All about citrus

Citrus fruits are loved by both children and adults.They have an amazing and unique composition, beneficial effects on the body and even improve mood.

Citrus fruits are woody flowering plants widely used in the food, cosmetic and medical industries. Most species are bred by humans and cultivated on a huge scale - mainly in the USA and Southeast Asia.

In total there are 32 kinds of citrus fruits (along with hybrids), which are further subdivided into species. Not all of them are known to the common man, not all are used for his needs. But among them stands out the most common.

Orange (Citrus sinensis) is an evergreen flowering tree, belongs to the family of the Rutaceans, of the genus Citrus. Another name is Chinese Apple. Bred by man.

Depending on the variety, oranges can reach 12 m in height (vigorous), 5 m (dwarf), 2 m (room) or even 70 cm. The leaves of an orange tree are medium in size, oval, spikes on the sprouts. The flowers are large, white and pink. The top layer of orange, like other citrus fruits, is a peel, called a peel.

Orange fruits are divided into 4 groups:

1. “Oval” - the pulp is yellow or pale orange, medium-sized, multi-seedling, sweet-sour;
2. "Umbilical" - orange, larger than the others, sweet-sour;
3. “Kinglets”, or “Sicilian” - small in size, with red flesh;
4. "Jaffa" - sweeter than others, they have a thick relief peel, the fruits of large size.

Oranges bear fruit 8 years after planting, live just over 70 years. They grow in Southeast Asia, especially in China, as well as in Brazil and the United States.

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is an evergreen tree. Its height is 4-5 meters, the crown is wide, voluminous, with medium elongated leaves and small flowers, the aroma is spicy.

Its fruit has a thin, soft and easily peelable skin. They are small in diameter - 6 cm maximum, and consist of about 10-11 lobules. There are tangerines with seeds and without. The flesh is orange or light orange, with a high content of juice.

China and the Indochina Peninsula are considered the birthplace of mandarin, but it grows in many Asian countries, as well as in Spain, France and the USA.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) grows in China, USA, Israel, Mexico. The taste of grapefruit is similar to the taste of orange, but it is slightly bitter and sour.

This is an evergreen tree with an average height of 6 meters with long dark green leaves, but there are specimens of 14 m each.

Fruits of grapefruit are up to 15 cm in diameter, the flesh is divided into slices, and depending on the variety, its color may be pale yellow or bright red. The shades of the rind also vary by grade. Gather it in February.

Grapefruits are the few citrus fruits. There are about 20 varieties, which are divided into two groups.

1. White. Their flesh and rind are light yellow, the fruits are bitter and sour, and their nutrients content is lower than in red ones.
2. Red The rind and flesh is colored red. These grapefruits were bred in the second half of the 20th century in the United States.

It is cut into two parts, the core is removed, sugar or fructose is placed there. Gradually mixing with the juice, they make the fruit less bitter.

Grapefruit and orange, by the way, are the only citrus fruits that contain naringenin - a flavonoid that neutralizes free radicals, which slows down skin aging.

Pomelo (Citrus maxima), the homeland is Malaysia, and in China, pomelo is presented as a symbol of prosperity on the eve of the New Year.It also grows in Thailand, India, and Japan.

The skin color of the pomelo is either pale green or yellow, and that part of the fruit that basked in the sun during ripening turns pink. This is the largest citrus fruit - it can weigh about 10 kg, having a diameter of 30 cm. It ripens in February.

The taste is the same as grapefruit, bitter, but it is used more like a tangerine - the rind is incised, cleaned, the fruit is divided into slices, the bones are pulled out and the membranes are cut. Peel and membranes of pomelo and grapefruit contain substances that give them a bitter taste.

Lemon (Cítrus límon) is much smaller than an orange or grapefruit - the tree reaches a maximum of 8 m. It appeared in China or India, grows in the Caucasus and in the USA.

A flower in color resembles a fruit — light yellow or white. The fruit is bright yellow, about 5 cm in diameter, but the leaves are long, dark green, the seeds are white, slightly transparent.

Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) - unlike other citrus fruits, it is a shrub or small tree. Its homeland - India, grows also in Malaysia, Africa, the USA, in Cuba, in Mexico. Used to produce citric acid, is a natural flavoring.

Lime has many similarities with lemon - they are genetic relatives. However, the peel and lime flesh is light green, it is smaller in size - from 4-5 cm in diameter, sour than lemon and slightly bitter. The lime rind is thinner and smoother than the lemon. Fruiting year round.

Divided into 2 types.

1. Mexican Limes, or West Indies. These are small limes with a small amount of seeds.
2. Sweet It tastes more fresh, slightly sweetish, has a size of 8 cm in diameter, there is no seed in them.

Citrus fruits are one of the lowest-calorie fruits. Their composition contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, so they are sour to taste, as well as vitamins A, B, E, P, a variety of micro and macro elements. Citrus fruits also have a high concentration of phytoncides and flavonoids. Phytoncides kill harmful bacteria, preventing infection of the body, have antibacterial properties, prevent colds, sore throat, flu.

It is also known antiallergic their property. The period of menstruation due to flavonoids becomes less painful due to their similarity with the female sex hormones.

Calculating calories, BZHU and nutrients per 100 g for the most popular representatives of the genus Citrus is of interest to dieters.

Orange - 0.9 / 0.2 / 10.3, 40 kcal. The fruit is rich in nutrients that are present both in its pulp and in its juice, seeds and zest. 100 g of orange contains 50 mg of ascorbic acid at a daily rate of 75 mg for an adult. The high content of orange contains potassium (regulates the salt content, participates in the conduction of nerve impulses), calcium (the basis of bones, teeth, hair, participates in the work of muscles), boron (regulates the number of female and male sex hormones, plays an important role for joints ). From group B vitamins, B9 (involved in blood formation processes) and B1 (improves memory and brain function) predominate. The unique tandem of copper, vitamin C and zinc allows the skin to remain supple and elastic for a long time. Copper also strengthens nerves.

Mandarin - 0.8 / 0.3 / 9.2, 40 kcal. Orange color gives tangerine carotene, which also accelerates the recovery of the body and prevents visual impairment. Mandarin is also rich in flavonoids, the amount of dietary fiber that improves the intestinal microflora - 2 g per 100 g. High concentrations of vitamin B5 - pantothenic acid, and vitamin B8 - inositol.

Grapefruit - 0.9 / 0.2 / 8.7, 35 kcal. It is also rich in carotene, which contributes to the restoration of vision, vitamins C, B2 and P, which makes it necessary for problems with blood vessels and the heart. There is more sugar in red grapefruits than even in the sweetest orange. Bitter taste gives them a glycoside, which also improves digestion and reduces the production of bile. Of the B vitamins, B4 or choline is leading. It has a positive effect on the liver, brain and heart. Of the macronutrients most in grapefruits are potassium and calcium, from micro - copper.

Pomelo - 0.8 / 04 / 8.6, 38 kcal. Of the macronutrients in the pomelo are calcium, potassium, phosphorus. From vitamins - vitamin B1, B2, B5, but most of all ascorbic and folic acids.

Lemon - 0.9 / 0.1 / 4.9, 33 kcal. Due to the ideal ratio of vitamin P, citrine and vitamin C, it makes blood vessels and capillaries stronger, prevents swelling of the brain and the likelihood of subcutaneous bleeding. Rich in organic acids, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, has a low sugar content.

Lime - 0.9 / 0.1 / 3, 16 kcal. The fruit contains an amazing amount of pectin, thereby facilitating the elimination of toxins from the body. The concentration of vitamin C is a record here - more than in other citrus fruits, even in orange. Phosphorus and calcium guarantee healthy teeth, strong tooth enamel, prevent gingival bleeding. In addition, lime also contains a lot of copper, iron, potassium, choline.

All representatives of citrus combines a high content of vitamin C - ascorbic acid. They also digest quickly - for 1.5-2 hours, have fat burning properties, low-calorie.

Citrus fruits are the only true remedy for scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), boosts immunity, which is especially important in the period of colds. They are also the prevention of the formation of blood clots, because along with ascorbic acid they include rutin - vitamin P.

Orange has long been used as a remedy. It is useful for the nervous, digestive, cardiac, endocrine systems. It improves cell metabolism, tones the body, helps with lead poisoning, hypertension.

Mandarin affects the nervous system, prevents heart attacks and strokes, stimulates the digestive tract, strengthens blood vessels. This is a great tool for lung diseases and fungi. Mandarin is a means of preventing oncology.

Grapefruit has not the best reputation. There are still rumors about its harm - and it can be harmful, but misfortunes can be avoided if you know how to eat it. Grapefruit categorically can not be used with certain medications.

If you use this information, the fruit can bring benefits. Grapefruits reduce cholesterol in the blood - one fruit is enough to normalize it, besides it contains a large amount of antioxidants. This is really an indispensable citrus for patients with coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.

Lemons, despite the sour taste, reduce the acidity of the stomach, acidify it. The juice of lemon, orange and egg yolk, combined together, remove toxins from the liver due to its laxative effect.However, the use of this fruit in large quantities is unacceptable for hypertensive patients - it increases the pressure.

Lime is a good sedative and has an amazing ability to raise performance and mood. The lime bones are poisonous, but they cause poisoning only in large quantities.

Of course, oranges, lemons and other citruses are contraindicated to use if you are allergic to them. They are also contraindicated for those who suffer from gastritis, ulcers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cholecystitis, or has an increased acidity of the stomach.

Many citrus fruits are strong allergens, so nursing mothers and pregnant women should not eat them.

If the child is not allergic to citrus fruits, then they can be entered into his menu, but very carefully, starting from the second year of life. For example, you can give your baby 1 piece of orange or 1 slice of mandarin per day, juices - only in diluted form, with apple or pear.

Citrus fruits have the unique ability to burn fats. Because of this, they are often used in various diets. The fat burning effect of grapefruit is higher than that of other citrus fruits; it also lowers blood sugar levels. There is even a separate diet - grapefruit, by which, before each meal, you need to eat half a fruit or drink half a glass of juice to speed up digestion. Also, when losing weight, it is recommended to eat pomelo.

Special mention is the egg-citrus diet. This is an express diet, calculated, as a rule, for a week, but with changes in the menu it can be extended to four. As a rule, orange or grapefruit is chosen from citrus fruits, sometimes they are alternated. For breakfast you should eat 2 boiled eggs, tea, citrus, for lunch - 200 g of boiled chicken breast without skin, half of citrus, for dinner - 2 eggs, citrus, a cup of low-fat kefir.

For 7 days on such a diet you can lose 5-10 kg - the effect is achieved due to the chemical processes that citrus juice causes. And since citruses improve mood, diet will not be a terrible ordeal.

Citrus fruits were known before our era, references to them can be found in ancient chronicles and books - empresses and queens used these fruits for cosmetic purposes, doctors and healers were the first to know about the miraculous influence of citrus on the human body, and the cook - about the many-sided taste and spaciousness cooking

Citruses have long been used to treat scurvy, jaundice, to strengthen the immune system. To prevent bleeding of the gums, it was decided to add 1-2 drops of the essential oil of any citrus to a glass of water and rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.

Lemon and lime also treat varicose veins - after a bath, sliced ​​citrus fruits are superimposed on the problem area, wrapped with polyethylene and elastic bandages.

Lime is used to treat skin diseases such as warts, herpes, papillomas, and in combination with salt is a laxative. Sweet limes have been used against malaria.

It is not always safe to use the pulp or zest of citrus for cosmetic purposes - the concentration of acids is too high, it is very easy to damage the skin.

In almost pure form only lemon juice can be used. - it must be diluted with water in a ratio of 2: 1 and wipe his face with him after washing overnight, followed by using a moisturizer. Due to the “acidification” of the skin, the number of acne will decrease, pores will be cleaned, black dots will disappear.

Essential oils are most often used for care - they are added to face masks, for hair, and baths for nails are made with them.All citrus oils help to get rid of cellulite, lighten post acne and black spots, add shine to hair, brighten nails and strengthen them. Without exception, the fruits also have good antibacterial properties.

Lemon oil has pronounced lightening properties - it helps to wash out the dye from the hair, lighten pigment spots, acne marks, black spots. It gives hair elasticity, making them soft and silky.

Orange oil in combination with base oils or moisturizing cream nourishes the skin, eliminates peeling, irritation. A good effect will be on the aged skin. You can find bitter, sweet or red orange oil - they all have about the same effect, only their price and smell can differ. Also on the market there is petitgrain oil - this oil from the leaves and shoots of the orange tree, which is used in cosmetology to achieve the same results as with orange oil.

Bergamot oil is a wonderful antiseptic. It is used to prevent the growth of bacteria on the skin, reduce the concentration of acne, and reduce shine. Reduces oily hair and treats scalp for peeling.

Grapefruit oil is one of the most effective oils for cellulite. Massage with cream or base oil with 5-7 drops of grapefruit reduces the level of fat deposits under the skin, warms it, makes it elastic and elastic. It affects the skin of the face in a similar way - improves turgor, tone, saves from puffiness and uneven relief and color.

Lime oil is a good substitute for lemon, as it also cleans the pores, removes black spots, it is a good antiseptic that improves regeneration. It will have a special effect on oily skin, make it smooth and delicate, without oily sheen. Hair will give volume, elasticity, strength.

Mandarin Oils Accelerate Skin Regeneration - restores hair, skin after abrasions, cuts, acne, eliminates peeling on the skin and on the cuticle.

Neroli oil is produced depending on the type of flowers or petals of orange, lemon or mandarin. Helps dry and fading skin to get rid of peeling, itching, signs of aging such as loss of elasticity, elasticity, fine wrinkles and deteriorated relief.

Citrus fruits are widely used in cuisines around the world. They are used in completely different dishes and combined with different products.

• With meat - beef, pork, chicken. Depending on what taste you want to achieve - sweet, bitter or sour, you can marinate meat in orange, grapefruit or lemon. Also from various citrus combinations, excellent sauces for the first and second courses are obtained. Fatty meat, moistened with orange or lemon juice, is easier to digest, loses its fat content.
• With fish and seafood. Salted red fish and lemons are considered chic and at the same time accessible to every dish. As you know, mussels and oysters are also poured with lemon juice, it is used together with shrimps.
• With other fruits, vegetables and berries. Many citrus fruits, for example, grapefruit, lime and lemon, are used as ingredients for a wide variety of salads - fish, meat, vegetable, and fruit.

They are also used as an ingredient in various dishes.

• As a beverage. Bergamot tea is very popular. Lemon is added to green or black tea to raise the mood, stimulate mental activity and strengthen the immune system. Juices and compotes owe their existence to fruits, including citrus fruits.In mulled wine, there must be some citrus fruits, often mandarin, lemon or orange, along with apples and spices. The peel of many citrus fruits, for example, tangerines, can be dried and added to tea later - after all, the beneficial substances are mostly contained in it.
• Like dessert. Citrus jams and jams are especially popular, as they are not as sweet as from other berries and fruits - grapefruit gives the dessert bitterness, lemon - sourness, tangerine - spicy flavor. Citrus sorbets have a distinctive spicy, slightly sour taste that attracts gourmets. They are also used for pies, various buns, cakes.

Citrus fruits have a rich composition, irreplaceable taste, are used in many spheres of human life - from cosmetology to medicine. They are irreplaceable, because nature has not yet invented an analogue. Also, these fruits are the main source of vitamin C, so necessary for our immunity. But it is important to remember that these fruits can be dangerous during pregnancy and breastfeeding, therefore before using them it is important to carefully study the list of contraindications.

Opinion doctor on citrus - in the next video.