Clementine’s — commonly known by the brand names Cuties or Halos — are a hybrid of mandarin and sweet oranges. These tiny fruits are bright orange, easy to peel, more delicious than most other citrus fruits, and typically seedless.
Benefits
Clementine’s are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, which can help improve your skin’s health and appearance. They can also help boost your fiber intake. Clementine’s are rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. As such, antioxidants can play a role in preventing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many other conditions. Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, usually found in orange and red plant foods. This powerful antioxidant promotes healthy cell growth and sugar metabolism.
Clementine’s are rich in vitamin C, which can improve skin health in several ways. Your skin naturally contains large amounts of vitamin C, as this vitamin aids the synthesis of collagen — the protein complex that gives your skin its firmness, plumpness, and structure. Although one clementine contains just 1 gram of fiber, snacking on a few throughout the day is an easy and delicious way to boost your fiber intake.
Fruit fiber serves as food for the good bacteria in your gut. It also bulks up and softens your stool to decrease constipation, potentially preventing conditions like diverticular disease, which can occur if digested food gets trapped in polyps in the digestive tract.
Promote Bone Health
As we age, bones become more brittle because there is less formation of new bone as well as continuing resorption of existing bones. Diet can play a role in helping to reduce bone loss. Studies have shown that beta-cryptoxanthin stimulates bone growth while also decreasing bone resorption, thereby increasing bone mass. Eating clementines helps strengthen bone density.
Protect Skin
Maintaining healthy skin goes beyond anti-aging and aesthetics. Our skin acts as a barrier, protecting our vital organs and systems from the environment. And our skin naturally contains high concentrations of vitamin C. The vitamin acts as an antioxidant, protecting our skin from UV damage as well as stimulating collagen growth.
Increase Iron Absorption
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies among Americans, especially women ages 19 to 50 and adolescent girls. Plus, given that they appeal to children, they promote fruit consumption in this age group.
Boost Brain Health and Function
Hesperidin is a plant compound found in clementines that may play a role in cognitive health, along with vitamin C. Hesperidin can cross the blood-brain barrier, which our body uses to protect the brain from harmful agents. Through this mechanism, hesperidin may help keep the brain tissue healthy.
Vitamin C is naturally found in high concentrations in our skin; it’s also stored in our brains and spinal fluid. The exact role vitamin C plays with cognition is still unknown. Still, the nutrient may help protect our minds as they age, specifically in older adults with insufficient vitamin C intake.
Clementine Oil
The soothing scent of clementine essentials oil relieves stress and promotes restful sleep and dreaming. Some European hospitals and places of convalescence diffuse clementine oil in their facilities to provide a sense of serenity.
The creation of the clementine hybrid attributed to Marie-Clement Rodiers, a member of the Brothers of the Annunciation in Algeria. In 1902, so the story goes, Brother Clement crossed willow leaf mandarin and sweet orange trees in his orphanage garden. The tangy fruit became so popular that it was named in his honor. Much of the essential oil is now produced in Italy and other Mediterranean countries.
The evergreen tree’s fragrant white flowers mature into seedless fruits with a smooth, deep-orange rind that’s easy to peel. The sweet, seedless fruit is less acidic than its orange cousin. The primary chemicals component in clementine fruit, limonene, provides relief from GERD and heartburn. Clementine oil also enhances circulation and tones the skin, reducing scars and stretch marks.
Popular uses of Clementine: Clementine essential oils help improve acne, cellulite, depression, GERD, heartburn, insomnia, restlessness, stomachaches, and stress. It is also a non-toxic degreaser and disinfectant.
While clementines are great as a snack, they’re also a stellar ingredient in recipes, adding tart sweetness to any dish—citrus pairs well with fish and other meats, with its balance of acidity and sweet flavor. You can even use leftover clementine peels to make candied peels (and then dip in chocolate) or infuse water or alcoholic beverages, so they take on the citrus flavor.
Clementines are a fun and healthy snack for most adults and children.