Remember not so long ago past times when we received fragrant mandarin only in New Year's gifts, a few pieces? Apparently, therefore, the association was firmly entrenched: tree, citruses, holiday. Today, there is no problem with the choice of overseas fruits in the market: with the beginning of autumn, shops abound with fragrant sunny fruits. Today we’ll talk more about mandarin: what it is good for health, what substances it contains, etc. Well, let's understand.
Homeland Mandarin Oranges
This is a very neat evergreen shrub that is not found in the wild. It was originally bred in China, in southwest Asia. At the same time, only noble gentlemen, officials, called only tangerines, could taste its fruits. From this whether the name of the fruit came or not, but so far it has remained unchanged. Today, not only China, but also Morocco, Spain, Argentina and Sicily grow a huge number of tangerines. Why this fruit is useful, we will speak in more detail a little lower, but for now, let's deal with modern varieties.
Varieties of sunny fruits
Indeed, there are more varieties of it than many think. They differ in appearance, taste and shape. So, satsuma is very popular - this is the sweetest seedless variety. And unshiu is the most acidic. There are varieties with a thin peel, which is difficult to separate from the pulp, but for the most part they are thick-skinned, and the loose crust is easily removed. This is what distinguishes mandarin from other citruses. What is the use of this sunny fruit and which variety has the most vitamins? We hasten to reassure customers: in terms of composition, they are all identical, so the body does not fail.
In addition to the main varieties, there are hybrids. So, there is a hybrid of mandarin with orange, with grapefruit, ichang, kumquat. In addition, you can always navigate by color. Bright orange fruits are tangerines, and tangerines are usually yellow.
Mandarin Oranges
The benefit of these sunny beauties is undeniable. Bright fruits contain a huge amount of vitamins and antioxidants, are a real storehouse of health. Tasty and always desired on our table is tangerine. What is this fruit good for? First of all, the complete absence of nitrates. Citric acid, which is part of it, neutralizes harmful compounds, being a natural "antidote." By the way, not only the flesh is useful, but also the peel, as well as the white mesh. The peel is rich in essential oils, as well as organic acids and flavonoids.
Nevertheless, the most delicious is the flesh. What is especially nice, its beneficial properties are fully preserved during transportation. The tangerine pulp consists of 87% water, another 7% is sugar (it is not for nothing that the fruit is so sweet), the rest is acids, pectin, mineral salts, glycosides, essential oils and vitamins. It contains a particularly large amount of ascorbic acid, which is typical for citrus fruits. Tangerines are rich in vitamins of groups B, P, K, D. The juice of sunny fruits contains minerals, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Now it’s clear how mandarin is useful for the body? That's why in the season you need to try to eat as many of these fruits as possible.
Tangerines and oranges
Surely you happened to observe confusion near the store counter when customers did not know what is better to choose. Let's try to figure out which is more beneficial: orange or mandarin. Children usually prefer small tangerines; they are easy to clean and sweeter. Adults more often give choice to large, sweet and sour and refreshing oranges. Consider the composition of both fruits. By the content of B1, B2, B5, B9 and ascorbic acid, an orange is in the lead, and only by the number of B3 and B6 is mandarin ahead. Calcium and potassium are more in the first, and iron, calcium, sodium and magnesium - in the second. The energy value is slightly higher in mandarin. In general, as you can see, it is quite difficult to conclude what is more useful: orange or mandarin. The differences are not so radical. If you are on a strict diet, it is better to choose a fruit with a lower energy value, in other cases there is not much difference.
What is useful mandarin for the body
First of all, it is worth noting the replenishment of vitamins. Mandarins appear on the market in large quantities in the autumn-winter period, which means they are a necessary source of vitamin C and other trace elements. For colds and viral diseases, these fruits provide a good immune response. Like all other citruses, it has phytoncidal properties, which means it helps fight microbes. Decoctions of the peel facilitate coughing.
It is necessary to mention the decongestant property. In addition, mandarin favorably affects the bronchi, having a pronounced anti-mucus effect. It has not yet been officially proven, but doctors are inclined to believe that the regular use of tangerines reduces the risk of heart disease and the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
Do not doubt whether tangerines are useful. Among other things, it is an excellent antidepressant. Not only taste, but also color, smell and association with the holiday can cheer up and treat the spleen, so in the autumn season do not forget to take a piece of the sun on the table.
Tangerine oil
You can talk endlessly about how useful mandarins for women. This is a true pantry of health. Moreover, not only the pulp is useful - the peel contains an almost identical set of vitamins and minerals. It is due to its cold pressing that tangerine oil is obtained. It is widely used in the beauty industry, because it is part of creams and lotions, allowing you to make the skin soft and supple. It is recommended for pregnant women from stretch marks.
Mandarin in folk medicine
Continuing to talk about how mandarins are useful for women, you need to remember that this is a source of vitamin C. Its consumption increases sharply during pregnancy, but it is not necessary to take synthetic drugs - just treat yourself with mandarins. In medicine, dried peel is most often used. It is used as decoctions and infusions. This is a great tool that improves digestion, stimulates appetite and has a general strengthening effect on the body. Mandarin is indispensable for people with blood and vascular diseases, improves metabolism.
Useful properties of mandarin and contraindications
Obviously, if the body is healthy, then the sun fruit can do nothing but benefit. However, this is the strongest allergen, so you need to be careful if you have a tendency to such reactions. In addition, you need to use this fruit with caution or completely exclude it from the diet if you have inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer. It is also contraindicated for people suffering from gastritis with high acidity. If you have severe kidney and liver disease, then you should greatly limit the use of mandarins. And with jade, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, it is worthwhile to completely abandon them.
This item applies mainly to women who want to lose weight. Mandarin contains a lot of sugar, so it can stop weight loss. Excessive eating is undesirable for people with diabetes. Suppose that you are a completely healthy person, and all of the above does not concern you. This is great, but still do not rush to eat all the purchased vitamins at a time. There is such a thing as hypervitaminosis, that is, an overdose of a certain vitamin. Most often, this happens when taking synthetic complexes, because it is very difficult to overeat mandarins, but we must warn. And finally, it is undesirable to eat tangerine seeds. The beneficial properties of the fruit do not apply to them, in addition, although in small quantities, they contain hydrocyanic acid.
How to choose and store tangerines
You should choose beautiful fruits, with smooth skin, without rot and specks. If you do not navigate in the grades, go to the seller you trust - he will help you with the purchase. Remember that ripe fruits are not stored for a long time. If you bought them in advance, then try to extend their life. To do this, rub the skin with vegetable oil and place the fruit in a special compartment of the refrigerator and keep it at a temperature of +6 degrees. The humidity level is very important, you can not let them dry. Be sure to remove the plastic bag from the tangerines and place them on the net. If there are leaflets on the branches, do not break them. So fruits are stored longer. Now you know how wonderful the fragrant, sunny mandarin is. What is it useful for the body - we told, so in the new season, try to make it more often appear on your table.