“Yuzu Orange” with 11 benefits and how to use it for health.
The yuzu (Citrus junos) is a hybrid citrus fruit, also known as yuja, that originated in China over 1,000 years ago and is now grown in Japan, Korea, and other parts of the world. The fruit is small, 2–3 inches (5.5–7.5 cm) in diameter, has a fairly thick yellow rind, and is much more aromatic and acidic than most other citrus fruits.
Yuzu is very popular in East Asian cuisine. Its juice, peel, and seeds are used as a flavoring for vinegars, condiments, sauces, and jams. Yuzu oil is also commonly used in cosmetics, perfumes, and aromatherapy. Surprisingly, this fruit may also have a number of benefits, including reducing inflammation and promoting heart health. Here are 11 health benefits of yuzu.
11 benefits of yuzu
1. High nutritional value
Yuzu is low in calories but high in nutrition. In fact, 3.5 ounces (100 grams) provide…
- Calories: 53
- Carbohydrates: 13 grams
- Protein: 1g
- Fat: less than 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 59% of the recommended daily intake
- Vitamin A: 31% of the recommended daily intake
It also contains smaller amounts of magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, riboflavin, niacin, เล่นบาคาร่า UFABET เว็บตรง ค่าคอมสูง, and vitamin E. What’s more, it also contains potent plant compounds, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and limonoids. These compounds act as antioxidants in the body, and studies have shown that they may help reduce inflammation, fight cancer cells, and promote heart health.
2. Contains powerful antioxidants.
Antioxidants are compounds that work by scavenge free radicals, which are molecules that react and damage cells and cause oxidative stress when they are in excess in the body. This stress is linked to a variety of diseases. Foods rich in antioxidants are believed to reduce the risk of brain disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Yuzu contains a variety of antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Not only is vitamin C an antioxidant, it also helps your body make other antioxidants, such as vitamin E.
Additionally, test-tube studies have shown that limonene, a flavor compound found in the peel of yuzu and other citrus fruits, acts as an antioxidant and reduces inflammation, potentially being particularly useful in treating certain types of asthma. Furthermore, animal and test-tube studies have shown that antioxidants in yuzu extract may combat obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. While these findings are intriguing, further human studies are needed.
3. May improve blood circulation .
Blood clotting helps you stop bleeding after a cut or scratch. However, excessive blood clotting can cause blockages in small and large blood vessels, which can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Interestingly, test-tube and animal studies have revealed that yuzu extract may have anticoagulant effects by inhibiting platelet aggregation.
These properties are linked to two main flavonoids, hesperidin and naringin, found in both the pulp and the rind. By improving blood circulation, yuzu extract may reduce your risk of heart disease. However, significant more research is needed before it can be recommended for this purpose.
4. May have anti-cancer properties.
Yuzu contains several compounds that may help protect against cancer. Of particular interest are limonoids, which are found in many citrus fruits. Test-tube studies have shown that these compounds fight breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
In addition, yuzu peel contains tangeretin and the flavonoid nobiletin. In test-tube and animal studies, nobiletin inhibited tumor growth, while tangeretin was effective in inhibiting the growth of leukemia cells.
Although these findings are intriguing, further human research is needed.
5. May protect your brain
Animal and test-tube studies suggest that yuzu may protect your brain from diseases like Alzheimer’s. In fact, a study in mice with acquired brain disorders found that long-term consumption of yuzu extract improved brain function and blood sugar control.
In addition, naringin, a flavonoid found in yuzu, has been shown to have a particularly protective effect on the brain in two studies in rats with induced memory loss. Naringin, extracted from yuzu, improved memory and reduced oxidative stress from brain-damaging proteins.
6. Its aroma has a relaxing effect.
Compounds such as limonene and linalool are responsible for the unique aroma of yuzu oil, which has notes of grapefruit, mandarin orange, bergamot, and lemon. Interestingly, several studies have found that yuzu oil has a relaxing effect, which may help reduce tension and anxiety. In one study, 20 women inhaled yuzu for 10 minutes. They had a reduction in markers of stress, mood disorders, tension, depression, anger, and confusion for 30 minutes.
Two other small studies in young women also found that 10 minutes of inhalation also reduced heart rate and improved neurological function.
In addition, diffusing yuzu essential oil was more effective at reducing stress, anger, and fatigue than inhaling hot steam, similar to lavender oil. Finally, a study of 60 hospitalized mothers with sick children found that an aromatherapy room in which yuzu oil was diffused significantly reduced anxiety levels in the mothers. Thus, the scent of yuzu may provide emotional relief similar to other pleasant aromas.
7. May have anti-diabetic effects. In a study on mice fed a high-fat diet, yuzu peel extract helped control blood sugar levels.
8. May help lower cholesterol. A study in mice fed a high-cholesterol diet found that yuzu peel extract helped reduce body weight and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
9. Possible use for heart failure. Animal studies suggest that yuzu extract may reduce some of the damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack, which may help prevent future heart failure.
10. May improve bone health. Animal studies have found that giving rats yuzu peel extract helped maintain strong bones.
11. May prevent infection. Yuzu seed extract has been shown to have antimicrobial activity against a variety of harmful organisms, including influenza, E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus.