Little known by most people, the pomelo is the giant relative of the much more famous orange and grapefruit.

Its botanical name, Citrus Maxima, emphasizes its size: the pomelo is in fact the largest of the Citrus fruits, growing up to 30 cm in diameter and weighing up to 10 kg. It is good not to be scared by its size, however: the spongy substance that separates the peel from the segments represents a good half of the fruit's volume.

Unlike any other citrus fruit, the pomelo is not spherical or slightly flattened but has a shape similar to that of a large pear. Its peel is smooth and varies in color from greenish to pinkish, while its pulp, with the typical citrus consistency, varies from yellow to pink to red.

It has nothing to do with an apple, as its name might suggest, but its taste is similar to that of grapefruit, its hybrid, although decidedly sweeter.

Today it is mainly cultivated in Thailand, Taiwan and Japan, and recently its cultivation has also begun in Italy, particularly in Sicily.

In some countries of the world, and even in Liguria, this fruit is called Shaddock (or sciaddocco) after the English captain who, according to history, introduced its cultivation and consumption in Jamaica as early as the 18th century.

The pomelo is a low-calorie citrus fruit: a 100g portion provides about 35 kcal and is therefore suitable for those following a low-calorie diet. It contains a high percentage of vitamins that make it a super energetic fruit and a very useful ally against the cold of winter.

Also noteworthy is its content of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant: in pomelo it is around 60 mg, compared to 50 mg contained in 100g of oranges and 31 mg in grapefruits. It is rich in beta-carotene and B vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B6 including B9; it contains folic acid (particularly important for young mothers during pregnancy) and is rich in potassium, useful especially for muscle contraction and for the heart.

A CURE-ALL FOR THE ENTIRE BODY

Nowadays, when a different solution is needed for every ailment, finding something natural, without contraindications and that acts 360° on the body has become a rarity.

The pomelo is truly a superfood that can help us fight common everyday discomforts.

It has been observed that this incredible fruit has the ability to increase vitality, improve mood, strengthen energy and work capacity.

Thanks to the presence of dietary fiber, about 25% of our daily requirement, its consumption promotes intestinal transit and stimulates the production of gastric juices with consequent benefits for the process and for the functioning of the entire digestive system.

The high content of vitamin C, an antioxidant par excellence capable of counteracting the dangerous action of free radicals, makes pomelo an ally for the prevention of wrinkles, contributing to slowing down skin aging.

The abundance of this vitamin also allows this citrus fruit to fight urinary tract infections, thanks to its powerful action against the development of the bacterium Escherichia coli, which is the main culprit.

Pomelo also plays a role in weight loss thanks to carnitine palmitoyl transferase, a fat-burning enzyme also present in grapefruit. Furthermore, it also provides a high sense of satiety and accelerates the synthesis of proteins and fats in the body, thus becoming useful for those who wish or need to follow a low-calorie diet.

Thanks to its vasodilating properties, the potassium contained in pomelo can bring benefits in cases of hypertension, because it allows for greater blood flow and reduces the heart's effort, with benefits for the entire cardiovascular system.

Potassium also makes pomelo a great ally in fighting leg cramps and is therefore particularly suitable for consumption by athletes.

Also thanks to vitamin C, which can increase the body's assimilation of iron, pomelo can also be included in a diet for the treatment of anemia.

Finally, the content of pectin makes this citrus fruit useful for preventing cardiovascular diseases and particularly atherosclerosis, as it helps clean the arteries and fights the formation of plaques in blood vessels.