Ay, caramba? No, CARAMBOLA! Also known as STAR FRUIT, it's the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree. I show you a MAXICARD from USA, from my good friend Terry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Averrhoa_carambola_ARS_k5735-7.jpg

File:Carambola Starfruit.jpg

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[edit]Summary

Description	English: Ripe Carambolas, or starfruit, the fruit of Averrhoa carambola tree: vertical, side and cross section profiles. The fruit in cross-section is a five-pointed star, hence its name.
Date	24 October 2010
Source	Own work
Author	SMasters
Permission (Reusing this file)	See below.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carambola_Starfruit.jpg

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Benefits

Carambolas in varying stages of ripeness

Carambola is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C and low in sugar, sodium and acid. It is also a potent source of both primary and secondary polyphenolic antioxidants.^[6] A. carambola has both antioxidant and antimicrobial activities: scavenging of NO by the fruit extract is dependent on concentration and stage of ripening. Extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Salmonella typhi,Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.^{[citation needed]}

[edit]Risks

Carambola is a fairly complex fruit with many benefits, but like strawberries^{[citation needed]}, a small percentage of the human population should be cautious of the fruit for health reasons. Carambola contains oxalic acid, which can be harmful to individuals suffering from kidney failure, kidney stones, or those under kidney dialysis treatment. Consumption by those with kidney failure can produce hiccups, vomiting, nausea, and mental confusion. Fatal outcomes have been documented in some patients.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}

[edit]Drug interactions

Like the grapefruit, carambola is considered to be a potent inhibitor of seven cytochrome P450 isoforms.^[13][14] These enzymes are significant in the first-pass elimination of many medicines, and thus, the consumption of carambola or its juice in combination with certain medications can significantly increase their effective dosage within the body. Research into grapefruit juice has identified a number of common medications affected, including statins, which are commonly used to treat cardiovascular illness, and benzodiazepines (a tranquilizer family including diazepam).^[15]"

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_fruit}

^{http://thaifood.about.com/od/introtothaicooking/ss/starfruithowto.htm}

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Happy Pink Saturday! (still open on Sunday!)

^{Please visit "Pretty in pink"/ "Show us your pink" [objects, that is :)] meme here:}

^{http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/}

Giant Weta, World's Largest Insect, Photographed In New Zealand (PHOTO)

Giant Weta, World's Largest Insect, Photographed In New Zealand (PHOTO)

WWF MAXICARDS from Bhārat Gaṇarājya (that's REPUBLIC OF INDIA). "The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) also known as the Indian lion, Persian lion and Eurasian Lion[2][3][4] is a subspecies of lion. The only place in the wild where the lion is found is in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India.[5][6] In 2010, the Gujarat government reported that 411 Asiatic lions were sighted in the Gir forest; a rise of 52 over the last census of 2005."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_lion

"The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) also known as the Indian lion, Persian lion and Eurasian Lion^[2][3][4] is a subspecies of lion. The only place in the wild where the lion is found is in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India.^[5][6] In 2010, the Gujarat government reported that 411 Asiatic lions were sighted in the Gir forest; a rise of 52 over the last census of 2005.^[7]

The Asiatic lion is one of the five major big cats found in India, the others being the Bengal tiger, the Indian leopard, the snow leopard and clouded leopard.^[8] The Asiatic lions once ranged from the Mediterranean to the north-eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent, but excessive hunting, water pollution and decline in natural prey reduced their habitat.^[9] Historically, Asiatic lions were classified into three kinds – Bengal, Arabian and Persian lions.^[10] Asiatic lions are smaller and lighter than their African counterparts, but are equally aggressive."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_lion

Republic of India भारत गणराज्य Bhārat Gaṇarājya
Flag Emblem
Motto:  "Satyameva Jayate" (Sanskrit) सत्यमेव जयते (Devanāgarī)    "Truth Alone Triumphs"[1]
Anthem:  Jana Gana Mana    "Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People"[2]
National song:[a] Vande Mataram      "I Bow to Thee, Mother"[1]
Area controlled by India is in dark green. Claimed but uncontrolled regions are in light green.
Capital		New Delhi 28°36.8′N 77°12.5′E
Largest city		Mumbai
Official language(s)		Hindi, English[show]
Recognised regional languages		8th Schedule:[show]
National languages		None defined by theConstitution[3]
Demonym		Indian
Government		Federal parliamentary constitutional republic[1]
-	President	Pratibha Patil
-	Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh (INC)
-	Speaker of the House	Meira Kumar (INC)
-	Chief Justice	S. H. Kapadia
Legislature		Parliament of India
-	Upper House	Rajya Sabha
-	Lower House	Lok Sabha
Independence		from the United Kingdom
-	Declared	15 August 1947
-	Republic	26 January 1950

"The Indian economy is the world's ninth-largest economy by nominal GDP and fourth-largest economy by purchasing power parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialized country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, corruption, and inadequate public health. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks tenth in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 28 states and 7 union territories. It is one of the five BRICS nations. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

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Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

Please visit: http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ (wait until Beth posts the today's Linky tool for the meme, then make your entry, if you want to join).