Tangerines: he alth benefits and harms

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In this article, we will look at the calorie content, he alth benefits and harms of tangerines. But first, let's figure out what kind of fruit it is? No one will dispute the fact that the mandarin belongs to the large citrus family. This genus includes fruits that are completely different in taste, size and color: from lemon and orange to exotic lime, pomelo and other fruits. But even through the efforts of breeders, various hybrids appeared, such as, for example, suites.

Mandarin came to us from southern China. From there, it spread and began to be cultivated in the countries of Southeast Asia. It is believed that in northern China, this citrus was so expensive that only very we althy people could afford to buy it. Therefore, this small sweet orange was called the tangerine. This was the name of the class of senior government officials in the Celestial Empire. According to another version, the fruit got its name from the color of its peel. At Chinese tangerinesit is light orange, almost yellow. Robes of this color could only be worn by high officials, tangerines.

Distribution in Europe

The first sweet edible citrus to arrive from China was the orange. Now this fruit has two common names. One - "orange" - gave a name to such buildings as greenhouses. The fact is that the passion for growing orange trees was so universal that all we althy people built such glazed winter gardens at home. Peter the Great was no stranger to this hobby. Because of the greenhouses with citrus trees, the city of Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov) in the Leningrad Region got its name.

The second name of the fruit is of German origin: the words "apfel" - "Sina" are literally translated as "apple" - "China". Which clearly indicates the origin of this citrus. But enough about oranges. Tangerines, the benefits and harms of which we are considering in this article, arrived in Europe much later than the "Chinese apple". The nobility enjoyed the fruits since the 18th century, and they guessed to plant the first trees only in the 19th century.

Mandarin and his younger brothers

The citrus family has grown very much thanks to the efforts of breeders. In Russia, it is customary to call all orange fruits that are smaller than an orange a mandarin. But this is wrong. There are several species in the world that are related to the mandarin, but not identical to it. This is a clementine bred by Clement Rodier in 1902. The fruit of this hybrid with an orange is sweeter than a tangerine. Morethere is sour rangpur - a mixture with lemon. There is also a tangelo, which is a hybrid of a mandarin and a grapefruit. Beloved by all suites, by the way, is also a close relative of the hero of our article.

Breeders experimented with the mandarin itself. It was adapted to live in open ground in areas with a diverse climate, which is why Algerian, Spanish, Georgian and other varieties appeared. The Japanese were especially successful in breeding mandarins. They developed the Natsumikan and Satsuma varieties. The latter type is characterized by the fact that there are absolutely no seeds in sweet fruits.

Chemical composition of pulp

Before we talk about the benefits and harms of mandarin for the body, let's consider what substances it contains. The fruit itself consists of a peel, pulp, which is enclosed in whitish membranes that divide the fruit into slices, and seeds. All this is used, if not immediately for fresh food, then it is used in folk medicine or cooking. Consider first the chemical composition of mandarin pulp. It is rich in sugars (from 7.6 to 8.3 percent), phytoncides, pectins, organic acids, especially citric acid, the content of which can reach from 0.6 to 1.1%. Tangerines are a real vitamin bomb. The pulp contains A, B1, B2, B6, K, PP and D. But most of all in mandarin, as in all citrus fruits, vitamin C. And since the harvest time for these fruits falls in the winter, they turn out to be very useful in the flu period. Of the useful minerals, the fruit pulp contains phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron andmagnesium. And what is remarkable: no matter what type of mandarin you choose - unshiu, satsuma, santra, tangelo, natsumikan, calamondin, clementine, incharin, Moroccan, Israeli or Georgian varieties - the chemical composition in all fruits will be approximately the same.

Chemical composition of peel

This species of the citrus family, unlike its relatives, has one feature. The skin of a mandarin is separated very easily, and in some varieties there is even an air gap between the pulp and the peel. This allows you to clean the fruit and not splatter with juice. But do not rush to throw away the peel of tangerines. The benefits and harms of the orange skin will also be the topic of our article.

It contains carotene. But most of all, the tangerine peel is valued because of the essential oil, which gives the fruits an easily recognizable smell. But it is not only the aroma that it is famous for. Mandarin essential oil contains limonene, citral, caprylic aldehyde. And the smell of the peel is given by the methyl ester of atranilic acid. By the way, oil, albeit in small quantities, is also contained in the leaves of the plant. Many housewives make candied fruits from the peel of the fruit and dry it in order to mix the peel into pastries or drinks.

Sugar

If the chemical composition (vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates) does not change depending on the variety of mandarin, then things are different with sweetness. Breeders have tried hard to saturate the pulp of the fruit of a wild plant with sugars. Therefore, if we talk about the benefits and harms of tangerines in diabetes, we will notwe can give an unambiguous verdict.

The total glycemic index of these citrus fruits is 45 units. But some varieties, such as Honey (with a greenish skin), Temple, Robinson, Clementine, Mineola, should be avoided by people who have high blood sugar. But this does not mean that all tangerines are harmful to them. After all, there are many varieties in which sourness is the dominant taste. These are Abkhazian and Georgian tangerines, as well as Chinese and Turkish species close to wild. In no case will they harm, but only a hybrid with lemon - rangpur and grapefruit - tangelo will benefit diabetics. They will saturate the body with ascorbic acid and give a charge of vivacity due to the rich vitamin composition.

Tangerines for colds

During the Soviet Union, citrus fruits were the only fruits available to people in winter. And it so happened that tangerines became the permanent attribute of the New Year holidays, along with the Christmas tree. The he alth benefits and harms of these orange fruits have become a topic for reflection by Soviet doctors. It was believed that the regular use of these small orange fruits saturates the body with ascorbic acid. And she, as Soviet doctors claimed, strengthens the immune system, so that no flu epidemic will be terrible.

In addition to vitamin C (ascorbic acid), mandarin pulp contains phytoncides, which have an antibacterial effect that eliminates viruses. Therefore, if you already have a cold or flu, drink tea with the addition of citrus peel. It not only eliminates cough, but also has a milddiuretic effect. Mandarin is useful for bronchitis, because the phenolic amino acid contained in it has a strong decongestant effect.

Citrus fruits and heart disease

It is not necessary to clean the fruit slices from the tasteless white film. There are many he alth benefits hidden in such membranes. And the harm of tangerines for cores is minimal. Glycosides contained in the white films of the fetus strengthen the walls of blood vessels, break down plaques that can clog the blood flow. Those who regularly consume tangerines rarely suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Fruits significantly reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, since the substances contained in their pulp prevent the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the walls of the blood arteries. Tangerines lower blood pressure, and therefore they should be used to prevent strokes.

Citrus and frayed nerves

Already one kind of sunny orange fruit with elegant glossy leaves can drive away spleen and inspire optimism. But the substances contained in mandarin, the benefits and harms of which we are considering here, also have a beneficial effect on shattered nerves. Magnesium improves overall tone. If you pour 5-6 drops of essential tangerine oil into the bath, then after taking the water procedure, insomnia will disappear. The fruit saturates the body with vitamins, which gives vigor and gives a boost of energy. If you've had a busy day at work, add three drops of mandarin essential oil to a tablespoon of honey. Fatigue as if by hand will remove, and nervousthe system will return to normal. As you can see, the peel is most of all an antidepressant. But the pulp of the fruit noticeably uplifts the mood. The juice of tangerine, incharine and satsuma is especially useful for shattered nerves.

Citrus fruits and pregnancy

Now let's talk about the benefits and harms of tangerines for women who are preparing to become mothers. And here you can not ignore the peel of the fruit. To weaken, and even eliminate toxicosis, eliminate bouts of vomiting and nausea, we prepare a tincture. We clean the tangerine, pour the peel with a glass of boiling water in a teapot. When the broth has cooled, we drink it slowly, as soon as we feel an attack of nausea. In the second trimester, pregnant women suffer from vitamin C deficiency. And citrus fruits, especially sweet tangerines, rush to the aid of expectant mothers. However, a woman's body during pregnancy can suffer from various kinds of allergies. To avoid such reactions, and the he alth of the fetus is not affected, you need to limit yourself to one or two fruits per day. It is not for nothing that mandarin essential oil is very popular in cosmetology. Do a relaxing massage with this remedy, and no stretch marks will scare you.

Is it possible to give tangerines to children

Baby's body is often prone to food allergies. And most often, reactions are caused by orange fruits, including tangerines. Benefits and harms to the body, contraindications to citrus fruits are individual. And if you notice that the baby reacts badly to tangerines, stop giving them to him. And even in he althy children, an overdose of thesefetuses can cause diathesis, which feels much worse than beriberi. But such fruits, due to the content of pectins in their pulp and juice, increase the appetite of children. Tangerines also have a mild anthelmintic property. To do this, give once a day a spoonful of honey with two drops of essential oil from this fruit.

Tangerines; he alth benefits and harms, calories

Fruit pulp is 85 percent water. Everything else is vitamins, minerals, pectins, flavonoids, essential oils and sugars. One hundred grams of pulp contains: 7.5 g of carbohydrates, 1.9 g of dietary fiber, 1.1 g of organic acids, 0.8 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat. The composition of saccharides on average in various types of mandarin is at around 7.5 g. As noted above, citrus fruits contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals. This composition determines the benefits and harms of mandarin. The calorie content of this fruit is only 33 units, which makes it possible to classify it as a dietary product. It is worth noting that the citric acid contained in the peel, the pulp of the juice, prevents the penetration of nitrates deep into the fibers of the fruit, with which gardeners often spray fruit.

Should I include citrus fruits in my diet

Now consider the benefits and harms of tangerines for weight loss. On the one hand, these fruits normalize metabolism. Yes, they are low in calories. But on the other hand, tangerines do not saturate, but cause a feeling of hunger. In addition, their juice irritates the walls of the gastric mucosa, which causes a feeling of heartburn. If you want toeat tangerines during a diet, they should not be eaten on an empty stomach. Better yet, include it in some dishes, for example, rice-based salads. Then the harm of tangerines will be minimized. But the benefits of citrus fruits will manifest themselves more effectively.

Mandarin: benefits and harms. Contraindications

Like all foods, citrus fruits have a number of negative qualities. They increase the acidity of the stomach. Therefore, they should not be used by ulcers, and those who suffer from gastritis should be very restrained in their love for tangerines. The benefits and harms of citrus fruits lie in their oversaturation with vitamins. Overdose can cause symptoms of diathesis. It is also worth refraining from eating tangerines, at least frequently, for patients with duodenal ulcer, nephritis, hepatitis, cholecystitis. In these cases, such fruits will harm the body.

How to choose fruits

The benefits and harms to the body of tangerines largely depend on the correct purchase of fruits. Manufacturers, in order to protect fruits from pests, extend their shelf life, and also give a “marketable appearance” to citrus fruits, cover the fruit peel with paraffin and fungicides. Ascorbic and citric acid prevent the penetration of these substances into the pulp, but the peel can no longer be used for culinary and cosmetic purposes. To fully enjoy the benefits of mandarin, you need to choose fruits with "not clogged pores." They must also be free of dents, damage, and mildew.