Bergamot it is a citrus fruit almost as big as an orange, whose plant is also known scientifically as Citrus bergamia, belonging to the Rutaceae family.
In addition to cosmetic field and for production of tea and herbal teas, bergamot is also used for the preparation of the famous essential oil, which it keeps away skin problems and cardiovascular diseases. Let's find out better.
> 1. Description of the bergamot
> 2. Properties and benefits of bergamot
> 3. Calories and nutritional values ​​of bergamot
> 4. Ally of
> 5. Curiosities about bergamot
Bergamot description
Bergamot is a citrus fruit that comes from the Citrus bergamia plant. This is an evergreen tree, between three and four meters tall, with fiori very fragrant whites e leaves shiny and fleshy.
The fruit of the bergamot it is of an intense yellow color, with a round shape slightly flattened at the poles.
Cultivated mainly in the coastal strip, it is widespread in Calabria. Its geographical origin is not certain, as well as the citrus fruits from which it was generated by hybridization. However, the origin of the name is Turkish: beg armudi, which means "pear of the lord".
Properties and benefits of bergamot
The main constituent of Bergamot is essential oil, rich in terpenes and bergaptenes.
- Bergamot oil, as anticipated, it is used both in the cosmetic field, but also as a flavoring for soft drinks, tea or herbal teas. the most used is its essential oil, which is obtained from the peel of the citrus fruit, extracted with cold pressure, green and intense yellow once ripe, and particularly irregular and wrinkled. Externally, therefore, it is used in creams, perfumes, but also in aromatherapy.
- In anxious states and as an antidepressant it works very well, in fact, it is an oil that promotes sleep and eliminates emotional blocks or psychological, restoring serenity: a few drops are enough in the special diffuser or in the water tank of the radiators. It can also be used very well as a natural deodorant or air freshener.
- To also have a beneficial and balsamic effect for the respiratory tract. Due to its antiseptic and antibacterial action, it can also be used in suffimigi, together with bicarbonate; nose and throat will benefit greatly, especially in case of colds, inflammations to disinfect and eliminate viruses and bacteria. Great for gargling, it is also a natural remedy for halitosis.
- Thanks to its antifungal properties, externally it is great for fighting mycosis, for example to the fingers or nails, and candida, in fact a couple of drops in the bidet are enough to make excellent natural vaginal douches and sitz baths. Also perfect for foot baths and hand baths.
- His action for the skin it is also healingin fact, excellent recipes can be made, even for oily and impure skin.
- Its warming virtues, capable of reactivating the circulation, make it an excellent ingredient for anti-cellulite massages.
- Added to the shampoo, it has an anti-dandruff and anti-hair loss effect. It can also be used very well in the bath or on a sponge, gently massaging the body.
Warning: it should not be used before exposing yourself to the sun as it is photosensitizer, you risk burns and sunspots.
You can learn more about the properties, use and contraindications of Bergamot essential oil
Nutritional values ​​and calories of bergamot
Used internally, bergamot oil finds indications in colic and intestinal infections, in intestinal parasites and difficult digestions.
We often see it as iFlavoring ingredient in tea and herbal teas, but you can also take a few drops, from one to five, diluted per day.
Also excellent as a natural antioxidant, bergamot is made up of approx 80% of water, citric acid, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), ashes, proteins, dietary fibers, pectins, phosphates, flavonoids and vitamin C.
Among the minerals dominate sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. A dozen drops of bergamot essential oil have approx 40 calories.
Bergamot, ally of
Skin, hair, circulation
Curiosities about bergamot
- Bergamot essential oil, being one very precious essence, it is often counterfeited and mixed with other low-cost essential oils, such as bitter orange.
- The systematic origin of bergamot is highly controversial. Some botanists classify it as one specie a stante, while many others indicate it as subspecies of the bitter orange.
- A legend tells that the Moor of Spain sold a branch of bergamot to the Valentino family of Reggio (in Calabria). It was then the noble lords who grafted the bergamot on a bitter orange of one of their possessions.
A recipe up your sleeve
Bergamot is a lot used in the kitchen in different ways: it is possible to drink the juice, although rather bitter; you can use the wedges to prepare salads, or the zest, to be put in brine, and used to flavor first, second and desserts. It is also very well known and widespread the bergamot liqueur, prepared with the skins.
Given its refreshing and thirst-quenching properties, bergamot is also excellent for preparing tasty slushes.
The ingredients I'm:
- 200 g of bergamot juice,
- 240 g of sugar,
- 600 g of water.
The procedure it's very simple. Just dissolve the sugar in the bergamot juice, add the water and mix well. Pour the resulting liquid into ice pins and freeze everything to obtain bergamot cubes. Once ready, just chop them in the ice crusher or with a blender, and serve immediately.
Bergamot among the natural remedies for halitosis: discover the others
Other articles on bergamot:
> How to flavor tea and herbal teas with bergamot
> Kiss-proof mouth with natural remedies such as bergamot
> Bergamot juice: properties and uses
> Bergamot against cholesterol
> Bergamot: how to use it in the kitchen
> How to grow bergamot
> Calabrian bergamot, properties and benefits
> Bergamot, origins, properties, cultivation
