Tangerine

The citrus which is so loved by us and our children tangerine grows on a small branchy evergreen tree of the sort Citrus, family Rutic. The homeland of tangerine is China. The tangerine tree got to Europe at the beginning of the 19th century - and today this culture is one of the most widespread both in tropical Asia, and in many other warm countries (France, Spain, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Argentina). In Russia tangerine is grown up in the Caucasus, near the Black Sea coast.

Description of tangerine

Tangerines grow on the small, not exceeding 4 meters bushes with dark green ovoid escapes. Fruits are small, about 5-6 cm in the diameter, slightly flat from a top to the basis. A peel - thin and leaky, bright orange color. Pulp of tangerines which is, as a rule, more sweet orange on taste is divided into the segments which are well separating from each other, only 10-12 pieces. Tangerines differ in pronounced citrus aroma.

Advantage of tangerines

Tangerine pulp for 90% consists of water - other 10% have on sugar, pectins, acids, glycosides, mineral salts, vitamins, phytoncides and essential oils. It should be noted that tangerine does not incorporate nitrates as the citric acid which is contained in it serves for them as natural "antidote". Even at long storage and transportation pulp of tangerine is capable to keep all substances, necessary for health of the person.

It is worth mentioning vitamin structure of a citrus separately. Tangerine abounds with ascorbic acid or vitamin C (contents in 100 g of a fruit – 35 mg) – an element which independently is not developed by an organism. Vitamin C participates in all redoxreactions, reduces vascular permeability, activates protective forces of an organism. Besides, ascorbic acid defines powerful antioxidant properties of tangerines, promoting delay of processes of aging of an organism.

Besides, tangerines abound with group B vitamins, in particular, B1 and B2 vitamins, provitamin A, P, K, D. In a complex the advantage of tangerines is huge: at the regular use a citrus sates an organism in winter time, protects children from rickets, promotes preservation of elasticity of blood vessels, is successfully used for treatment of diseases of digestive tract, and also as means for a stop of bleedings.

Tangerine – a valuable dietary product which increases appetite improves exchange processes of an organism and lightens the mood. Properties of tangerines impress: a citrus renders antiscorbutic, fortifying, antimicrobic, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antibechic actions on an organism.

Broth from a peel of tangerines well reduces sugar level in blood at diabetes. For its preparation the peel from 3 fruits of a citrus which was boiled in 1 liter of water for 10 minutes is used.

By the way, properties of a tangerine peel are not limited to this action: in traditional medicine of "cleaning" of tangerines are used as stopping vomiting, reducing symptoms of diarrhea, softening cough at bronchitis and tracheitis of medicine.

Tangerine juice is capable to clear an organism of helminths. As applications both fruit, and freshly squeezed juice of tangerines are applied as means against "milkwoman" and fungus diseases of skin (microsporias, cutting depriving, etc.).

Caloric content tangerine

Caloric content of tangerine makes 52 kcal on 100 g of its edible part. Nutrition value:

• Proteins - 0,8 g;
• Fats - 0,2 g;
• Carbohydrates - 7,5 g.

Tangerines are a valuable dietary product which is often used as the main ingredient of the menu of fasting days.

Use of tangerines

Fruits of tangerine are very tasty fresh, however, often use them in culinary production, for production of juice, compotes, jam, candies, and also alcoholic beverage products. In case of addition in a sugar product the caloric content of tangerines increases, and a citrus loses the dietary properties.

Thanks to bright and fresh aroma the peel of a citrus is used for preparation of tangerine oil. Scope of tangerine oil is wide: in many countries it is used as drug for treatment of gripes and a meteorism at children (by light massage of a tummy).

The role of tangerine oil and in beauty industry is big: this product promotes food and moistening of skin, and also well eliminates extensions (striya) at pregnant women. In an aromatherapy tangerine oil is used as the means stress weakening, taking off fatigue and reducing symptoms.

Contraindications

Despite obvious advantage tangerine, the excessive use of this citrus it is contraindicated to allergic persons, and also the people having digestive tract diseases: gastritises with a hyperoxemia, colitis, enterita, a peptic ulcer of a stomach and duodenum. The citric acid which is contained in tangerines irritates not only a mucous membrane of intestines and a stomach, but also kidneys - in this regard fruit is contraindicated at such diseases as hepatitis, cholecystitis and acute nephrite.