Winter is the best season for eating pomelos. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pomelos are sweet and sour in taste and cold in nature, with effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm, moistening the lungs, clearing the intestines, nourishing blood, and strengthening the spleen. It is an excellent fruit for nourishing the lungs in winter and relieving coughs after a cold.
Winter is the best season for eating pomelos
The leaves of the pomelo resemble those of the citrus and tangerine, but the leaf stalk has broad wings, and the lower surface of the leaves and young shoots have short down. The flowers are large and white. The fruit is large, spherical or nearly pear-shaped, and lemon-yellow in color; the pulp is white or red, divided into segments that are easily separated, and has a delicious sour taste. Among the many autumn fruits, the pomelo is arguably the largest, generally weighing over 1 kilogram. It ripens around the 15th day of the 8th lunar month each year. Its thick skin makes it easy to store, typically lasting for three months without losing its fragrance, hence it is known as a "natural fruit can." The round shape of the pomelo symbolizes reunion, making it a fitting fruit for the Mid-Autumn Festival. More importantly, the word for pomelo, "柚" (yòu), is a homophone for "庇佑" (bìyòu), meaning protection and blessing. Thus, pomelo is seen as "佑子" (yòuzi), protecting children, and is considered to have auspicious meanings. Eating pomelo during the New Year symbolizes a house full of gold and jade, as "柚" (yòu) is a homophone for "有" (yǒu), meaning abundance. It is believed to remove bad luck and bring good fortune for the coming year.
There are also taboos associated with eating pomelos. Pomelos cannot be eaten with certain medications, and special attention should be paid by patients with hyperlipidemia. If not careful, patients can easily suffer from poisoning, experiencing muscle pain, and even kidney disease.
Pomelos are highly nutritious, containing very rich protein, organic acids, and essential elements for the human body such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium, which are difficult to match by other fruits.
The pomelo pulp is also rich in vitamin C and components similar to insulin, which have effects of lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, weight loss, and beautifying the skin. Regular consumption can have a therapeutic effect on diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis, and can also help with fitness and beauty for obese individuals. In addition, pomelos contain the physiologically active substance naringin, which can reduce blood viscosity and decrease thrombus formation, thus having a good preventive effect on cerebrovascular diseases.
Pomelos are highly nutritious. For people who often catch colds, cough, or have sensitive airways, you can use one fresh pomelo, remove the seeds but keep the peel and pulp, and combine it with 50 grams each of northern apricot, fritillary bulb, and unbleached snow fungus (or yellow fungus). Add 1000 to 1500 grams of honey and simmer on low heat for five to six hours, then seal and store. Taking it daily can strengthen the lungs.
The key to selecting a pomelo is generally two steps: smelling and tapping. Smelling refers to its fragrance; a ripe pomelo has a rich aroma. Tapping means pressing and tapping the outer skin; if the skin sinks and is not resilient, the quality is poor. It is best to choose a standard pomelo that is pointed at the top and wide at the bottom. The skin should be thin and smooth, and the color should be light green or light yellow. For a freshly bought pomelo, it is best to let it sit indoors for about two weeks. This allows the fruit's moisture to gradually evaporate, increasing its sweetness and making it taste even better.
Health Tip
1. Pomelos that are too bitter should not be eaten;
2. If you eat too many pomelos at once, it not only affects the liver's detoxification function and damages the liver, but can also cause other adverse reactions, and even lead to poisoning, with symptoms including dizziness, nausea, palpitations, tachycardia, fatigue, and low blood pressure. A particularly dangerous interaction occurs when consuming pomelos or grapefruit juice while taking the antihistamine terfenadine, which can cause arrhythmia, and in severe cases, ventricular fibrillation, or even sudden cardiac death. Many other drugs can interact with pomelos, such as calcium channel blockers like nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem; antipsychotic drugs like clozapine; gastrointestinal drugs like cisapride; immunosuppressants like cyclosporine A; and central nervous system stimulants like caffeine. Experts point out that drinking just one glass of grapefruit juice while taking these medications can trigger these effects. Therefore, medical experts warn patients not to eat pomelos or drink grapefruit juice while taking medication, especially elderly patients, to prevent unforeseen incidents.
Pomelo Tea for Health and Beauty
Homemade honey pomelo tea has a more delicate and sweet flavor, and long-term consumption can also have the effects of whitening, removing freckles, and nourishing the skin. L-cysteine in honey has a detoxifying effect, which can help alleviate frequent acne breakouts. Pomelo is high in vitamin C, which has a certain whitening effect. Honey pomelo tea combines these two benefits well, clearing heat, reducing fire, and whitening the skin. It is especially suitable for office ladies who face computer radiation daily, whose skin is damaged by radiation and their complexion is dull. Achieving whitening through food is more effective than using cosmetics; cosmetics can only temporarily lighten the skin with limited results. This healthy wellness tea, however, can address the root cause of melanin, leading to a longer-lasting whitening effect.