Useful properties of kumquat

Kumquat (Fortunella, dwarf orange, golden orange) Looks really like an orange, but notround, and oval (although there are round varieties of kumquat). Yes, and the size of kumquat is much inferior to oranges: its length is 3-5 cm, and width - 2-4 cm. To taste, kumquat looks like a mandarin with a slight sour aftertaste.

Useful properties of kumquat are caused by the content of vitamins, macro- and microelements, so necessary for our body. As in all citrus fruits, there is a lot of vitamin C in kumquat (and even more than, for example, in lemons). But it also contains vitamins B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), vitamin A and vitamin E. Kumquat also contains such micro- and macro elements as potassium, calcium, copper, iron, sodium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

In the skin of kumquat contains essential oil, which has antibacterial properties. Therefore, kumquat is consumed withskin (naturally, pre-wash thoroughly), it will serve as an excellent prophylaxis for ARI and help to strengthen immunity. However, if you have problems with the kidneys, use the skin of kumquat with caution: it can cause irritation of the kidneys.

During outbreaks of colds, you canlay out the kumquat peel around the apartment: essential oil will fight bacteria that are in the air. You can put a piece of peel in the aroma lamp: heat will accelerate the spread of essential oil. When you cough, kumquat can be used for inhalations. Bactericidal useful properties of kumquat allow using it as an antifungal agent.

High content of vitamin C allows use kumquat as a remedy fora hangover. Agree, it is much more pleasant to eat delicious sweet and sour fruit after a storm of libations, than to poke suspicious cocktails from tomato juice and egg yolks. Also, kumquat has a beneficial effect on digestion, helps fight against bad mood and nervous overexertion, reduces the level of "harmful" cholesterol in the blood. The use of kumquat serves as a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

To make the useful properties of kumkwatat fully manifest, it is better to use it in the raw food with the skin: heat treatment is harmful to vitamins. For the prevention of colds, it is possible to prepare a vitamin drink from the fruits of kumquat, for the best effect, adding a root of ginger to it. By the way, to prepare the drink you can use not only fresh, but also dried fruits of kumquat.

You can eat kumquat and in the processed form, preparing from it jam, marmalade or candied fruit. Kumquat can be added to tea, nonalcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, used for making salads and snacks, sauces and seasonings, meat and fish dishes, baked goods and desserts.

For the normalization of digestion can be usedkumquat in dried form. Keep the dried kumquat in a dry place, putting it in a tissue bag. You can use a glass or plastic container to store dried or dried kumquat, which must be tightly closed. Fresh kumquats are stored in the refrigerator, shelf life is approximately two weeks, and in the freezer kumquats can be stored for up to six months.

Useful properties of kumquat allow using it as an excellent restorative and tonic. Of course, one should not consider kumquat a panacea, but regular use of these sunny fruits will help strengthen the body and give a good mood. So in your next trip to the supermarket, be sure to look for "golden orange" on the shelves.