What is a cumquat and than it is useful

Most often the word citrus causes associations with orange and a lemon. However this sort is much more extensive and includes a set of interesting fruit. One of them, a cumquat, is known to still little. It is very useful tropical fruit which appeared on domestic counters rather recently. In this article useful properties of a cumquat, its chemical composition, recommendations to the use and possible contraindications will be considered.

What is a cumquat

It is a bright orange tropical fruit from 3 to 5 cm long and weighing about 30 g. Other names of fruit — a fortunell, a kumquat. Externally it is similar to the tiny orange extended in length. The cumquat on trees grows.

It is important! If color of dried fruits of a cumquat which you bought in shop saturated and bright, and a smell has a chemical shade — before you the low-quality, artificially tinted products. The natural dried cumquat has pale orange color and not a really presentable look.

The natural area of growth covers all East Asia, the southern part of Europe, California to the USA and China. On taste this citrus reminds sweet-sour tangerine. It is possible to eat a fruit entirely, including a peel.

Video: all about fruit a cumquat

Caloric content

Depending on a way of preparation of this citrus, its caloric content differs a little.

We advise to study useful properties of such fruit as pomegranate, Nonie, persimmon, pear, a carambola, tangerine, mangostin, a nectarine, an apricot, a guava, a quince, a pomelo, a lime, orange, passion fruit, a kiwi, mango, avocado, durian, dragon fruit and unab.

Dried and dried types of a cumquat have lower caloric content, than fruits in sugar, but exceed crude fruits on nutritiousness. The following values are specified at the rate on 100 grams of a product.

Useful properties

Influence of the dried or candied fruit on an organism differs from it which can render a crude cumquat.

Fresh

Crude cumquat is most useful to the person. It contains all substances which will be destroyed after intensive heat treatment. Before there is a crude cumquat, diligently wash it

Important! Choosing a crude cumquat in shop, pay attention to its peel. It has to be smooth, with a small time and firm to the touch. The qualitative fruit should not have dark or yellow stains, dents and traces of rotting near buttocks.

1. The cumquat is a rich source of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid participates in oxidizing processes, strengthens immunity, promotes the best digestion of iron. It stimulates the haematogenic function and supports a tone of vessels.
2. Vitamins of group B support synthesis of amino acids in an organism and comprehensibility of the substances arriving with food. It is especially necessary to emit Riboflavinum which strengthens sight, is responsible for health and youth of skin, accelerates regeneration of soft and bone tissues.
3. High content of magnesium does a kumquat by valuable prophylactic against diseases of a cardiovascular system. This element takes part in transfer of nervous impulses and maintenance of water-salt balance.
4. Special substance furakumarin oppresses inflammatory processes, possesses antibacterial action.
5. The essential oils which are a part of this fruit have antifungal and disinfecting properties.

Dried

This fruit is much more saturated with useful substances, than fresh as they were concentrated due to moisture evaporation. However, a part of vitamins B a dried fruit appears the destroyed ambassador of thermal treatment.

1. The dense peel and pulp of a dried kumquat have antibacterial properties.
2. It is recommended to be used at atherosclerosis as the dried cumquat cleans vessels from cholesteric plaques and brings harmful cholesterol out of an organism.
3. Vitamin A which well transfers thermal treatment helps to strengthen an eye retina, preventing age degradation of sight.
4. Vitamin E is the strongest antioxidant therefore it makes the rejuvenating impact on skin and an organism in general, connects free radicals, stimulates sexual function.
5. The cellulose presented by pectin improves work of intestines, cleans it from slags and helps at disorders of different character.

Dried

Properties of dried fruit are similar to properties of dried.

Whether you know? This fruit belongs to family Rutic which all citrus fruit and some flower herbs, such as rue and yasenets enter. In official biological classification the cumquat for the first time appeared in 1915 thanks to the American botanist Walter Suingl. Then fruit received the modern name.

Taste at a dried cumquat less intensive as drying is an aggressive process which leads to destruction of a large amount of aromatic substances.

1. This product is often used as medical at catarrhal and infectious diseases. For this purpose the kumquat is used together with a peel or add it to hot tea in the crushed look.
2. It stimulates digestion, strengthens secretion of gastric enzymes and normalizes an intestines vermicular movement. At stomach ulcers it is better not to use it, and here at developments of stagnation in intestines the cumquat is necessary by the way.
3. This fruit is used in medical diets for people with oncology. It oppresses abnormal cages and interferes with their development.

Candied fruits

In view of the saturation of candied fruits their advantage practically does not compensate by sugar the harm done to an organism.

1. Candied fruits of a cumquat are high-calorie dried fruits which are capable to provide the person with energy and to lighten it the mood.
2. The abundance in pectin candied fruits well influences digestion.
3. Vitamins of group B help to get rid of apathy, a syndrome of chronic fatigue and nervous exhaustion.

Read in more detail how to prepare candied fruits in house conditions.

Whether it is possible to eat a cumquat

Besides valuable properties this citrus fruit has also certain contraindications.

At pregnancy and breastfeeding

The cumquat will be useful to future mother. Is it it is necessary moderately (no more than 250 g a day) and if earlier this fruit was not used, then it is necessary to enter it into a diet gradually. It is necessary to refuse a cumquat in case of individual intolerance and for breastfeeding — the weak organism of the kid can answer tropical fruit with a severe allergy.

At weight loss

As this citrus fruit stimulates digestion and accelerates a metabolism, he will well fit into a dietary diet. Consider that it is aware of weight loss it is possible to use only a crude cumquat. Dried fruits contain too many calories.

Whether you know? On the European continent of a fortunell it was delivered from China in 1864 from an easy hand of the English gardener collector Robert Forchen. It received the name fortunell in his honor. The name cumquat was given a fruit a little later by analogy with its Cantonese name which was translated literally as golden orange. As for the word kumquat, its began to use thanks to the name in consonance from Japanese.

At diabetes

The cumquat has the high glycemic index, causes sharp increase in level of glucose in blood therefore people with diabetes should not eat it.

As it is eaten

Before the use the fruits need to be washed properly. It will be correct to eat them, biting off from the whole fruit or previously having cut it on segments. As pulp at a kumquat sourish, and the thin skin sweet and edible, is not required to clean it.

Contraindications and harm

The cumquat has the specific chemical composition therefore not all people can eat these fruits.

1. The excessive use of candied fruits or dried dried fruits provokes a set of excess weight.
2. It is contraindicated to people with the increased acidity and stomach ulcers as it aggravates both of these states. Too it is better for that who suffers from an urolithic disease or problems with kidneys not to use this fruit.
3. The kumquat is strictly forbidden to the use at diabetes, especially in the form of candied fruits.
4. As all other citrus, it is strong allergen therefore it needs to be entered into a diet of the person, sensitive to food, gradually.

The cumquat is an unusual tropical fruit which advantage is known to the little. It saturates an organism with useful substances and vitamins, stimulates his immunity, normalizes a cardiovascular system and digestion.

Important! The standard daily rate of a crude cumquat for the adult is 300 g a day, dry — 200 g, candied fruits — 120 g. Excess consumption of this fruit will do much harm even to the healthy person.

The cumquat goes on sale in the form of candied fruits, dried fruits and crude fruit. Crude fruits have the minimum quantity of contraindications and bear the greatest advantage for the person. The regular moderate use of these fruits is capable to revitalize an organism and to strengthen its protective functions.