Are Clementines Healthy for You?

Are Clementines Healthy for You?
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A clementine, approximately the size of a billiard ball, is a cross between the mandarin orange and a sweet orange. This small citrus fruit features a thin, easily-peeled skin and often seedless flesh. Clementines first arrived in the United States in 1982 during a U.S. citrus shortage, and you can often find them in your local grocery store in the fall. This sweet fruit is healthy for you, offering a range of nutritional value.

Calories and Fat

One clementine contains 34 calories. While this fruit is a good snack for quick energy, consider combining it with a handful of nuts, such as walnuts or pistachios, to bring the calorie content up to 100 to 200 calories, which is an ideal calorie amount for a snack. Clementines are quite low in fat as well, with 0.1 g of fat per fruit.

Protein and Carbohydrates

Clementines will not provide a tremendous amount of protein -- each fruit contains 0.6 g. This fruit does provide more carbohydrates with 8.9 g of carbs per clementine. This amount comprises 6.8 percent of the 130 g of carbs you need each day for energy. A clementine also has 1.3 g of fiber, a type of carbohydrate that promotes bowel and digestive health.

Vitamins

As a citrus fruit, clementines contain a large amount of vitamin C. Each fruit provides you with 60 percent of the daily value for this vitamin. You will also get smaller amounts of thiamin, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid in a clementine.

Minerals

Eat a clementine, and you'll consume 4 percent of the daily value for potassium. Along with the electrolyte boost you get from the potassium, you'll also get 2 percent of the daily value for calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, as well as a very small amount of iron. The nutrients in clementines make this fruit good for bone health, iron metabolism and energy storage.

References

Article reviewed by Mia Paul Last updated on: Mar 28, 2011

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