In this article, we will consider the calorie content, benefits and harm to the health of tangerines. But first, let's figure out what kind of fruit it is. No one will dispute the fact that mandarin belongs to a large family of citrus fruits. 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 wealthy people could afford to buy it. Therefore, they nicknamed this little sweet orange mandarin. That was the class of top government officials in the Celestial Empire. According to another version, the fruit got its name from the color of its peel. In Chinese tangerines, it is light orange, almost yellow. Robes of this color could only be worn by senior officials, tangerines.
Spread in Europe
The first sweet edible citrus to come from China was orange. Now this fruit has two common names. One - "orange" - gave the name to such buildings as greenhouses. The fact is that the enthusiasm for the cultivation of orange trees was so universal that all wealthy people erected such glazed winter gardens at home. Peter the Great turned out to be 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” literally translate as “apple” - “China”. Which clearly indicates the origin of this citrus. But enough about oranges. Mandarins, the benefits and harms of which we consider in this article, arrived in Europe much later than the “Chinese apple”. The fruits have been enjoyed since the 18th century, and the first trees were planted only in the 19th century.
Mandarin and his younger brothers
The citrus family has grown and thanks to the efforts of breeders. In Russia, it is customary to call mandarin all orange fruits that are smaller than an orange in size. But this is a mistake. In the world there are several species that are related to tangerine, but not identical to it. This is Clementine, bred by Clement Rodier in 1902. The fruit of this hybrid with orange is sweeter than tangerine. Still there is a sour rangpur - mix with a lemon. There is also tangelo, which is a hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit. By the way, everyone’s beloved sweetie is also a close relative of the hero of our article.
Breeders experimented with the tangerine itself. He was adapted to live in the open ground in areas with a diverse climate, for which reason Algerian, Spanish, Georgian and other varieties appeared. The Japanese especially succeeded in breeding tangerines. They developed varieties of natsumikan and satzuma. The latter species is characterized by the fact that sweet fruits have absolutely no seeds.
The chemical composition of the pulp
Before talking about the benefits and dangers of mandarin for the body, consider what substances it contains. The fruit itself consists of a peel, pulp, which is enclosed in whitish membranes, dividing the fruit into lobules, and seeds. All this is used if not immediately fresh, then used in traditional medicine or cooking. Let us first consider the chemical composition of the pulp of mandarin. 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 citruses, is vitamin C. And since the harvest time of these fruits falls in the winter, they turn out to be very useful in the flu season. Of the useful minerals, the pulp of fruits contains phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron and magnesium. And what is remarkable: no matter what type of mandarin you choose - Unshiu, Satsuma, Santra, Tangelo, Natsumikan, Calamondin, Clementine, Incarin, Moroccan, Israeli or Georgian varieties - the chemical composition in all fruits will be approximately the same.
The chemical composition of the peel
This species of the citrus family, unlike its relatives, has one feature. The skin of the mandarin separates very easily, and in some varieties there is even an air gap between the pulp and the peel. This allows you to clean the fetus and not splash with the juice. But do not rush to throw away the tangerine peel. The benefits and harms of the orange skin will also be the topic of our article.
Its composition includes carotene. But most appreciated is the peel of the mandarin because of the essential oil, which gives the fruit an easily recognizable smell. But it is not only famous for its aroma. Mandarin essential oil contains limonene, citral, caprylic aldehyde. And the smell of the peel is attached to the methyl ester of atranilic acid. By the way, oil, albeit in small quantities, is also found 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 zest with baking or drinks.
Sahara
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 a lot to saturate the flesh of the wild plant with sugar. Therefore, if we talk about the benefits and dangers of mandarins in diabetes, we will not be able to 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 abandoned for 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 mandarins, as well as close to wild, Chinese and Turkish species. In no case will it hurt, but only the hybrid with lemon - rangpur and grapefruit - with tango will benefit diabetics. They will saturate the body with ascorbic acid and give a boost of vigor due to the rich vitamin composition.
Mandarins 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 health benefits and harms of these orange fruits became the topic of thought for the Soviet Aesculapius. It was believed that regular use of these small orange fruits saturates the body with ascorbic acid. And she, according to Soviet doctors, strengthens the immune system, so that no flu epidemic will be scary.
In addition to vitamin C (ascorbic acid), the tangerine pulp contains volatile, which have an antibacterial effect that eliminates viruses. Therefore, if you already have a cold or get the flu, drink tea with the addition of a citrus peel. It not only eliminates cough, but also has a mild diuretic effect. Mandarin is useful for bronchitis, since the phenolic amino acid contained in it has a strong decongestant effect.
Citrus and heart disease
Do not clean the slices of the fetus from a tasteless white film. In such membranes much of what is beneficial to health is hidden. And the harm of mandarins to the 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 disease. Fruits significantly reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, because the substances contained in their pulp prevent the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the walls of the blood arteries. Mandarins lower blood pressure and should therefore be used to prevent strokes.
Citrus and cranky nerves
Already one kind of sunny orange fruit with elegant glossy leaves is able to drive off the spleen and inspire optimism. But the substances contained in mandarin, the benefits and harms of which we are considering here, also have beneficial effects on shattered nerves. Magnesium improves overall tone. If you pour 5-6 drops of essential mandarin oil into the bath, then after taking the water procedure, insomnia will disappear. The fetus saturates the body with vitamins, which gives vitality and gives a boost of energy. If you had a busy day at work, add three drops of mandarin essential oil to a tablespoon of honey. Fatigue will be removed by hand, and the nervous system will return to normal. As you can see, the peel is the most antidepressant. But the pulp of the fetus noticeably raises the mood. Especially useful for loosened nerves is the juice of Tangerine, Incarin and Satsuma.
Citrus and Pregnancy
Now let's talk about the benefits and dangers of mandarins for women who are preparing to become mothers. And here you can not ignore the peel of the fetus. To weaken, or even eliminate toxicosis, eliminate bouts of vomiting and nausea, we prepare a tincture. We clean the tangerine, fill 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, primarily sweet tangerines, rush to help future mothers. However, a woman's body during pregnancy can suffer from various kinds of allergies. So that there are no such reactions, and the fetal health is not affected, you need to be limited to one or two fruits per day. Mandarin essential oil is not in vain very popular in cosmetology. Do a relaxing massage with this remedy, and no stretch marks are scary.
Is it possible to give tangerines to children
The body of babies is often prone to food allergies. And most often, the reactions are caused by orange fruits, including tangerines. The benefits and harms to the body, contraindications to citrus are of an individual nature. And if you notice that the baby does not respond well to tangerines, stop giving them to him. And even in healthy children, an overdose of these fruits can cause diathesis, which feels much worse than vitamin deficiency. But such fruits, due to the content of pectins in their pulp and juice, increase the appetite of children. Mandarins 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; health benefits and harm, calorie content
The fruit pulp is 85 percent water. Everything else - 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 already 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 allows it to be attributed to dietary products. It is worth noting that citric acid contained in the peel, pulp juice, prevents the penetration of deep into the fibers of the fruit nitrates, which gardeners often spray fruit.
Should citrus fruits be included in diets?
Now consider the benefits and harms of tangerines for weight loss. On the one hand, these fruits normalize metabolism. And their calorie content is low. 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 to use tangerines during the diet, they should not be eaten on an empty stomach. And even better - include in some dishes, for example, rice-based salads. Then the harm of tangerines will be minimized. But the benefits of citrus will be more effective.
Mandarin: benefits and harms. Contraindications
Like all food products , citrus fruits have a number of negative qualities. They increase the acidity of the stomach. Therefore, they can not be consumed by ulcers, and those who suffer from gastritis should be very restrained in their love for tangerines. The benefits and harms of citrus fruits are their oversaturation with vitamins. Overdosing can cause diathesis symptoms. It is also worthwhile to refrain from consuming mandarins, at least often, for patients with duodenal ulcer, nephritis, hepatitis, cholecystitis. In these cases, such fruits will harm the body.
How to choose the fruits
The benefits and harms to the body of mandarins to a large extent depend on the proper purchase of fruits. In order to protect fruits from pests, extend their shelf life, and also give citrus fruits a marketable appearance, manufacturers cover the fruit peel with paraffin and fungicides. Ascorbic and citric acid prevent the penetration of these substances into the pulp, but 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 should also not contain dents, damage or mold.