Wellness Wows (Malta Oranges)

 Malta Marvel!

If you have dreamt of growing sunny oranges in your orchards, then pluck the Malta variety from your imaginary garden tree or buy it from the fruit-selling kiosks in the nearest bazaar to discover its multiple health and wellness benefits.

By PRAMITA BOSE

Nourishment and Calorie Count

Malta oranges contain high-value nutrients and nourishing elements in terms of dietary supplements and calorie calculation.

Per 100 gm of edible Malta, the calorie intake is tantamount to an approximate 47 kcal, carbohydrates (mainly natural fruit sugar) stand at a roughly 12 gm, fibre quantity is equivalent to nearly 2-2.5 gm, Vitamin C comes in at an estimated 60 mg (more than half the daily requirement), folate is reckoned at almost 30 mcg, while potassium equals to closely 180 mg. Other micronutrients consist of calcium, magnesium and B vitamins in limited doses. To conclude, Malta oranges are favoured as a low-calorie, nutrient-dense snack.

Best Way to Ingest Malta

One wonders if a squishy Malta orange ought to be eaten raw by biting into it or should it be juiced or candied for consumption to gain maximum advantages?

The finest way to utilise Malta oranges is to eat them raw because this is the ideal option to extract fibre plus Vitamin C intact. If you juice the fruit (which is refreshing indeed), you end up losing the essential fibre without which your blood sugar levels could spike faster. Candied or preserved oranges may tickle your taste buds but the excess sugar defeats all health benefits.

“As a nutritionist, I’d rather recommend consuming Malta oranges whole whenever possible. Juice the fruit occasionally but definitely avoid eating it as a candy if your goal is health,” alerts nutritionist Neha Chandna.

Favourable Environment

Subtropical to tropical regions with warm days, cool nights and moderate humidity create a perfect climate to sow, cultivate, grow and reap Malta oranges in heaps. “Frost-free winters are invariably crucial because citrus trees are sensitive to frost,” shares dietician Pranjal Kumat.

Well-drained sandy loam or alluvial soil with a dash of acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.5) works best. Aerated soil is essential since waterlogging damages the roots. “Oranges require a good amount of sunlight for sugar formation, mild coolness for fruit development and the right proportion of soil nutrients for optimal fruit size and sweetness,” reasons Kumat.

Shaping Up With Malta

Good news is that Malta oranges can be part of your weight-loss diet or a weight-management programme. They aptly fit the purpose because of their low calorie content. However, they are high in water and fibre, thus keeping the stomach full. Good news is that they have natural sugars to satisfy your sweet cravings sans the sinful burden of a heavy calorie load. Moreover, the Vitamin C supplement in such oranges boosts metabolism and fat oxidation. Finally, antioxidants reduce inflammation and support better digestion.

Cute Cousins

Interestingly, Malta oranges have Tunisian and Sicilian counterparts with palpable differences. Sicilian oranges, also called blood oranges, are grown in Sicily as the name suggests. They have red/purple-shaded flesh due to anthocyanins (a blue, violet or red flavonoid pigment present in plants). They are tangier, more aromatic and richer in antioxidants than the Malta variety.

The North African country of Tunisia produces Maltese oranges similar to the Malta version but they are smaller, seedier and often considered more aromatic. On the contrary, Malta oranges are sweeter, seedless or less seedy, and modestly bitter and tarty than the Sicilian and Tunisian categories.

Dope on Seeds

As a conventional potion, “dried orange seeds are used in powdered form to ease digestion”. “The better way to consume the seeds is to grind them into powder as they are bitter in taste and add the same in pinches to smoothies or herbal teas. The seeds can also be cold-pressed to extract oil, which is used for wellness therapy and skincare,” apprises nutritionist Shradha Sounil Khanna.

“As a piece of cautionary advice, one must also bear in mind that the seeds contain traces of compounds like amygdalin. Hence, they should be consumed in reasonable capacity, not as a staple item,” warns Kumat.

Beauty Basics

It will be sheer bliss for those who regularly hop to beauty clinics for wellness treatments when they learn that even Malta oranges could be a pivotal part of their grooming regime in the form of beauty hacks and packs to acquire that alabaster skin or luminescent hair.

“Absolutely! Vitamin C and natural acids make oranges a great beauty ingredient. The Malta edition of oranges can be included in face packs composed of orange peel powder plus yogurt to brighten the dull skin. Orange juice mixed with multani mitti (fuller’s earth) can be applied to the skin as an oil-control face pack,” instances Kumat.

For proper hair care, an orange peel rinse helps add that desirable lustre as well as reduce dandruff. Further, orange-infused water is useful for detox hydration. Plus, a DIY lip scrub with orange zest, honey and sugar is an appropriate wellness tip for acquiring that supple, voluptuous pout.

Khanna echoes that “Malta oranges with their high vitamin C and antioxidant content are a fitting supplement to beauty and wellness routines”.

Vitamin C is essential for collagen formation and helps maintain a firm, youthful, glassy and luminous skin. One can make a simple DIY face pack by concocting fresh Malta orange juice, honey and yogurt as this mixture brightens and hydrates the skin while also eliminating paleness.

“Dried and powdered peel can also be used as a light exfoliant to remove the dead skin cells and balance the skin complexion. Orange-infused hair rinses provide glow and rejuvenate the scalp through their natural acidity, which regulates pH levels. The bottom line is that Malta oranges act as a holistic beauty ally on top of their nutritional worth,” volunteers Khanna.

Malta in India (Factoid)

The main season when Malta oranges are abundantly available in India is winter (during the December-March months). The imported South African kind is seen in the hot summer months. So, Malta is obtainable almost all the year round here. However, its freshness peaks in the colder months.

Market Accessibility (Factoid)

Locally grown Malta oranges are commonly found in the fruit markets across North India, mushrooming with sellers’ stalls and carts. In metro cities and down South, imported editions are sold quite frequently in the supermarkets and at high-end fruit shops. They are not as rare as the exotic fruits and are reasonably fetched from the retail outlets at many places.

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