What are pomelo benefits and side effects? Is pomelo vegan? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are pomelo pros and cons: all the info on pomelo that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on pomelo benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about pomelo benefits and side effects. This will include pomelo benefits for your health and potential risks, pomelo water footprint and pomelo carbon footprint, pomelo sustainability, if pomelo are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if pomelo is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about pomelo benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Pomelo Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Pomelo benefits for health may include:
- brain health
- feeling full longer
- constipation prevention
- hydration
- digestive health
- boosted immunity
- decreased risk of some chronic diseases
- detoxification
- fight cancer
- gut health
- heart health
- improved bone density
- reduced cholesterol
- regulated blood pressure
- anti-aging, youthful appearance, skin damage prevention
- weight loss
Pomelo side effects may include:
- pesticide consumption if not organic
- do not over-consume, be sure to eat in moderation as with any food
- rinse thoroughly before consuming to avoid harmful bacteria and parasites
Additionally, pomelo is…
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
★★★★★
- The fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies.
- Load it up with your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries and spinach.
- Push, twist and blend your way to a healthier lifestyle.
- We love it!
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 967 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fruits / 116 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fruits
Carbon footprint: low, 0.9 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fruits, a car driving equivalent of 2 miles or 3.25 kilometers
Destruction: low, pomelo production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Pomelo is…
Animals
Kills: none, pomelo production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, pomelo production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from pomelo production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Pomelo is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Pomelo…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Pomelo is grown in China, Thailand, Taipei, the southern islands of Japan, the Pacific Islands, Mexico and Israel.
The world’s top pomelo producing country is China, followed by Vietnam and USA.
The world’s top pomelo exporting country is South Africa, followed by USA, Spain, Israel, China, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany and Turkey.
Yes! Pomelo is high in vitamin C and potassium and contains several other vitamins and minerals, as well as protein and fiber.
Another name for pomelo is pummelo.
When is pomelo in season?
Pomelo is in season from late fall until late spring. That’s from around November until around May in the Northern Hemisphere. Peak season for pomelo is in winter, so from December to February.
Is pomelo gluten free?
Yes, pomelo is gluten free. Pomelo does not contain gluten when fresh. Pomelo is a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is pomelo a common food allergen?
No, pomelo is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to pomelo but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Water footprint of pomelo?
Pomelo has a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 967 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fruits / 116 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fruits.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of pomelo?
Pomelo has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 0.9 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fruits, a car driving equivalent of 2 miles or 3.25 kilometers.
When calculating product emissions, some factors that may be included are… farm equipment, animal feed production, hothouses (greenhouses), food processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration, freezing, package waste, and more.
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Is pomelo sustainable?
Yes, pomelo production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Is pomelo vegan?
Yes, pomelo is vegan. Pomelo is a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Does pomelo have human rights issues?
At this time there are no major concerns with pomelo production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers. Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Conclusion
Pomelo pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Pomelo cons include:
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
This post was all about pomelo benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Citrus paradisi: Pomelo – NALDC
Commodity Guide Page – USDA/APHIS Fruits and Vegetables
Pummelo, raw – FoodData Central – USDA
