Pomelo is the largest fruit that belongs to the family of citrus. This juicy, sweet flesh first originated in China. Hence, the fruit is commonly referred to as Chinese grapefruit. It is widely found in India, the USA, and Japan. The fruit is loaded with antioxidants and antihyperlipidemic properties.
Common Names: Citrus maxima, Citrus grandis, Jabong, Pommelo. Pomello, Pummelo, Pamplemousse, and Shaddock
Binomial name: Citrus maxima
The upper layer of the fruit is soft and thick but easy to peel off. The inside of the fruit comprises a wide range of yellow to pink colors. It is loaded with vitamin C, Vitamin B, and beta-carotene. Pomelo is also rich in folic acid; therefore, the fruit is highly recommended for pregnant women. The fruit can be more delicious when added to fruit salads. Read the article to get more information regarding the health benefits of Pomelo.
Top 10 Health Benefits Of Pomelo
Below are some of the top and most effective Health Benefits Of Pomelo –
1. Cancer
Pomelo is a goldmine of bioflavonoid substance, which fights against cancer cells. It mainly stops the growth of breast, intestinal, and pancreatic cancer cells and removes excess estrogen in the body. Its antioxidant properties could be attributed to phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid. In a study by “The University of Putra, Selangor, Malaysia,” researchers found that pomelo pulp and peel contain antioxidants and, when added to the daily diet, could help the body fight various diseases, including cancer.
2. Cholesterol
The fruit is known to reduce cholesterol levels. Thus, including pomelo fruit in the regular diet checks heart-related issues. Potassium is available in Pomelo in abundance, which plays a vital role in keeping the heart healthy. Due to the presence of pectin, fruit juice helps clear accumulated arterial deposits in the body, thus helping people suffering from hypertension.
3. Immune System
Consumption of one glass of Pomelo juice regularly helps the person to regain the lost immunity in the body. In addition, it also fights against other severe health ailments. One fruit gives a total of 600% of vitamin C requirements daily. Vitamin C in the fruit acts as an antioxidant, increasing the white blood cell activities and preventing organ damage. It also helps to prevent colds, coughs, and other related bacterial and viral infections.
4. Weight Loss
Furthermore, the fruit is also helpful for people who try hard to reduce their weight. As the fruit is rich in fat-burning properties, it helps absorb and reduce starch and sugar from the body. This ultimately results in losing weight without any harmful side effects. Uncommon enzyme Carnitine palmitoyl-transferase is a fat-burning enzyme present in this fruit. This enzyme helps in reducing weight.
5. Pregnancy
Pomelo is very rich in vitamin C, so it helps fight against common tiredness faced in pregnancy. It also reduces the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. The potassium content in Pomelo helps in tightening the muscles.
6. Injury
Furthermore, vitamin C present in Pomelo helps in strengthening the injured skin at a faster rate. Hence, it is most advisable for people who have undergone surgeries.
7. Teeth and Gums
Pomelo is rich in Collagen, which helps build strong teeth and gums. In addition, it is the best natural fruit that helps to reduce bad breath.
8. Bowel Movements
This juicy fruit is also rich in fiber, which helps in sustaining regular bowel movements. In addition, it also aids with constipation-related issues. Pomelo is a highly recommended fruit to treat digestive problems as well.
9. Digestion
The juice of Pomelo is known to be acidic. Including the juice in the diet promotes easy digestion. Due to being rich in fiber, it helps in constipation and even diarrhea. Eating one fruit could help get 25% of the daily fiber requirement of the body. Its fiber content also helps break down complex proteins difficult for the body to digest.
10. Metabolic Disorders
Extracts from Pomelo peels could treat metabolic disorders caused by the intake of high-fat foods. Metabolic syndrome is one of the primary concerns for people living in both developed and developing countries, and this fruit could be used for its cure or possible drug development (1).
11. Diabetes
Pomelo peel extract is proven to improve glucose tolerance. In addition, it also improves insulin resistance, primarily for people who go for a high-fat diet. The fruit also has antiglycation effects. The binding between the sugar in cells and blood with non-enzymatic protein is called glycation. It helps prevent developing complications due to diabetes. In addition, due to this effect, it also helps in the complication of aging. (2)
12. Various Diseases
Pomelo is helpful for people suffering from different health disorders such as insomnia, fever, fatigue, etc. The fruit treats asthma increases stamina, and regulates blood pressure.
13. Essential Oils
One of the primary benefits of Pomelo Essential Oil is that it helps in hair loss after use for one week. It helps in the thickening of thin hair and helps in maintaining its health. It also promotes new hair growth, helps in relieving stress, and uplifts mood and nervous exhaustion.
14. Pomelo Skin or Peel Benefits
Shanghai University did a study to find the benefits of the fruit’s skin on metabolic disorders. It was found that the peel extracts were able to prevent high-fat diet-related metabolic disorders. It also showed improved insulin resistance and better glucose tolerance in the test subject. The researchers concluded that the skin of Pomelo could be used in diet therapy for several metabolic disorders-related conditions. (3)
15. Citrus maxima leaves
The fruit leaves contain powerful anticancer activity, which could be ascribed to the presence of flavonoids. Only a little research has gone into its potential benefits. As per the researchers, the leaves have the potential to be a new type of anticancer agent with further studies. (4)
FAQ on Pomelo
What are precautions to be taken for using Pomelo?
After going through Pomelo’s top 10 health benefits, you might want to use it for health benefits, but some precautions should be considered before going for this crisp citrus fruit. Although Pomelo has no severe side effects, one must take the following precautions while consuming the fruit. Below are some health risks that should be considered before consuming this fruit.
- People allergic to Vitamin C should avoid consuming the fruit. It is always safe to consult your health doctor when faced with any health problems
- Excessive intake of the fruit leads to health complications such as constipation, the formation of kidney stones and more
How much Pomelo can I eat?
A person on medication should talk to their doctor before taking this fruit. It could block an intestinal enzyme that is required to absorb certain medicines. Overeating this fruit could cause adverse effects if a person takes certain types of prescription drugs. Sometimes, even a tiny amount of it could cause damage. Some medications that might cause adverse effects are benzos, statins, calcium antagonists, anti-rejection drugs, or antidepressants.
Since Pomelo also contains many calories, taking too much of it could result in weight gain. 1.5 to 2 cups could be optimum in a standard diet. Since it is rich in fiber, taking too much of it could cause diarrhea, gas problems, and stomach cramps.
What do Pomelo taste like?
It could be ranked as some of the most delicious fruit in the world. If you love grapefruit, you will love it more, as it has no bitter or sour taste. Fruit in which the center is pink tastes a bit bad but tasty, whereas one with yellow is sweeter.
Nutrition data for Yellow Pomelo
Nutrient | Unit | 1.8 oz(50.0g) | 1Value per 100 g |
---|---|---|---|
Energy | kcal | 175 | 350 |
Protein | g | 0 | 0 |
Total lipid (fat) | g | 0 | 0 |
Carbohydrate, by difference | g | 43 | 86 |
Fiber, total dietary | g | 1 | 2 |
Sugars, total | g | 40 | 80 |
Minerals | |||
Calcium, Ca | mg | 100 | 200 |
Iron, Fe | mg | 0.36 | 0.72 |
Sodium, Na | mg | 90 | 180 |
Vitamins | |||
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | mg | 0 | 0 |
Vitamin A, IU | IU | 0 | 0 |
Lipids | |||
Fatty acids, total saturated | g | 0 | 0 |
Fatty acids, total trans | g | 0 | 0 |
Cholesterol | mg | 0 | 0 |
Ingredients: Sulphur Dioxide, Citric Acid, Sugar & Pomelo