Tangerines are a Healthy Snack
Image by andydr via Flickr
It is impossible to say what the person who first crossed a mandarin orange with a bitter orange was thinking. The result was a new hybrid of fruit that remained unnamed until it was exported to Europe from Tangier, Morocco in the 19th century. The delicacy was named a tangerine after the location of the port from which it was shipped.
At first, tangerines were prized for their loose-skin and the fact that they were easy to peel. Unlike the average orange, tangerines only take a few seconds to peel. They are also often juicier and they can be grown for eight months of the year.
Like most citrus fruits, tangerines contain high levels of Vitamin C. In fact, a small tangerine contains more Vitamin C than a large orange, even though it has only about half of the calories. This healthy little fruit also contains a lot of fiber, enough that it has been labeled an excellent source by the FDA.
In the next few paragraphs we are going to discuss the many health benefits of this curious fruit. As we mentioned, tangerines contain Vitamin C, which is a reliable source of antioxidants. These custodial molecules provide protection against harmful free radicals that attack healthy cells. The damage they cause can result in serious diseases, such as cancer. It is also believed that this damage may result in premature aging. Of course, tangerines are no magical elixir, but they can help reduce the risk of some serious illnesses.
Tangerines and their essential oils also offer numerous specific health benefits. A depurative is an agent or substance that helps to purify the blood. For years, tangerine oil has been used as a natural depurative that many believe can remove harmful toxins such as uric acid, not to mention pollutants and high levels of salt and water in the body. Essential oils from the tangerines have also been used as palliatives for centuries now. A palliative is a substance that alleviates the symptoms of a condition or disease without actually curing it.
Of course, centuries ago, people had no idea why tangerines, like Clementines, helped relieve the symptoms of common conditions like arthritis. But today we know that it is because our healthy little friend contains a group of powerful antioxidants known as flavonoids. These falvonoids have numerous anti-inflammatory properties, which have been shown to reduce stiffness in the joints.
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