Largest citrus-Pomelo

Hi friends, today I will talk about the largest citrus fruit Pomelo  and focus on three important health benefits.

Citrus fruits are edible fruits that belong to the genus Citrus.The pulp of these fruit is juicy.These fruits are either eaten by simply peeling  off the skin or are squeezed to make  juice. Citrus fruits are  characteristically sour in  taste due to the presence of citric acid, some turning sweet when ripe.

Pomelo is the largest fruit of the genus Citrus and so its scientific name is Citrus maxima or citrus grandis.It is 15-25 cm in diameter and weigh 1 to 2  kg.It is primarily found in south east Asia and it is native to Malaysia .It is also cultivated in some areas of Mediterranean region,California,Florida, Brazil and Mexico.Pomelo is closely related to grape fruit.

The northern eastern region of India has been identified as one of the major centre of diversity of Citrus having about 17 species,52 varieties and seven natural hybrids.Pomelo is a common citrus fruit in this region,most abundantly found in the states of Meghalaya and Assam.It also grows in the neighbouring state of West Bengal and Bihar.In rest of India it grows in Kerala and Karnataka.

Pomelo is round or pear-shaped, light green to yellow in colour.It has a thick rind with dense spongy pith beneath, that encloses the edible pulp of the fruit.The pulp is white, yellow, pinkish or red depending on the variety. The pulp is delicious with a sweet taste without the bitterness or sour flavor.The peel is usually discarded  because of its bitter taste.However, in some places, the peel is used to make marmalade.

Pomelo is known as 'Chakotras' in Hindi and 'Chambil' in the state of Meghalaya.In our state i.e. Assam, it is called 'Robab tenga'.It is available at the beginning of autumn in the month of september till December.Its pulp is eaten raw with salt ,fresh chillies  and chopped  coriander sprinkle over it to make a tasty salad. People here preferably like to take this salad post lunch in the afternoon. Pomelo is also used in different religious festival in this region.

Nutritionally, Pomelo is rich in Vitamin C, B1 and B6 and minerals like
potassium,sodium,magnesium,iron,zinc,calcium and phosphorus and dietary fiber.

There is a long list of health benefits that can be derived from Pomelo. First let's see three important ones-

1)Regulate blood pressure:
    High potassium(216mg/100gm) and low sodium(1mg/100gm) is welcoming for people with high blood pressure to consume this fruit.Potassium drastically lowers blood pressure as because it is a vasodilator.It releases the tension in the blood vessel and increases blood circulation and oxygenation in the organs.It reduces strain on the heart and lower the chances of heart attack and stroke.However,people with low blood pressure are advisable to limit their consumption of Pomelo as it lowers the blood pressure significantly.

2) Weight loss:
Pomelo  has a fat burning enzyme called carnitine palmitoyl-transferase that can burn extra fat in the body thereby helping to reduce weight.So people trying  hard  to loose weight must have Pomelo.

3)Anti-aging Properties and hair care:
High level of vitamin C in Pomelo acts as an antioxidant which remove free redicals thereby improving skin texture and making it wrinkle free.Pomelo contain a rare chemical called spermidine that is actually found in human sperm,which is closely related with its anti-aging properties.
High level of vitamin B1 and zinc improve hair quality,promotes hair growth, prevent dandruff and hair thinning.
The other health benefit of Pomelo includes improves immunity,helps in digestion,prevents cramping,improve  bone health,oral health and help in wound healing.

So friends include this fruit in your food list if it is available in your region,if not surely taste it whenever next time you visit a place where it grows like Northeast India.