Learn about the properties and health benefits of medlars, a delicious and nutritious fruit that is often overlooked. Incorporate this hidden gem into your diet for a range of health benefits!Medlars are spring fruits. The phrase I often repeat when people ask me for advice on foods is that nature provides us with the food we need, at the right time and in the right place .
This sentence contains the secret to choosing most foods .This is why I always recommend choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Among the typical spring fruits , tastier and juicier than the winter ones, there is the medlar , a fruit less widespread than others, but a real panacea for our health. Thanks to the vitamins, soluble fibers and the watery part, medlars promote detoxification and give us a feeling of lightness and vitality.
Index
- The medlar, the plant
- Characteristics of medlars
- The properties of medlars
- For the intestine
- For the kidneys
- For athletes
- Anti-hunger
- Anti-fever and other ailments
- Buying ripe medlars, how to recognize them?
- The varieties of medlars
- How to enjoy them
- In decoction to deflate the belly
- Scientific insights on medlars
The medlar, the plant
The medlar belongs to the Rosaceae family and is native to the East. Here you can find more information about the characteristics of this plant .
Characteristics of medlars
Medlars are yellow-orange fruits that resemble apricots , but are harvested a few months earlier. They grow in bunches, are round in shape, and have a thin, yellow-orange skin.
They are left to ripen for a long time in straw, until January, February. Inside there are some seeds (from one to four) rather large, shiny, dark brown, which contain substances toxic to our body. For this reason it is necessary to remove them and above all to check that children do not ingest them.
The properties of medlars
With only 47 calories per 100 grams, medlars are rich in water, fiber, vitamins and mineral salts , and more precisely vitamins A, B (B6, folic acid and niacin), C and antioxidants, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and – above all – potassium, an essential component for cells and body fluids, in addition to other trace elements. Known since ancient times, the medlar in the Middle Ages was used as a febrifuge and as a regulator of intestinal and diuretic functions.
Among the soluble fibers contained in the medlar I mention pectin , which maintains humidity in the colon and can function as a natural laxative, and protects the colon mucosa from toxic substances. In addition, it seems that the pectin in medlars reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood. A
Some studies have revealed that eating medlars regularly and in quantity prevents the formation of mouth and lung cancer .
A curiosity: when harvested, the pulp of the medlar is white-pink in colour but after a few weeks of ripening it becomes soft and the colour becomes intense yellow-orange.
For the intestine
The unripe fruit contains higher quantities of tannins, antioxidant molecules that give a dry sensation in the mouth (they are said to “bind the mouth”) and have an astringent effect on the intestine (a good natural remedy in case of diarrhea). The ripe fruit is more pleasant to the taste because the tannins are transformed into sugars, with this process however the astringent effect transforms into a mildly laxative effect as it stimulates intestinal transit without the annoying side effects of chemical laxatives.
For the kidneys
Under stress, our body reacts by stimulating the adrenal glands to produce hormones, especially cortisol. These hormones, when in excess, cause an increase in water retention, with the possible appearance of cellulite . Regular consumption of fruits such as medlars can help eliminate excess fluids, increasing diuresis naturally without the side effect of lowering blood pressure that occurs with the intake of synthetic diuretics.
For athletes
Thanks to its richness in vitamins and minerals, the medlar is particularly recommended for those who do prolonged sports activities and therefore need to recover mineral salts, water and antioxidants .
Anti-hunger
As already mentioned, the medlar is very rich in soluble fiber ; this favors the distension of the stomach walls, filling it with water thus increasing the feeling of satiety. For this reason it can be a good appetizer in low-calorie diets. The richness of fiber also makes this fruit an excellent hunger breaker and for the properties described it is recommended to eat it outside of meals accompanied by a glass of water. Practice normally not recommended with other fruits and with meals in general as it dilutes the gastric juices.
Anti-fever and other ailments
The medlar is also suitable in case of fever as a natural antipyretic, it helps to decongest the bile ducts and the liver and to counteract the damage caused by free radicals and aging, responsible for the onset of many diseases, even serious ones, such as tumors.
Buying ripe medlars, how to recognize them?
The medlar is ripe when the pulp is soft and the color is bright. The skin must be smooth and uniform, possibly without bruises. If the medlar is purchased unripe, it is recommended to store it at room temperature for 3-4 days. If it is purchased already ripe, it can be stored in the refrigerator for three days, no more: being a very perishable fruit, after this period it is no longer good.
The varieties of medlars
Medlars can be classified by origin in: American, Japanese, Italian, as always we recommend purchasing products from our territory, possibly organic. Depending on the harvest period there are the early type, the medium type and the late type.
How to enjoy them
To enjoy medlars, the advice is to consume them natural, or in a fruit salad with a little honey and lemon [which act as disinfectants of the bacterial flora, source: Riza].
They can also be used to prepare a dessert or an excellent spring breakfast, here is a simple recipe: blend 500 g of ripe medlars without peel and seeds, put the puree in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Add 200 g of natural white yogurt and 1 tablespoon of acacia honey. Mix and serve.
In decoction to deflate the belly
The decoction of medlars is a good natural remedy that purifies, facilitates diuresis and helps the intestine. The preparation is simple:
- boil 60 grams of pulp and peels in 300 ml of water for about 20 minutes;
- let it cool;
- drink 3 glasses a day for a week.