Calabrian bergamot juice, defined in antiquity as "green gold", keeps bad cholesterol at bay
Il bergamot it's a citrus rich in vitamin C, minerals and flavonoids. It also helps fight bad cholesterol.
Calabrian bergamot: perfect remedy for a diet
Are you following a diet and do you sometimes feel hunger pangs? The remedy is ready: "a snort" of essential juice of bergamot, with a relaxing and sedative effect, and the stomach calms down.
And he will be ready to fulfill your good intentions again. But this is just one of the many uses of this citrus fruit, known since ancient times for its benefits, so much so that it is called "green gold".
Calabrian bergamot, roughly the size of an orange, is more like lemon in shape. But when it is ripe it remains a nice bright green. It is found in supermarkets, in the most well-stocked fruit and vegetable shops and in centers that sell organic foods. Its juice and essential oil can also be purchased.
At the table, it is better not to eat it whole, as is done with orange. It tastes too sour. It is more pleasant in the form of squeezed juice, with a taste that is only a little bitter.
Those from the Calabria, his chosen homeland.
Bergamot: fresh, in juice or in capsules
An average fruit of 180 grams offers around 60 calories. It has an excellent percentage of vitamin C, 80% of the recommended daily allowance and minerals including potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium. Its content of very powerful flavonoids is also valuable natural antioxidants, which slow down cellular aging and protect against many metabolic and oncological diseases.
A study from the Roman University of Tor Vergata has highlighted how thanks to these substances, which block the key enzyme in the production of cholesterol, a homemade or ready-made bergamot juice is able to lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, Ldl and the tonal one. While it raises the quantities of HDL, the so-called "good" cholesterol. Apart from this, bergamot also has a positive effect on triglyceride and carbohydrate levels.
Naturally, the Calabrian bergamot does not replace medicines. Generally speaking, it has no significant side effects. However, it can interfere with some medications. So if you plan to consume it regularly, it is best to ask your doctor for advice first.
Bergamot also has a healing effect. It also helps fight nail fungus and acne. It soothes the discomfort caused by insect bites. Thanks to its vitamin C content, the essential oil, if added to aerosol or water from fumigations, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory functions.
Finally, breathing in its scent can have a calming and anti-stress action. It is also used in aromatherapy.
