Without any doubt, citrus fruits really are good for the health. Fruits like grapefruit, limes, lemons, and oranges do on top of the lists when talking about their antioxidant properties, natural health-promoting capacities, and nutritional profile. Nonetheless, have you ever heard of the citron fruit? Well, this amazing citrus fruit is actually one of the primary varieties of citrus we have. In fact, a lot of the citrus that we dear were actually first formed by crossbreeding the other kinds of fruit and citron fruit. Even up to this date, few people have ever known of it, let alone have tried this amazingly nutrient-dense fruit. The health benefits of citron fruit are also a big deal, especially if you want a boost in your health. Give this article a read and get to know more about the citron fruit!
Citron Fruit: What is this?
Scientifically, they call the citron fruit as the Citrus medica. This is a huge citrus fruit that has a bumpy skin and thick rind. Moreover, the citron shrub is usually a small tree or shrub, which reaches the height of 8-15 feet. Additionally, the citron tree possesses irregular branches as well as bright green-colored leaves. Not just that, it also has a distinctive lemon scent. Moreover, the fruit has a skin color that ranges from green color to yellow-orange. Furthermore, it has a thick, leather-like rind that has minimal flesh on it that sets it away from the other types of citrus fruits.
Moreover, there are some other variants of the citron fruit that is available in the market. This includes the Buddha’s hand, a kind of citron fruit that has a long, finger-looking outcrops, which is normally grown in the country of China. Fascinatingly, the citron fruit is considered as one of the original kinds of citrus fruits. Other types of it has later advanced through its hybridization. Even the popular fruit like limes and lemons are actually reflected to be fusions of citron fruit.
Additionally, being rampantly used in various kinds of Asian cuisine, the citron fruit is a common constituent in various medicines and fragrances too. Due to its rind’s unique flavor, it’s frequently used in making candies. It is even an addition to foods including marmalades, fruitcakes, and teas.
Citron Fruit: Nutritional Value
Just like any citrus fruits, the citron fruit is oozing with antioxidant properties and vitamin C. Particularly, the citrus fruits, as well as the peels, are mostly rich in antioxidant composites as well as bioflavonoids, just like the following:
- Linalool
- Linalyl acetate
- Limonene
- Naringenin
- Hesperetin
- Naringin
- Hesperidin
Moreover, citron fruit is also a great pectin source, a kind of soluble fiber, which engrosses water and may easily be metabolized through the good bacteria in the gut.
All cheers to the great nutrients in the fruit, this exclusive citrus fruit has now been in association with lots of possible health benefits, from the reduction of the risk of various chronic diseases to the enhancement of the immunity and more.
Uses of Citron Fruit
Dissimilar to the other types of citrus fruit, the citron fruit has a think rind and just a small amount of flesh. Most of the recipes include cutting the rind into smaller pieces, cooking it in sugar syrup, or even caramelizing it and turning into a marmalade. The candy citron fruit can be a good addition to cookies and fruit cakes, sprinkle over oatmeal, add to cocktails, or use in adding sweetness to probiotic yogurt.
You may also use the citron fruit in honey citron tea. This particular tea is made through the combination of the slices of citron plus honey and sugar. Especially in order to make a preserve. This is then mixed with hot water. It may be consumed in both hot and cold and is often used in soothing the throat.
Now, let’s get to know about the health benefits of citron fruit.
Health Benefits of Citron Fruit
Here are some of the most surprising health benefits of citron fruit:
- Helps in boosting heart health. Heart condition is an issue that may affect millions and millions of people all over the world. Studies show that consuming citrus fruits like citron fruit is beneficial in keeping the heart in shape and protect against any heart illnesses.
- May help in reducing the risk for cancer. The citron fruit is oozing with significant micronutrients, antioxidants, and carotenoids, which may be valuable when it comes to the prevention of cancer. A lot of studies show that the higher consumption of citrus fruits may be in association with the lower possibility of cancer. This is one of the best health benefits of citron fruit.
- Helps in reducing inflammation. The citron fruit is oozing with antioxidants, which may help in neutralizing the free radicals and reduce inflammation. Apart from citron fruit, some other anti-inflammatory foods that you must eat include blueberries, broccoli, beets, and green vegetables.
- Helps in promoting immunity. The immune system plays an important role in overall health. The vitamin C in citron fruit is beneficial in giving the immune system a boost. This is essential in fighting off any foreign invaders in the body to prevent illnesses.
