Tangerine is a fruit in the citrus family and it is one of the varieties of the mandarin oranges. This fruit is not only tasty but also refreshing and packed with nutritious and health-promoting compounds.
It is believed that tangerine originated from China and from there has spread around the world. Aside from its pleasant taste, this fruit has numerous health benefits, and that what this article is all about.
Tangerines are also called mandarin oranges. It is also called “kid-gloves oranges” because of the ease with which the peels can be removed.
Nutritional Profile of Tangerines
A 100g size of tangerine contains:
- 53 calories
- 1,334 grams of carbohydrates
- 3g of total fat
- 58 grams of sugar
- 13g of carbohydrates
- 8 grams of fiber
- 8g of protein
- 155mg of beta-carotene
- 166mg of potassium. This makes 4% RDI
- 058 mg of thiamine (B1)
- 3% RDI of magnesium
- 376 mg of Niacin (B3)
- 3% RDI of calcium
- 036 mg of riboflavin (B2)
- 1% RDI of iron
- 216mg of pantothenic acid (B5) makes 4% of RDI
- 16mg of folate
- 5% RDI of vitamin B6
- 2mg of choline
- 44% RDI of vitamin C
- 2mg of vitamin E
- 13% RDI of vitamin A (44mg)
- 039mg of manganese
- 07mg of zinc
- 2mg of sodium
- 20mg of phosphorous
Note that RDI stands for Reference Daily Intake
Health Benefits of Tangerines
Prevents and relief inflammation
Tangerine has anti-inflammatory compounds that help in reducing excess inflammatory processes in the body. Its high content of vitamin A is responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties.
It is also rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that fights inflammation. Vitamin C also helps in fighting acute illness. Its powerful anti-oxidant property can reverse the long-term impact of oxidation and inflammation on the body.
Some of the powerful antioxidants present in tangerines are hesperidin, narirutin, nobelitin, naringenin, naringin, etc.
Treats infections
Tangerine’s ability to heal wounds fast reduces the risk of sepsis, a dangerous infection caused by the staphylococcus aureus. Sepsis worsens wounds, it makes wounds red, inflamed, and swollen.
Pus forms when sepsis has set in and you notice acute pain. If this is not handled well and promptly, it can spread to all parts of your body. Babies and little children are at high risk of sepsis since their immune system is still developing.
Tangerine essential oil has a strong anti-septic property. It is also a natural and powerful bactericide that kills the staphylococcus aureus and other infection-causing microbes.
Reduces the risks of cancer
Regular intake of tangerines helps reduce your risks of cancer. It prevents many types of cancers and even reduces the cellular damage caused by cell mutation.
There are many phytochemicals in tangerines that have anticancer properties. These plant compounds prevent the mutation of normal cells and also stop the replication of cancer-causing cells.
Tangerines also inhibit the proliferation of tumors.
Purifies the blood
Tangerine has a depurative property. It contains plant compounds that purify the blood. They expel wastes, toxins, by-products of metabolism, extra water, extra salt, and excess uric acid from the body.
All these are expelled through the excretory system. Tangerines help keep your internal terrain clean and no disease can thrive in this environment.
Boosts the immune system
Your immune system defends your body from all kinds of invaders, trouble makers, and even mutated cells. This is the system responsible for preventing illnesses and tangerines boost its strength.
Your immune system is not immune to attacks and harm and you must protect it. One of the ways to protect and fortify your immune system is to increase your intake of immune-boosting foods like tangerines.
This will help strengthen it and improve its response to diseases and invaders. It also increases the ability of your immune system to detect and destroy harmful pathogens.
The bioflavonoids present in tangerines are responsible for its immune-boosting properties.
Sedates
Tangerine essential oil has a powerful sedative property. It reverses inflammation and reduces hyperactivity in your whole body. it also relieves stress, depression, and anxiety.
Tangerine essential oil is also an effective remedy against insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Protects your heart
The heart has to be healthy and functioning well at all times to prevent fatalities. Tangerine protects your heart from the harmful effects of free radicals and inflammation.
Free radicals and inflammation are responsible for plaque deposits in the blood vessels and thereby blocking it. This increases the pressure on the heart and over time, it can weaken the heart.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and it removes free radicals from the body. It also improves the flow of oxygenated blood from the heart to all parts of the body.
Other antioxidants also present in tangerines prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol and thus reduces the risks of heart disease by half.
Relives stomach aches
Tangerine essential oil relieves stomach and digestive problems like flatulence, bloating, and indigestion. It promotes the proper secretion and functions of digestive juices.
It also helps in balancing the levels of acids and bile. Tangerine calms stomach wounds and also relieves inflammation in the stomach.
Regulates blood pressure
Tangerine helps in maintain healthy blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy. Tangerine contains a good amount of potassium. This wonderful electrolyte has a strong balancing effect on blood volume.
Potassium ensures that the body does not retain excess water. It also has a vasodilatory effect on the blood vessels thereby improving the flow of blood.
Two tangerines a day will give you the needed amount of potassium to regulate your blood pressure.
Relieves spasms
Tangerine has antispasmodic properties and it is used to relieve spasms, from mild to severe. Spasms have negative effects on the body and they cause complications.
This can affect your respiratory (congestion, difficulty breathing and asthma), nervous (nervous system disorders), and even digestive (diarrhea, cholera) systems.
Tangerine essential oil is used to relieve spasms.
Boosts vision
Tangerines are storehouses of vitamin A, C, carotenoids, and many antioxidant Compounds. Vitamin A protects your eyes and prevents night blindness, macular degeneration, and other types of eye problems.
Vitamin A helps drains the vitreous humor of the eyes, thus preventing glaucoma and blindness. A good way to protect your eyes is to increase your intake of tangerines.
Reduces fever
Fever is a sign that your body is fighting infection and a way to help your body is to take in lost minerals and antioxidants to give it more strength. Tangerine juice helps people recover fast from fevers.
The rich content of vitamin C in tangerines also prevents colds and flu. It increases the production of white blood cells and revamps your immune system.
Prevents diabetes
The main way tangerine prevents diabetes is by increasing the oxidation of fats. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that has a high correlation with obesity.
By reducing the stores of fats in the first place, tangerine prevents insulin dysfunction and indirectly reduces the risks of diabetes.
Regulates the levels of cholesterol
The peels of tangerines contain polymethoxylated flavones and this compound helps to regulate the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Studies have shown that even 1% of polymethoxylated flavones can reduce bad cholesterol by 30 to 40%. And the amazing thing about this compound is that it does not affect good (HDL) cholesterol.
This compound is more effective than prescription drugs.
Promotes the healing of wounds
The rich content of vitamin C in tangerines promotes the healing of wounds and the skin in general. Vitamin C is used by the body to make collagen, the protein the skin is made of.
Collagen is also the key structural component of joints and many other tissues of the body. Increased synthesis of collagen by the abundant presence of vitamin C in the body will increase healing, reduce scarring, and even hasten recovery after injury.
Reduces blood sugar
Tangerine peel is dried and made into a fine powder and taken as tea. Tangerine peel tea helps reduce blood sugar and reduce your risks of type II diabetes.
This peel tea regulates all the processes involved in glucose metabolism, it protects you from spikes and crashes in the levels of glucose with its amazing content of plant compounds.
Improves digestion
Tangerine contains a good amount of fiber. This helps food digests well and it also increases bowel movement. Tangerine prevents constipation and also helps the production of digestive enzymes.
Many people start salivating just by smelling tangerines, this is to show the huge impact it has on your digestive system.
Relieves morning sickness
Tangerine peel tea relieves morning sickness, this is a great remedy for pregnant women experiencing this. It helps put nausea and all other discomforts at bay.
It is safe for pregnant women but the tangerine peel used must be grown organically and not sprayed with dangerous chemicals. This tangerine peel tea will make your pregnancy more enjoyable.
Improves bone health
Tangerines make your bones strong thereby preventing osteoporosis. This wonderful fruit reduces the risk of your bones becoming weak, it also reduces your risks of fractures and other bone problems.
The structural weakening of the bones occurs when there is a progressive reduction in the volume and tissues of the bones. Tangerine is rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
These minerals play important roles in the health and strength of your bones. They prevent structural weaknesses and fractures. Regular intake of tangerines will help you maintain good bone health which is very important for remaining mobile even into your old age.
Relieves menstrual symptoms
Tangerine peel tea help women overcome the symptoms of PMS and painful menstruation. It also relieves headaches, gassiness, cramps, and stomach pains experienced during menstruation.
Start taking this tea one week daily before your period arrives. It will give you great relief.
Slows down aging
One of the top home remedies for combating aging is tangerine. It also stops premature aging due to free radicals, nutritional deficiencies, underlying health conditions, and accumulation of toxins.
The nutrients in tangerine handle all these, especially vitamin C. vitamin C boosts the production of collagen, this is used to repair and make new skin cells.
Vitamin C also removes wrinkles and fine lines and improves the appearance of dull skin or complexion. It removes all the signs of poor skin health.
Prevents weight gain
Regular intake of tangerine helps increase the resting metabolic rate and this, in turn, will reduce your risks of health complications that lead to obesity or excessive weight gain.
Tangerine also prevents weight gain by controlling the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. Tangerines also reduce cravings and reduce the storage of fats in your body.
Boosts healthy production of DNA
DNA makes you who you are, it is found inside your chromosomes and wound into the helix structures. DNA serves as a “blueprint” for your cells to use in replication processes so that the newly made cells are identical to the original one.
Mutations can occur and they can be defects in the copy process. This is where tangerine comes in. The high antioxidant content of this fruit protects your DNA and save it from mutation and the harmful effect of free radicals.
The antioxidants in tangerine reduce the frequencies of these errors, they also reduce the risks of more serious complications occurring such as cancer. Tangerines protect you.
Tangerine energizes
The human body depends heavily on energy. It is needed for growth, development, and maintenance. It is also needed for the repair and regeneration of cells and tissues in the body.
We get energy mainly through our diet. Low levels of energy, fatigue, and weaknesses are signs that the body is having problems and not functioning as it should.
Tangerine essential oil hastens digestion and the absorption of nutrients to release energy.
Boosts the growth of quality hair
The rich content of vitamin A in tangerines helps to moisturize your scalp and improve the condition of your hair also. Vitamin C helps in increasing the absorption of iron from your gut and this will ensure that your hair is healthy and quality.
B12 is also present in tangerine, this vitamin improves the health of your hair and slows down greying. It also keeps your health follicles in the growth phase.
Eliminates body odor
Tangerine essential oil helps reduce the production of sweat, it also kills and prevents the growth of bacteria on the skin causing this. This helps to reduce body odor.
Besides, it also has a sweet fragrance which also helps in masking body odor. It can be used as a natural deodorant. It is even used in making natural deodorant products.
Are Tangerine Seeds Beneficial?
It might surprise you to know that every part of tangerine is useful. The peels and the seeds are not useless. Tangerine seeds have been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of illnesses.
Tangerine seeds contain numerous antioxidants. These fight free radicals caused by radiation, pollution, and toxins in your body. Free radicals cause a lot of chronic diseases in the body.
The seeds of tangerines are dried and ground into a fine powder. They are used as teas or added to foods and drinks. There are two main medicinal compounds present in tangerine seeds and they are responsible for the medicinal property of these seeds.
Polyphenols
In a study, seven citrus fruits seeds were evaluated and tangerine seeds had the highest amount of polyphenols. Kaewwan, a variety of tangerine had the highest amount of polyphenols while fremont, another variety of tangerine had the second-highest quantity of polyphenols.
Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants. Their effects touch every aspect of your body, from brain health down to digestion. Tangerine seeds are storehouses of polyphenols.
Limonoids
Limonoids and limonoids glucosides are found in the seeds, peels, and fruits of tangerine and other citrus fruits. These compounds stop the formation of tumors thus preventing cancers.
Studies done on this have proven the efficiency of these compounds to fight human breast cancer cells than medications like tamoxifen. Limonoids also reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in your bloodstream.
A particular study done on tangerine seeds revealed that limonoids derived from tangerine seeds have antimalarial properties.
From what you’ve read above, you can clearly see that tangerine is a blessing to humanity. In Chinese traditional medicine, tangerine seeds have been used for ages to treat many diseases.
Ripe and dried tangerine seeds are called JUHE in traditional Chinese medicine while tangerine itself is called JU. They use it to relieve pain and regulate the flow of blood and energy.
They use juhe to treat hernias, painful swellings of the testicles, painful swellings of the breast, and mastitis.
References;
- Tangerine History Wikipedia,
- Tangerines and antioxidants NCBI, NCBI, NCBI,
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- Tangerines and their antioxidant, anti-free radical, and anti-inflammatory properties NCBI,
- Tangerine and hair growth GP,
- Tangerine and Vitamins NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI,
- Tangerine and cholesterol NCBI,
- Tangerines and kidney health NCBI, NCBI,
- Tangerine and weight loss NCBI,
- Tangerine and metabolic disorders NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI,
