Creating a healthy diet: different tangerines you have to try

Tangerines are delicious treats and ideal for any healthy diet. Here are the health benefits of tangerines and some different tangerines you should try.

We often use the terms tangerines and mandarins interchangeably, and indeed, tangerines, along with clementines and satsumas, are actually types of mandarin oranges.

• These sweet citrus fruits with loose-fitting skins originated in China, but they are now grown in many parts of the world.
• As they moved into other tropical and subtropical areas, the original mandarin oranges were crossed with other citrus fruits to produce a variety of hybrids, including tangelos and tangors.

• Volume for volume, oranges have about twice as much vitamin C as tangerines, but even so, tangerines contribute a good amount of this antioxidant; a medium-size fruit fulfills about 30 percent of the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
• In addition, tangerines are richer in vitamin A (in the form of ­beta-carotene) than any other citrus fruit. A medium-size tangerine contains 775 IU (International Units) or 77 RE (Retinol Equivalents) of vitamin A, as well as 130 milligrams of potassium, and only about 35 calories.
• It is also high in pectin, a soluble fibre that helps lower blood cholesterol, and contains tangeretin, a fla­vo­noid linked in experimental studies to reduced growth of tumour cells.
• Like other citrus fruits, tangerine peels contain oils that can cause an itchy rash. Because tangerines are so easy to peel, this can usually be avoided.

While most varieties are available from November to March, tangerines are especially popular at Christmas. The following are among the most common types sold in North America:

1. Clementine. This fruit is seedless, and smaller and sweeter than many ofthe other varieties. It is sometimes called an Algerian tangerine, but most clementines sold in North America are im­ported from Spain, Israel and Morocco.
2. Honey tangerine. Also known as a murcott, this variety has a greener skin than other tangerines, but the flesh is more orange and the flavour is sweeter.
3. Satsuma. These are a little larger than clementines, nearly seedless, and very thin-skinned. Japan is the leading producer of satsumas.
4. Tangelo. A cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit, the tangelo looks like an orange, is tangier than a tangerine, and is sweeter than a grapefruit.
5. Tangor. This hybrid, also known as temple orange, looks like a tangerine but tastes like an orange; it is juicy and sweet, but contains many seeds.

Tangerines help an upset stomach.

•  The Chinese use tangerines to help settle digestive upsets, alleviate nausea and as an expectorant. In France, the fruit is given to children to relieve indigestion and hiccups.

Tangerines are tasty fruits that offer incredible health benefits. Consider this guide and get the most out of tangerines by adding them to your diet.