The rambutan fruit, or Abu Shaar fruit, as some call it, is a tropical fruit native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. It is similar to the lychee fruit. The rambutan tree reaches a height of 80 feet, or 27 meters. Rambutan is a small green or red fruit with translucent white flesh, creamy-sweet taste, and a seed in the centre. If you have not heard of this fruit before, this article will provide you with all the information you need to know about it and more. Read on

Nutritional value

One medium-sized rambutan contains:

• Calories: 7
• Protein: less than 1 gram.
• Fat: less than 1 gram.
• Fiber: less than 1 gram.
• Carbohydrates: 2 grams.
• Sugar: less than 1 gram.

Benefits of rambutan fruit

The rambutan fruit has a range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help provide the body with vital nutritional benefits. They contain folic acid, which is an important vitamin for healthy cell division. Rambutans also provide other health benefits, such as:

1. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients

• The flesh of the rambutan fruit provides about 1.3-2g of fiber per 100g, which is the same percentage you’ll find in apples, pears, or oranges.
• It is also rich in vitamin C, which is an essential element in helping the body absorb dietary iron easily, and this vitamin also protects body cells from damage. It is worth noting that eating 5 to 6 grains of rambutan fruit meets 50% of your daily vitamin C needs.
• Rambutans contain a good amount of copper, which plays a role in the proper growth and maintenance of various body cells, including heart and bone cells.

2. It boosts immunity

Research has shown that the rambutan fruit supports the immune system in several ways. For example, the vitamin C found in it is linked to immune function and health. Also, some extracts from rambutan may help fight infections, and prevent viruses from multiplying, which helps the immune system to fight off germs more easily.

3. May aid in weight loss

Rambutans contain about 75 calories per 100 grams, which is relatively low for the amount of fiber and water they provide. This, in turn, helps you feel full for longer and thus promotes weight loss over time.

The soluble fiber in this fruit can also dissolve in water and form a gel-like substance in the intestines that helps slow digestion and absorption of nutrients.

4. Promotes healthy digestion

The flesh of the rambutan fruit contains two types of fiber:

The first type: It is insoluble, which makes it pass through the intestines undigested, thus adding bulk to the stool and helping to speed up its transit through the intestines, thus reducing the possibility of constipation.

The second type: It is soluble and provides nourishment for beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn produce short-chain fatty acids, such as acetate and protons, that nourish gut cells, reduce inflammation, and promote symptoms of stomach disorders, including irritable bowel and ulcerative colitis.

5. It may reduce the risk of cancer

Some animal and cell studies have found that compounds in rambutan fruit may help prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells.

6. May protect against diabetes

Cell and animal studies indicate that rambutan peel extracts may increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.

Possible harm to rambutan fruit

The flesh of rambutans is completely safe, but the peel and seeds are generally not edible. Although human studies are not available, animal studies have indicated that the peel may be toxic when eaten regularly and in very large amounts. As for the seeds, they have narcotic effects when eaten raw, and may cause symptoms such as drowsiness, coma, and even death. Hence it is best to avoid eating the seeds altogether.

How to eat rambutan fruit

Rambutan can be bought fresh, canned, or made into jam. To make sure the fruit is ripe, you have to look at the color of its thorns. The redder it is, the more ripe it is.

When eating rambutan, you should do the following:

1. Remove the crust first. This is done by cutting the middle of the outer shell with a knife, then moving it from both sides to cut. Where the end result should be that the transparent meat appears without peel.
2. You will find that the flesh contains a large seed in the middle, which is generally inedible. This seed can be removed with a knife or spit out when eating.
3. You can eat rambutan on its own or add it to salads, meats, desserts, and ice cream.

After we mentioned almost everything about the rambutan fruit, we hope that we have added to you, dear reader, some information that you want to know about this fruit that deserves to be added to your diet after reading this article.