Do you know that in the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda, Pomelo was used to treat ailments?
Pomelo or the famous Citrus maxima, is one of the largest natural, non-hybrid citrus fruits from the family of Rutaceae and is considered as the prime ancestor of the grapefruit. Pomelo is widely cultivated and native to Southeastern Asia and the East Indian Archipelago and is commonly used during festive occasions throughout Southeast Asia. Although the grapefruit and pomelo certainly vary in many aspects, the two share similar taste and external appearances.
Pomelo trees take nearly eight years to grow and bear fruit and within the meantime it towers upto 16-50 feet tall with low-hanging and irregular branches. The flowers are bright white in colour with five petals and have a pleasant fragrance that is sometimes used for creating perfumes. Whereas, the fruit is pale green or yellow in colour. The main flesh inside the fruit is pulpy and is reckoning white or pink in colour, depending on its variety and has a consistency of grapefruit’s mildness and tastes little a bitter.
Pomelo is used in many native dishes, jams, eaten as desserts and moreover the juice is extracted to infused in cocktails to get an exclusive flavour. Besides, pomelo is consumed in large numbers for its incredible health benefits.
Here’s the basic nutritional facts that you need to know why pomelo is reflected as one of the most promising fruits.
Nutrition facts
The raw pomelo flesh contains 86% water, 10% carbohydrates, 1 % protein and is high in fibre. Moreover, it is low in calories and provides dietary fibres and regulates metabolism and cellular energy requirements. Furthermore, it offers a sufficient amount of potassium, 0.11mg iron which has 3% DV, 6mg magnesium has 2% DV, 17 mg phosphorus has 2% DV.
- Sodium 1 mg
- Zinc 0.08 mg
- Calcium 4 mg
- Vitamin C 61 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.036 mg
- Fat 0.04 g
- Riboflavin 0.027 mg
- Thiamine 0.034 mg
- Niacin 0.22 mg
Health benefits
Pomelo is considered as one of the original species of citrus fruit and it contains plenty of amazing health benefits.
- Pomelos are a rich source of antioxidants and have antioxidant properties that prevent cellular damage caused by the free radicals.
- Pomelos also result in boosting immunity. The vitamin C in the fruit has antioxidant properties that attack the radicals to enter and damage the organs of the body. It also fights off bacterial infections, colds, coughs, fever and prevents serious microbial symptoms etc.
- It helps in maintaining heart health, reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body.
- The vitamin A in pomelo improves eyesight and enhances eye-health. Moreover, it protects the eyes from getting damage and vision-linked disorders in old-age people.
- It improves the lipid metabolism in the body that reduces the risk of developing fatty liver diseases and protects the liver from free-radical toxins, therefore precluding hepatic.
- It safeguards the respiratory system, helps to cure anaemia, and aids in improving chronic disorders of diabetes mellitus.
- Pomelo contains a “fat-burning enzyme” that works as an aid for weight loss.
- It reduces skin-inflammation and promotes anti-aging benefits.
- It treats constipation and relaxes bone-density and therefore the calcium in pomelo helps in the maintenance of optimal bone-density.
- It also reduces the risk of cancer.
Although pomelo is a powerhouse of fruits that has incredible health benefits present in it, it must not be consumed in excessive amounts to prevent side effects.
Read More: Did you know Raw Mango is a Super Food?
