Pomelo: What it is, its Health Benefits, and how to eat it!
If you’ve looked at pictures of this fruit, or if you’ve actually seen it in real life, you would have noticed the close resemblance of Pomelo, with grapefruit, another fruit belonging to the citrus family. The tear-drop shaped fruit also has a green or yellow flesh. It has a pale and thick rind, and typically grows to the size of a cantaloupe, sometimes even larger.
What is a Pomelo?
Pomelo is also known as the ancestor of grapefruit. There’s only a slight variation in tastes of the two citrus fruits.
Pomelo and grapefruit have similar tastes, however this is relatively sweeter. The fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants, making it and extremely healthy and beneficial addition to your diet.
The fruit has its origins in the Southeastern part of Asia, making it a popular choice for festive occasions.
Pomelo: A popular snack among women
The fruit is known for it’s high antioxidant content. This means it could even have anti ageing effects, thus making it a popular choice among women.
The high antioxidant content, in particular, the high levels of Vitamin C helo combat skin damage which may be caused by free radicals that lead to cell damage. This helps one maintain a youthful appearance.
High blood sugar levels can sometimes lead to increased formation of AGEs, or advanced glycation end products. AGEs lead to aging by reducing circulation, causing vision and kidney problems, and leading to skin discolouration. According to a research conducted very recently, it has been proven that pomelo decreased the amount of AGEs produced. This indicates that the consumption of Pomelo can lead to anti aging.
It’s Known to Boost Heart Health
The consumption of the fruit lowers cholesterol levels of the blood. In addition to this, it also reduces the composition of triglycerides. Both these fats have been associated with heart diseases.
A study suggests that the consumption of Pomelo prevents cholesterol in food from being fully absorbed into the body.
This means it’s also a great option for those who want to lose weight, since it prevents cholesterol from being absorbed into the body.
How Pomelo should be Consumed: 5 Ways this Fruit can be Used
Since they’re really similar to grapefruits, you can use pomelo just like you would use grapefruits. They’re most commonly consumed raw, but you can also use them I the following ways:
- Marmalade: just like you make orange marmalade, you can make pomelo marmalade
- Fruit salad: if you’re looking for a punchy burst of citrus flavour, pomelos can also be added to fruit salads. This includes both sweet and savory salads
- Candy: coating candied pomelo peel in chocolate makes a yummy snack!
- Juice: another great way to consume citrus fruits is by drinking their fresh juices. You can even use this as a substitute to grapefruit in cocktails
- Marinade: pomelo juice contains acid which is a great way to tenderize meat. This means it’s a great marinade for fish and meat.
Pomelo is perfect if you’re looking for a tangy, citrusy, yet sweet twist in your snacks!
Karen is a health blog author who has been writing about healthy living since 2013. She started her journey by adopting a vegan diet and eating only organic foods, but the more she learned, the more she realized that we should all be eating plant-based diets exclusively. As an expert in nutrition and wellness, Karen blogs to educate readers on how they can live happier and healthier lives through food choices!
