Opinions on Star Fruit Trees

[igrowmangos]

Greetings all, I'm wondering what's the forums opinion on star fruit. I have tasted them before and I like the versatility of the fruit. Also the trees produce heavily and almost too much for any one person. What are you all doing with the fruits besides selling them and eating them? Speaking of eating star fruit some say that it is not healthy to eat to much, but we all know to much of anything is not good for you (unless it's mangos from Florida). 

[pineislander]

I made a nice wine, juices and dehydrated some.

[roblack]

I just eat them. My friend makes a chutney.

[Tommyng]

There is a grove nearby that makes wine for specialty stores. It’s not recommended people with kidney disease eat star fruit because of a neurotoxin they contain, even people with normal kidney function can develop an acute kidney disease. If you want to eat it just don’t consume star fruit on and empty stomach or while dehydrated.

[igrowmangos]

Yikes! I may just go ahead and blend the star fruits and use them as a fertilizer for other fruit trees. I would eat may be one or two after dinner then. Not sure now I may just get rid of the tree now. Is this kidney claim actual? or just rumor?

[echinopora]

http://rfcarchives.org.au/Next/Fruits/Carambola/CarambolaAcid1-91.htm
The concern is oxalic acid content.
Rob

[igrowmangos]

Thanks for the study report Rob. I noticed that it indicated that the dangerous acid level is lower when the fruit is sweeter and riper as supposed to the green sour ones.

[HIfarm]

The concern is real.  There has been some writing about how you can decrease the levels if you cut off the tips of the "stars" (the ribs).  However, from what I have heard, this has not been substantiated & is probably just one of those urban legends that becomes "fact" on the internet.  Best to eat in moderation, perhaps not at all if you have impaired function.

[brian]

Thanks for posting about the oxalate risk.  I didn't realize this when I bought a starfruit tree, and I am definitely one to each a ton of fruit at once.  I am glad I was warned about this, as I also found out about bezoars from persimmons recently.

It seems there is another toxin specific to starfruit, being called "caramboxin":  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramboxin

[RodneyS]

After eating my first starfruit, an Arkin seedling, years ago at Roger Meyer's house, I've been wanting to add a Kari or Sri Kembangan to my collection.  Bot for the taste & the productivity.  However, due to the high oxalate content and other constituents inherit in starfruit which may cause kidney issues, I play it safe and don't acquire a tree.

[pineislander]

The article doesn't do a good job of comparing the levels in common terms. Once you do that the situation isn't bad at all. If you have kidney problems your doctor should be going through the dietary changes involved.

From the referenced website:
"Boiled spinach and cocoa powder contain 780 mg/100 g"
"Wilson et al. (9) quantified the oxalic acid in carambola using the HPLC technique. Levels ranging from 0.8 mg/g to 7.3 mg/g were reported."

to change 0.8 mg/g to mg/100g multipley by 100
.8 mg/g x 100= 80mg/100g
7.3 mg/g x 100=703 mg/100g

So, if boiled spinach contains 780mg/100g and Carambola contains, at maximum, 703 mg/100g oxalic acid
then
it can therefore be said that boiled spinach contains MORE oxalic acid than eve SOUR type Carambola, and significantly more than ordinary sweet and especially ripe Carambola.

Many food contain oxylates, another name for oxalic acid, beets, chard(silverbeet), even cinnamon and especially turmeric. Normal people with a varied diet and healthy gut should have no problem.

[FMfruitforest]

Good Variety Grows and produces so well in florida, beautiful flowers