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Pomelo: Benefits And Harms

Pomelo is the citrus fruit of the evergreen tree of the same name. The peel of the fruit is quite thick, and the slices are large, separated by hard white partitions, bitter in taste. The color of a ripe pomelo can vary from light green to yellow pink.

Only one side, which was turned to the sun during ripening, usually acquires a pink color. The fruit is a record holder among citrus fruits. Its diameter can be 30 cm, and its weight can reach 10 kg. The taste of pomelo is very close to grapefruit, but the flesh is not as juicy and when peeled, the inner membranes are more easily separated from the edible part.

Selecting, eating, and storing pomelos

Pomelo ripens in February, so it is best to buy the fruit during this period.

However, when choosing, you need to be guided by simple rules:

  • The skin of the pomelo should be shiny, smooth, and free of obvious damage.
  • This fruit should emit a pleasant citrus flavor.
  • The color of the pomelo should be fairly uniform. If most of the fruit is yellow and one side has a green spot, the fruit is most likely not ripe.

At room temperature and in the absence of damage, pomelo can be stored for a month. The peeled fruit quickly begins to deteriorate, so it is better to store it in the refrigerator under cling film and consume it within 2 days.

Despite its size, the pomelo is quite simple and easy to clean. To remove the peel, it is enough to make a small incision and then peel it with your hands like an orange. The peeled fruit should be divided in half and the membranes of each slice should be cut from the inside. The flesh between the membranes lies quite loosely, so it is easily separated when removed. You should also remove the seeds from the slices. Usually, there are 5-6 of them in each of the slices.

Nutritional value per 100 grams:

  • Proteins – 0.8 g
  • Fats – 0.04 g.
  • Carbohydrates – 8.6 g.
  • Water – 88.5 g.
  • Caloric content – 38 kcal.

Composition and presence of nutrients in pomelo

Pomelo contains a wide range of vitamins (A, C, B1, B2, B5), minerals (calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, sodium), fiber, essential oils, and organic acids. Nutritionists consider this product to be useful and recommend using it when following a diet. This is due to the ability of pomelo to accelerate metabolic processes, which in turn leads to fat-burning and weight loss.

The health benefits of pomelo are easily explained by its richest vitamin and mineral composition.

This fruit contains vitamin C (30-53 mg per 100 g), and vitamin A form – beta-carotene (up to 30 mg per 100 g), the beneficial properties of group B have a huge impact on the body, this citrus contains B1 (0.04-0.07 mg per 100 g), vitamin B2 (0.02 mg per 100 g) and B5 (0.2-0.3 mg per 100 g), it also contains folic acid (vitamin B9). The mineral composition of pomelo is no less rich, it contains potassium (up to 235 mg per 100 g), calcium (26-27 mg per 100 g), phosphorus (22-26 mg per 100 g), iron (0.3-0.5 mg per 100 g), sodium (1 mg per 100 g).

Useful and healing properties of pomelo

The high content of vitamin C in pomelo increases the body’s resistance and helps fight viruses and bacteria, especially in winter and off-season. It is also used to lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots in blood vessels and tumors.

Contraindications for eating pomelo

  • Do not eat this fruit if you are allergic to citrus fruits.
  • Also, do not abuse pomelo in case of stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and high acidity in the stomach. And during the exacerbation of these diseases, you should give it up for a while.
  • In case of hepatitis, nephritis, and colitis, doctors recommend eating this fruit with extreme caution or giving it up altogether.

Despite the variety of dishes that can be prepared with pomelo, it is still recommended to eat it fresh (raw). The fact is that after processing it with heat, a large number of vitamins disappear.

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Written by Bella Adams

I'm a professionally-trained, executive chef with over ten years in Restaurant Culinary and hospitality management. Experienced in specialized diets, including Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw foods, whole food, plant-based, allergy-friendly, farm-to-table, and more. Outside of the kitchen, I write about lifestyle factors that impact well-being.

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