Citrus sweetie: what kind of fruit is it and why do we love it more than orange?

Increasingly, exotic products have begun to appear in domestic supermarkets, the beneficial properties of which, it turns out, can provide significant support to the health of distrustful Russians. Sweetie is gaining popularity - an ideal fruit for immunity and figure. True, some buyers still avoid green fruits, mistaking them for unripe grapefruits. We invite you to urgently find out why sweetie is good for health and whether it can cause harm in any way.

What is a sweetie?

Let's take a look at the sweetie fruit: what it is, what it looks like, what it tastes like.

The Citrus Sweetie variety was developed by breeders from the University of California back in the 1970s. Sweetie is a hybrid of two citrus fruits: grapefruit and pomelo. In English-speaking countries it is called oroblanco, which translates as “white gold”.

The fruit is quite large (usually up to 11 cm in diameter) and has a glossy green zest. The pulp is very juicy, sweet, with a slight sourness.

Oroblanco grows in regions with warm climates:

• southern states of the USA;
• Mediterranean countries;
• China and Japan;
• Israel.

The fruits have virtually no seeds or bitterness. True, 50% of the mass is made up of thick white peel and partitions. Perhaps that is why sweetie did not outsell oranges, tangerines and grapefruits.

Calorie content and chemical composition

Sweetie has a low calorie content: 100 g of fresh pulp contains only 55–60 kcal. There are practically no fats and proteins in the composition, and few carbohydrates - up to 10 g. Thus, the fruit is a dietary product and is suitable for weight loss.

From the point of view of vitamin and mineral composition, oroblanco is not inferior to other citrus fruits. Let's consider what substances are present in the pulp and white partitions of the fruit.

• Vitamin C

The main benefit of vitamin C is to fight viruses and bacteria. But few people know that ascorbic acid also reduces the risk of cancer, increases the strength of blood vessels and slows down the aging process.

• Potassium, magnesium

Potassium and magnesium are important micronutrients for maintaining cardiovascular health. The first normalizes blood pressure and rhythm, prevents swelling, and the second strengthens the heart muscle and eliminates pain.

• Enzymes

Enzymes are a group of chemical compounds that are involved in the breakdown of food and the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is useful to eat sweetie to normalize digestion.

• Essential oils

Most of them are contained in the peel. Essential oils have a tonic effect on the psyche: they relieve fatigue, bring a person out of a stupor, and lift the mood.

How is sweetie good for health?

Oroblanco will bring maximum benefit in the cold season, when the body lacks vitamins. Eat citrus to avoid catching ARVI.

What other medicinal properties does the product have?

• Normalizes fat metabolism

Enzymes present in the pulp of the fruit are involved in the breakdown of fats. Excesses are eliminated from the body, and the remaining lipids provide the body with energy.

As a result of regular consumption of sweetie, the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood decreases. This effect protects a person from a chronic disease - atherosclerosis.

• Promotes weight loss

If you eat citrus every day, you can lose up to 0.5–1 kg per month. And this is without following a strict diet!

Enzymes from sweetie accelerate metabolism, and dietary fiber tidies up the intestinal microflora and reduces appetite. Low calorie content allows you to use juicy fruits as a replacement for harmful sweets.

• Rejuvenates the body

Sweetie is a product with high antioxidant activity. It reduces oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

As a result, the risk of such terrible diseases as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cataracts is reduced. By protecting the body's cells from destruction, Sweetie slows down the aging process and improves the external condition of the skin and hair.

Potential health hazards

Contraindications to the use of sweetie are almost the same as for other citrus fruits. The fruit should not be eaten if you have the following ailments:

• allergies;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, stomach ulcers;
• the presence of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, in particular with pyelonephritis.

People with high acidity of gastric juice should use the product with caution. If you often experience heartburn, any citrus fruits can cause harm by exacerbating the condition. The reason is the high content of organic acids.

Being a relative of pomelo and grapefruit, sweetie has a low glycemic index - less than 40. In moderate quantities, it can be present on the table of people with diabetes.

How to choose and clean a suite?

Choose heavy fruits without cracks or dents.Ripe fruit usually smells bitter, not sour.

Peeling sweetie by hand is inconvenient due to the thick peel. Therefore, we recommend following these steps:

1. Wash the fruit and rub with a rough sponge (to increase shelf life and facilitate transportation, manufacturers coat citrus fruits with wax).
2. Make 4-5 shallow cuts in the zest.
3. Separate the pulp from the peel, divide into slices.

You can also cut the sweetie into circles and then scoop out the pulp with a spoon.

It is advisable to eat the fruit immediately before the destruction of vitamin C and enzymes occurs.

How do sweeties eat?

Sweets are usually eaten fresh to ensure that the body receives the maximum amount of vitamins. You should not overuse the product to avoid indigestion and skin rashes. It is enough to eat up to 300 g of pulp per day.

Thanks to its sweet and sour taste, green citrus goes well with the following products:

• poultry meat;
• fish, seafood;
• green vegetable salads;
• mushrooms;
• cheese.

Vitamin jams and preserves, candied fruits, jelly, and marmalade are prepared from this fruit. Pieces of citrus are added to baked goods, fruit compotes, fruit drinks and smoothies.

Sweetie is a fruit that stands out among other citrus fruits. It is much sweeter than grapefruit and even orange, contains almost no seeds, and is rich in essential oils and vitamins. If you want to maintain a slim figure, a healthy heart and a great mood, do not pass by exotic fruits.