It’s mandarin time of year and we’ve got 4 reasons these should be in your shopping trolley today!
Avoid the flu this winter
Worried about catching the flu this winter? Grab a mandarin! Like other citrus fruits, Mandarins are loaded with Vitamin C. Just one mandarin contains 40mg of Vitamin C which is 90% of your recommended dietary intake (RDI). Vitamin C plays an essential role in keeping our immune system up and running - helping to fend off nasty viruses and bacteria. It is also involved in the formation of collagen, an important protein needed to build healthy skin, muscles, blood vessels and bone. Vitamin C also assists our bodies to absorb iron from iron rich plant-based foods (e.g.lentils and chickpeas).
Keep your weight in check
Divided into the ideal bite sized portions, mandarins make for the perfect snack. They come in their own little packaging and unlike oranges these fruits are mess free! When it comes to weight management, we recommend choosing snacks that are nutrient dense and low in energy (kilojoules). Mandarins are low in kilojoules, with the average sized mandarin containing around 150kJ.
Feel fuller for longer
Mandarins contain fibre, which promotes bowel health by aiding digestion and preventing constipation. Fibre is a prebiotic, meaning it acts as a food source for the beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in our digestive system. The presence of beneficial bacteria in our gut is essential to keeping our immune systems strong and digestive systems healthy. Enjoying a mandarin between meals as a snack can assist in weight control by keeping you fuller for longer and keeping your bowel movements regular.
Treat your skin with a mandarin! These fruits contain beta-carotene which gets stored in our skin and can help the skin protect itself from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This helps to prevent sun damage and reduce mature ageing. Remember it is still important to slip, slop, slap!
Our favourite ways to enjoy mandarins:
- Carry in your bag as a snack or pop into the kids' lunchbox.
- Add some chopped up mandarin to your low fat plain yoghurt to sweeten it up.
- For an after dinner sweet treat, try dipping mandarin segments into some dark chocolate and refridgerate until set.
