Can Seville Orange Help with Weight Loss?

Published on April 13, 2024
Can Seville Orange Help with Weight Loss

What Is Bitter Orange, and Does It Help You Lose Weight?

Sour orange, also known as Seville orange, is a secret superstar in the kitchen. It’s not just a flavor booster in some of your favorite foods – think **marmalade** – but it’s also a hidden gem in the world of alternative medicine and weight loss supplements. This fruit is like a jack-of-all-trades, popping up where you least expect it, from health remedies to the zest in your dish. If you’re into eating well and staying healthy, you’re in the right spot to learn something cool. Keep reading, and you’ll discover why sour orange deserves a spot in your pantry and maybe even in your daily routine.

Even though it is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia, it can now be found around the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Europe and Western and Southern Africa, among other regions.

This page has all of the information you may need to know about bitter orange, including its role in weight reduction and skin health, as well as its overall safety as a dietary supplement and as an ingredient in dietary supplements and supplements.

Both the fruit and its extracts have been shown to be helpful.

The bitter orange plant, despite the fact that it grows best in subtropical climes, is capable of withstanding unfavorable environmental conditions such as cold for short periods of time.

When fully ripe, the fruit is oval or oblong in shape, with a thick, dimpled skin that is distinct from other fruits. When it is fully ripe, the color is reddish-orange. Because of its strong bitterness, it is also referred to as “bitter tea.”

Among the 23 varieties of the fruit, Bergamot is the most well-known, with Bergamot being the most well-known of them. Obviously, certain varieties will be more bitter than others, which is to be expected.

Bitter orange contains a number of potent plant compounds, some of which are extracted from the dried peel and utilized in the production of nutritional supplements for persons who are allergic to citrus fruits. Advantra Z and Kinetiq, both herbal weight loss medicines available in capsule form, contain the patented bitter orange extract p-synephrine, which is derived from bitter orange peels.

It is also possible to acquire essential oils, as well as powdered and liquid nutritional supplement forms.

It is a citrus fruit with dimpled skin that contains potent plant compounds that may be extracted and used in a variety of dietary supplement formulations. Bitter orange is also known as bitter orange peel.

Compounds and nutrients are important!

More than two decades have passed since bitter orange’s plant compounds, known as protoalkaloids, were first discovered and employed in weight-loss supplements, sports performance supplements, beauty products, appetite control products, and mental health supplements, as well as in perfumery.

Synephrine

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, this supplement was declared illegal and banned because it raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, and caused cardiovascular issues in some users, as well as other side effects, including nausea and vomiting.

Furthermore, p-synephrine, a neurotransmitter, shares structural similarities with the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are responsible for increasing your heart rate during times of stress.

As a result, in recent years, there have been questions raised concerning the safety of bitter orange extract.

In contrast, several studies have proven that bitter orange extracts and the plant’s natural use have no effect on the heart or nervous system, nor do they boost nervous system activity in the same manner that some stimulants do, according to the researchers.

Furthermore, at least one study stated that p-synephrine should not be classified as a stimulant in the first place because it does not have a stimulant effect.

P-synephrine is found in a variety of citrus fruits and drinks, including oranges and their juice, as well as mandarins and clementines, among others.

Limonene

It has been discovered that the chemical limonene present in bitter oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as other fruits that contain limonene, has anti-inflammatory and antiviral qualities.

The antioxidant limonene may be effective in the prevention of certain malignancies such as colon cancer, according to recent population studies. Another type of study involving humans, however, is required.

An additional study is currently being conducted to determine whether limonene could be used as a potential therapy for COVID-19. The outcomes, on the other hand, are still a mystery at this point. Keep in mind that limonene has no effect on the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 infections.

Octopamine

The protoalkaloid p-octopamine is another molecule identified in bitter orange. In contrast, bitter orange extracts contain little or no p-octopamine, and some even contain none at all. The fruit itself, when consumed in its whole, is considered to be digested relatively swiftly in the liver when consumed as a whole.

Furthermore, it does not appear to have any favorable or bad effects on your overall health at this time.

Seville Oranges contain different chemicals!

A high concentration of vitamin C is found in the leaves of the bitter orange plant, which has antioxidant characteristics and can be used to cure a variety of diseases. Furthermore, the peel of the fruit includes a high concentration of flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants with a wide range of medical uses.

Antioxidants are substances that have the ability to protect your body from disease by preventing cell damage from occurring. They are found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is believed that they function by deactivating free radicals, which are dangerous substances that harm your cells, producing inflammation and increasing your chances of developing the disease. Free radicals are thought to cause inflammation and increase your chances of developing the disease.

Bitter orange contains a class of plant compounds known as protoalkaloids, which have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Protoalkaloids are present in a variety of plants, including tea. It has been proved that they are completely safe to consume.

Can Bitter Orange Help You Lose Weight?

Despite the fact that bitter oranges and other citrus varieties have the potential to aid in weight loss, there is currently insufficient evidence to support this claim.

Bitter orange extracts are widely used in weight loss pills, often in combination with other ingredients. Studies in the scientific community, on the other hand, have not thoroughly investigated the composition of these supplements in order to determine which compounds, if any, are effective for weight loss.

Consider the fact that p-synephrine has been shown to improve fat breakdown, increase energy expenditure, and moderately decrease hunger, all of which have been proved to aid in the reduction of body fat.

But these side effects only occur at large doses, which are not suggested due to a lack of knowledge about the drug’s safety profile.

It is, therefore, necessary to conduct more research into the weight-loss effects of bitter orange.

In spite of the fact that bitter orange extracts are regularly added in weight loss pills, there is no evidence to support the effectiveness of these supplements’ claims.

Bitter Orange Health Benefits

Indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, and constipation are among conditions that are usually treated with bitter orange and its derivatives in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In other parts of the world, the fruit is used to cure conditions like anxiety and epilepsy.

Despite this, there is still just limited evidence to support these applications.

Additionally, there is inadequate data to support any usage of the plant for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

It is not possible to predict whether flavanone chemicals found in citrus fruits and liquids will have the same effects in people as they did in older rats, despite evidence that they may do so.

Regardless, because bitter oranges contain a high concentration of vitamin C, it is believed that this fruit can help to improve skin health. The importance of vitamin C in wound healing and collagen synthesis has long been recognized.

Another study found that the bitter orange chemical p-synephrine may boost athletic performance by increasing total reps and volume load, or your ability to exercise harder, rather than by increasing strength.

There is inadequate evidence to support the efficacy of bitter orange and its extracts for the numerous medical applications for which they are used.

Disadvantages and Possible Side Effects

There is conflicting evidence available on whether synephrine, one of the bitter orange’s natural compounds, may be classified as a stimulant. The term “stimulant” refers to a chemical that causes your heart rate and blood pressure to increase.

Many sporting organizations, notably the National Collegiate Athletic Association, classify synephrine as a stimulant, and it is labeled as such (NCAA). In order to prevent this from happening, it is classified as a forbidden substance in sports.

Furthermore, according to one study, bitter orange juice contains furanocoumarin, a molecule that has been associated with the same medicinal effects as grapefruit juice in a variety of studies.

Bitter orange juice and fruit should be avoided by those who take decongestants or who have medical issues such as hypertension, an irregular heartbeat, or glaucoma, among other things. As of the right moment, there is no evidence that bitter orange supplements are connected with this risk.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has labeled bitter orange extracts as a forbidden substance despite many studies proving that bitter orange extracts do not operate as stimulants. Bitter orange may have a negative impact on the performance of certain medications if consumed in large quantities.

Dosage and Precautions

In general, bitter orange extracts in nutritional supplements are safe to consume in levels ranging from 50 to 98 mg per day, depending on the brand.

It has been determined that 40 mg of synephrine combined with 320 mg of caffeine is a safe dose of these two substances when consumed simultaneously, according to one study.

Participants in a separate investigation who ingested a full bitter orange with 30.6 mg of p-synephrine reported no difficulties with prescription medications as a result of their actions.

In spite of this, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid consuming bitter orange because there is currently insufficient knowledge about its safety.

In order to evaluate whether bitter orange is safe in doses ranging from 30.6 mg of synephrine found naturally in the fruit to 98 mg of synephrine found in dietary supplements, more research must be conducted.

Culinary Applications

Bitter orange is a sour fruit that is unlikely to be consumed raw.

The fruit’s primary culinary use is in the making of marmalade, which is possible due to the high concentration of pectin in the fruit, which acts as a gelling agent.

For example, bitter orange oil is used as a flavor or as an additive in the following items, among other things:

  • Candy (chewing gum, hard candy, and candied fruit)
  • Desserts (ice cream, pies)
  • Fermented wine
  • Preservatives (jellies)
  • Salad dressing
  • Sauces and chutneys

When marinating fish or meat, the bitter orange juice adds a unique flavor that complements the other flavors in the dish. A similar method to that of using vinegar is employed in several parts of the world.

Furthermore, the extracted compounds contribute to the distinctive flavor of liqueurs such as Grand Marnier, which is derived from the citrus fruit.

Chinese herbalists and pharmacists use bitter orange in the preparation of herbal beverages and medications.

Other Uses of Seville Orange

Bitter oranges can be used in a variety of other household applications in addition to those that involve cooking. Here are a few illustrations:

  • Essential oils (including neroli and petitgrain)
  • Perfumery
  • Soap substitutes
  • Traditional medicine (such as antiseptics and hemostatics)

Bitter orange is a citrus fruit that may be used for a variety of reasons in both the home and the business, ranging from food additives to fragrances and everything in between. The high pectin content of this fruit makes it particularly well suited for use in the creation of jams, jellies, and marmalades.

Instructions for Preparing Bitter Orange

Bitter orange is extremely sour, and few people find it enjoyable to consume it unsweetened or without spice when it is in its natural state.

Cut the orange in halves, salt it, and then coat it with hot chili sauce before eating is a traditional method of preparing bitter oranges in Mexico.

Another alternative is to produce bitter orange marmalade, which is rather tasty. Bitter orange marmalade provides you with the opportunity to consume all of the nutrients found in the entire fruit because it includes both the fruit and the skin. Making your own bitter orange marmalade is simple, but you may need to wash the fruit properly before using it. This will get rid of any chemicals that were utilized in the fruit’s cultivation.

Bitter orange marmalade can be eaten in the following ways:

  • Spread on top of toasted bread
  • On crackers, to be precise.
  • Served with cheese
  • On a pork chop or a chicken breast

The use of bitter orange oil externally, rather than consuming the fruit, is another approach to reap the advantages of this powerful superfood fruit. Bitter orange oil can be purchased over-the-counter and applied directly to the skin to provide immediate relief. Some people experience mild skin irritation when using pure bitter orange oil, but there have been no reports of any negative side effects related to the application of bitter orange oil to the skin.

Bottomline

It is a citrus fruit that is commonly processed into an extract, such as bitter orange extract, before being consumed. It can also be used in a variety of culinary applications; nevertheless, it is rarely consumed in its entirety as is.

The usage of seville orange for weight loss is generally considered to be safe when taken in standard amounts; nevertheless, there is substantial uncertainty that they are useful for weight loss, thyroid health, and skincare.

If you have high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or glaucoma, to name a few health issues, you should avoid eating this fruit and its derivatives. Bitter orange supplements, on the other hand, are prohibited for athletes who compete in the NCAA competition.

References:

  1. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/does-it-work-can-bitter-orange-help-in-weight-loss-1.572930# 
  2. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/bitter-orange
  3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-bitter-orange 
  4. https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-3906002
  5. https://www.verywellfit.com/bitter-orange-benefits-2223822
  6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bitter-orange
  7. https://healthfully.com/bitter-orange-for-weight-loss-5769862.html
  8. https://healthfully.com/bitter-orange-for-weight-loss-5769862.html
  9. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/orange-peel-for-weight-loss-heres-why-you-can-use-orange-rind-to-burn-fat-1857602 
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