best. Star apple is greatly recommended for weight watchers
Nutrient Content per 100g edible Udara/Agbalumo pulp
Nutrient Quantity
Energy (Kcal) 91.09
Carbohydrate (g) 10.49
Protein (g) 6.99
Fat (g) 2.49
Moisture (g) 73
Vitamin C (mg) 25
So I would urge you today since its the season to always remember to take udara/agbalumo/african star fruit daily.