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The best thing about citrus fruits is their highly refreshing and uplifting aroma. But this is not the only reason that makes oranges, mandarins, or tangerines the most cherished fruits around the world. The humble fruits come loaded with health and beauty-boosting nutrients that not only make our immune system stronger but also enhance our overall well-being. While you can simply peel and relish citrus fruits without much ado, the oil extracted from them can help you enjoy the same benefits too. One of such citrus fruit oils is satsuma oil that can help you improve your health and appearance magically. Did you just say that you never heard of satsuma? Well, here we are to help you learn about this amazing secret of nature and the benefits offered by its oil.
What Is Satsuma?
Satsuma is essentially a special variant of mandarin. It is a round fruit with a yellow-orange outer skin and bright orange flesh. The vibrant peel of the fruit has a thin and leathery texture with prominent oil glands all over it. It is attached to the segmented flesh loosely and can be peeled off quite easily. Also, the fruit is tender, sweet, and extremely juicy with very few seeds in it. (1)
Satsuma is high in antioxidants and low in calories. It makes a wonderful breakfast or snack packed with vitamins, minerals, and lots of other essential nutrients. Raw satsuma mandarins are widely used as salad toppings while baking it with cakes, muffins, etc. will add an invigorating fragrance to them. Try blending the fruit into candies, ice creams, smoothies, and cocktails for delicious flavor. You can also reap the benefits by including one or two fresh satsumas in your daily diet.
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Origin Of Satsuma
Though the earliest existence of Satsuma dates back to 1429, it first appeared in Japan more than 700 years ago. There was a time when a wide variety of citrus fruits were introduced to the country and Satsuma mandarin is thought to be originated from a natural mutation resulted from it. In fact, ‘Bendiguangju’ – a Chinese variety of mandarin, has extreme resemblance with satsuma and hence, it is believed to be the predecessor of the fruit. (2)
‘Satsuma’ was the former name of the province ‘Kagoshima Prefecture’ situated in the ‘Kyushu Island’ of Japan and the fruit was named after this place only. In Japan, it is also popularly known as ‘Citrus Unshiu Marc’. Some favorable characteristics of Satsuma, which makes it the primary citrus fruit in Japan, are high productivity, early maturity, and strong disease resistance power.
What Is Satsuma Oil?
Satsuma oil is a versatile essential oil extracted from the skin of Satsuma fruits. Typically, the oil is obtained by cold-pressing fresh Satsuma peels. This is one of the highly admired citrus oils you can ever use for your health and beauty. As we do not eat the fruit along with its peels, it is always good to opt for satsuma oil that is widely available in the market to enjoy the goodness of both the fruit and the peel.
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Health Benefits Of Satsuma Oil
Satsuma oil comes with a host of therapeutic benefits. Here is why it is great for our health.
Combats Cancer
Research indicates that regular consumption of satsuma oil can keep liver cancer at bay. Being rich in carotenoids (cryptoxanthin), it works as a natural anti-carcinogenic agent for hepatitis C patients. The presence of limonene in it also helps in thwarting off the risk of breast cancer in women.
Strengthens Immunity
Just like other citrus fruits, satsuma is packed with vitamin C that keeps our immune system healthy and makes it stronger over time. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant, which fights against harmful free radicals and protects our body from oxidative stress. This keeps cold, cough, flu, and frequent infections away.
Reduces Hypertension
People suffering from hypertension can consider satsuma oil as a potential aid in controlling their blood pressure levels. It is a rich source of potassium, which helps in lowering elevated blood pressure and maintaining it to a reasonable level. Thus, they can also steer clear of unwanted conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, etc. triggered by hypertension.
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Regulates Cholesterol
As satsuma oil comes loaded with antioxidants, it can help keep our cholesterol levels under control and lower the risk of cholesterol-related diseases. It not only decreases the levels of LDL or low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) in our bloodstream but also increases the levels of HDL or high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). Moreover, the oil contains plenty of soluble and insoluble fibers that prevent our gut from absorbing cholesterol, thereby keeping it healthy.
Keeps Diabetes Away
The high dietary fiber content of satsuma oil makes it an amazing natural remedy for diabetes. It helps a lot in keeping sugar levels under control by regulating the levels of insulin in our body as well as averting the transformation of sugars into fats.
Purifies Blood
Satsuma oil acts as a natural blood purifier as the fibers in it help in detoxifying our body. In addition, it’s anti-microbial and antiseptic properties help in shielding wounds from bacterial and fungal infections.
Improves Digestion
High fiber content of satsuma oil can cleanse our digestive system easily and hence, is great for our digestive health. It also has natural antispasmodic properties, which provide relief to the digestive system after excess vomiting.
Promotes Weight Loss
Regular intake of satsuma oil can prevent you from overeating and binging by helping you steer clear of hunger pangs. As a result, your metabolism gets better and you start losing excess pounds.
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Beauty Benefits Of Satsuma Oil
Apart from health, satsuma oil is highly beneficial for our skin and hair. Check out how it can enhance your appearance naturally.
- Slows down the process of aging and delays the onset of its signs (wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, etc.) to give a younger and healthier look.
- Eliminates spots, marks, and other blemishes, thereby making the skin look flawless.
- Brightens up the complexion and restores the natural glow of the skin.
- Ensures a better health for hair by protecting it from pollution and conditioning it intensely.
- Stimulates the growth of hair and adds beautiful shine as well as bounce to it.
- Puts a stop to premature greying of hair.
Warning: After using satsuma oil topically, avoid exposure to sunlight for at least 12 hours.
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References:
1. “Satsuma Health Benefits, Nutritional Value And Uses”, SpilledNews
2. “Parental Diagnosis of Satsuma Mandarin”, National Library of Medicine (U.S. National Institutes of Health)
