Hainan pomelo

Hainan pomelo

　　Hainan pomelo

　　Pomelo

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　　Also known as pomelo, snow pomelo, or commonly referred to as the reunion fruit, it is the mature fruit of the evergreen pomelo tree from the Rutaceae family. Also called "pao," "zhulan," "leipu," "qigan," "wendan," and others. Among the many autumn fruits, the pomelo is one of the largest, usually weighing over 1 kilogram.

　　It ripens around the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, has thick skin and stores well, typically remaining fragrant for up to three months, hence earning the nickname "natural fruit can." The round shape of the pomelo symbolizes reunion, making it a festive fruit for the Mid-Autumn Festival. More importantly, the word "pomelo" (柚) sounds like "protection" or "blessing" (佑), and thus the pomelo is believed to bring good fortune and protection to children.

　　Pomelo origin: China has a long history of cultivating pomelo trees, dating back to the Zhou and Qin dynasties over two thousand years ago. Today, pomelos are grown in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and other regions of China. Beyond China, pomelos are also cultivated in many countries and regions across Southeast Asia, as well as in the United States, Cuba, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and Japan. Therefore, the pomelo is considered one of the more globally popular fruits.

　　Pomelo tastes sweet and sour, with a cool nature. It aids digestion, reduces phlegm, and promotes a light and healthy complexion. Modern medical research has found that pomelo flesh is rich in vitamin C and insulin-like compounds, giving it blood sugar and cholesterol lowering properties, as well as benefits for weight loss and skin health. Regular consumption can help manage conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis, and also contributes to fitness and skin care for those who are overweight.

　　Pomelo also helps strengthen the stomach, nourish the lungs, enrich the blood, cleanse the intestines, and improve bowel movements. It promotes wound healing and has positive auxiliary effects on conditions like septicemia. Additionally, pomelo contains the bioactive compound naringin, which can reduce blood viscosity and minimize thrombus formation, thereby offering preventive benefits against cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral thrombosis and stroke. Fresh pomelo flesh, containing insulin-like components, is also an ideal food for people with diabetes.

　　Nutritional content of pomelo: Pomelo contains carbohydrates, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin P, carotene, potassium, phosphorus, and citric acid. The main components of the pomelo peel include naringin and neohesperidin, while the pomelo seed contains fatty oils, obacunone, and obaculactone. Pomelo is highly nutritious — per 100 grams of edible portion, it contains 84.8 grams of water, 0.7 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fat, 12.2 grams of carbohydrates, 57 kcal of energy, 0.8 grams of crude fiber, 41 mg of calcium, 43 mg of phosphorus, 0.9 mg of iron, 0.12 mg of carotene, 0.07 mg of thiamine, 0.02 mg of riboflavin, 0.5 mg of niacin, and 41 mg of ascorbic acid.

　　Pomelo in dietary therapy and health care: Pomelo is fragrant, sweet and sour, cool and moist, nutritionally rich, and of high medicinal value, making it one of the cherished premium fruits among people. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pomelo flesh, being cool in nature and sweet and sour in flavor, has therapeutic effects such as relieving coughs and asthma, clearing heat and phlegm, strengthening the spleen and aiding digestion, and relieving alcohol intoxication and irritability. Pomelo peel, also known as citrus red or broad citrus red, is warm in nature and bitter and pungent in flavor, helping to regulate qi, dissolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen, aid digestion, and dispel cold and dampness. The pomelo seed contains obacunone, obaculactone, deacetylnomilin, along with fatty oils, inorganic salts, proteins, and crude fiber. Its effects are similar to those of citrus seeds, mainly treating hernia. Pomelo leaves contain volatile oils and offer anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and diuretic benefits.