Recently, more and more vendors have started selling "ugly oranges" in the market and on WeChat. "Ugly in appearance, unique in taste" has become a common slogan for many sellers, and some even claim that eating ugly oranges doesn't cause "heatiness" (a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine). Is this really true?
First of all, ugly oranges are not genetically modified foods. They were developed in 1972 by the Horticultural Research Station of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries through a cross between the "Shiranui" mandarin orange and the "Nakano No. 3" Ponkan. With a history of several decades, they are safe to eat. Although oranges are considered "warm" and drying, mandarin oranges are "cool" in nature. As a hybrid of the two, ugly oranges naturally inherit this "cool" characteristic, which is reflected in their elegant name, "Shiranui."
Ugly oranges are easy to peel, with a juice content and sugar degree of over 13%, offering an exceptionally fresh and sweet taste. They are also rich in Vitamin C and potassium. In terms of Vitamin C content, ugly oranges contain up to 50 mg per 100 grams, which is significantly higher than the 28 mg in regular oranges and 33 mg in sweet oranges. Many studies have found that citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids, which help prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. They are also rich in polyphenols, mainly hesperetin and naringenin, which are easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. These compounds have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, can help prevent metabolic syndrome, and are very suitable for people with diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. Traditional Chinese Medicine also believes that citrus fruits promote digestion, regulate Qi, strengthen the stomach, and relieve coughing, making them a very valuable type of fruit.
Although ugly oranges are delicious, there are some things to keep in mind when eating them. First, it's not advisable to eat too many. For an average person, eating three oranges a day can meet the daily requirement for Vitamin C. Additionally, because the pulp contains a certain amount of organic acid that can irritate the gastric mucosa, it is not recommended to eat oranges on an empty stomach.