Pumellos are the largest of the citrus fruits. They can grow to be over twelve inches long, the size of a basketball. Their taste is similar to grapefruit, but less tart or tangy. They are native to Southeast Asia and can take eight years or longer to bear fruit; one of the reasons why they have not gained popularity as other citrus fruits have.
Are they good for you?
Pumellos are nutritional powerhouses. An average size pumello has over 600% RDA for vitamin C. As most know, vitamin C is an immune booster, but it is also an antioxidant and required for tissue repair. It also contains almost 25% of your daily value of fibre. Fiber helps promote good digestive health by bulking up the stool, increasing bowel transit time, and stimulating digestion. Pumellos are a very good source of Potassium, which lowers blood pressure and reduces leg cramps.
How do Pumellos help with Weight Loss?
Pumellos contain a fat burning enzyme called carnitine pamitoyl-transferase. This enzyme is found in grapefruits and is used to break down fat to be used for energy. Many people that are on weight loss programs are incorporating pumellos into their diets.
A Word of Caution
Pumellos contain chemicals which can interact with prescription medication. If you take prescription medication, discuss your eating pumellos with your prescribing physician.
The above post was contributed by Dr. Scott Schreiber. Dr. Scott Schreiber has been practicing in Newark, Delaware for over eleven years. He is a chiropractic physician that is double board certified in rehabilitation and clinical nutrition. He is a certified nutrition specialist and a licensed dietitian/nutritionist.