Abstract:
Okinawa Japan, one of the world’s “Blue Zones”, where people aged over 100 years are most intensely concentrated, is home to the Shikuwasa citrus fruit, a member of the mandarin orange family.
Shikuwasa fruit is 40X more potent in flavonoids than oranges. Senior residents have enjoyed this fruit their entire lives on a frequent basis as a beverage, addition to tea, and baking/cooking ingredient. (Ikigai, Penguin, pg 130-31)
Based on the scarcity of supply regarding Shikuwasa, it is impractical to pursue the acquisition of this fruit for one’s self. However, by understanding the three key polymethoxyflavones/ flavonoids/antioxidants, and their concentrations across the 46 species of citrus fruit, one may selectively assemble a mixture of juices that meet and exceed the flavonoid content of Shikuwasa. Enjoying the health benefits Shikuwasa in a practical way, therefore, is well within our reach.
The following is a summary of studies, which in combination, provide a broad and firm basis for fundamental conclusions regarding the actions of these compounds in vitro.
The Three:
Nobiletin, Tangeratin, & Hesperitan are among the 1000’s of differentially structured flavonoid compounds found in citrus. The selective significance of these three is that nobiletin, tangeratin, and hesperitan are the most prevalent compounds across all species of citrus. Nobiletin, and tangeratin being the two most prevalent in Shikuwasa, and hesperatin being the most prevalent in lemons and sweet citrus.
The vast majority of research relegates the therapeutic benefits of citrus to these and similar fractions. It is the purity, consistency and trustworthiness of the Okinawa data which is expected to provide a superior basis for observation here.
Kana Ozaki, and 5 other researchers (Graduate School of Health & Nutrition Sciences, National Agricultural Institute, Dept. of Citriculture, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Japan) published in 2006 Food Science Technology 12(4),284-289pgs, a summary of extractions from 17 species of the 46 citrus species. The sampling was conducted so as to represent the broad spectrum of citrus fruit types. i.e.- lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit, sweet oranges, kunkan.
Superior to all fruits was the Shikuwasa, with levels of nobiletin of 47.5mg/g dried sample, and tangeratin 26.7mg/g.
The c.tangerina had levels of 30.1mg/g, and 14.1mg/g. This fruit is a cultivar of general purpose for mandarin, tangerine hybridization, and as such, should be found of similar composition across closely related hybrids..
In this study c. tangerine levels of hesperatin were not measured. However- it is notable that sweet oranges are high in hesperatin and c.tangerine is considered a sweet citrus.
Practical Applications:
Shikuwasa juice is very, very acidic and un palatable if not diluted. Assuming you dilute by 50% and tangerine juice is palatable as 100% juice, the levels would then be higher per ml for C. tangerine. The bottom line then becomes this in my mind’s eye- You can eat 20 oranges, ½ Shikuwasa, or create a juice made of components that replicate the Shikuwasa, such as tangerine juice.
I would suggest that lime juice be added to accomplish the acidic edge that Shikuwasa has, insure that hesperitan levels are significant, and have a “flavor” that holistically reflects that which we are honoring thru imitation.
It is important to note that the entire fruit needs to be processed so as to obtain the nutrients in the core, the pith and the skin.
Research Summary:
Pathophysiology, the study of health disruptions, has illuminated many of the forms in which disease is manifested, and their causality. Simply put, there is either too much or too little of something for too long and bad things happen.
Major systems, namely our immune system, and our circulatory system, function best when a multiplicity of balancing factors are in play simultaneously. A continual battle rages quietly inside us, and by virtue of diversity homeostasis is accomplished. i.e.-E.coli is kept in line, pathogenic imbalances are avoided and so too is disease.
At the most basic level our vanguard cells are the endothelial cells, a type of epithelial cell (epithelial cells line cavities and surfaces of blood vessels and organs. Endothelial cells are flat, squamous cells which are formed into single cell sheets and create endothelium, the continuous inner lining of our exchange apparati ) They protect, maintain, and regulate the environ of lymph, the white blood cell filled, colorless liquid which bathes our tissues.
They are absorptive, secretory gatekeepers which work to modulate the transfer of nutrients so as to constantly move our inner workings toward optimum ph and electrolytic balance and thereby create the conditions under which health occurs.
In doing so, they encounter and necessarily respond to changing conditions in the human body.
Namely, they capacitate variations in blood pressure, as well as composition, and fight at the cellular level to maintain the integrity of these circulatory pathways. I imagine them ever scrutinizing the castle walls, and like TSA agents, ever scanning the crowd for threats. They communicate seamlessly as a collective consciousness, sensing, observing, responding.
They can get beat up and need 1st Aid, back up, and resources to meet the battle. They live 4 to 7 days. It’s tough out there, or in there. When things start to get out of hand-Look out! In comes the Shikuwaswa, like a Ninja with handcuffs, barbeque sauce, and a katana sword.
Focused on emergent cellular behavior that indicates abnormal cell composition is manifesting, nobiletin preemptively steps in and attaches to the suspect with the handcuffs, tangeritan jumps on it’s back and smears it with, in layman’s terms, tasty sauce, almost certainly barbeque – all while hesperitan holds off any joiners with the katana and calls for the police. ( White blood cells).
The white blood cells are always nearby and stop to see what is going down. They rest their hands on their pistols and tazers and say something like “Now there are two ways to do this.” The three flavonoids with the support of the immune system can cause the cell to go thru apoptosis of it’s own accord by creating stress factors, or thru phagosystic encapsulation by the white blood cell.
In other words the cops eat them.
I think the flavonoids might make the bad guys delicious, just like barbeque sauce makes everything delicious. Give me a job where I get to kill cancer and eat bbq!!!
Other research in the area of central nervous system health indicates that plaques associated with inflammation are reduced, as well as inflammation itself when the three compounds are regularly consumed over a period of 6 weeks. Similar conclusions have been made regarding arterial plaques. So these flavonoids reverse disease and prevent it, when they are consistently on board. This is a hopeful indication for Alzheimer’s and disease of our circulatory systems.
Beyond that, citrus is jam packed with nutrients like potassium, magnesium, iron, B6, Vit C, beta cryptoxanthan & carotene. I like to think the fruit as a whole is on a friendly mission on the behalf of it’s children. We welcome it’s gift and will be happy to look out for them. We have a mutually beneficial relationship, that switches back and forth.
Don’t they look like heavy duty sunshine batteries?!
Sourced It! Tried It! You’ll like it!
Nuts.com is a source for dried tangerine juice. Their lime juice crystals are great. ¼ teaspoon of each in 12oz of water or better yet- added to hot, white tea. Kaboom. It is edgy, sweet, sour, earthy and gosh darn good for ya.
Green and white tea are high in polyphenols and combined with citrus make a delicious tea of compounded potential for health. Pai Mu Tan from Nuts.com is excellent.
The breakdown on how cheap this can be is:
4 ounces dehydrated lime juice costs $4.99. Tangerine juice $6.99.
¼ teaspoon = 1 gram
28 grams /ounce x 4oz = 112 servings for $11.98 or about a dime.
I have been enjoying the white tea, with the two citrus, a bit of evaporated organic cane juice. Hot or cold, it is very refreshing.
Also fresh tangerine, lime and lemon can be squeezed and added whole to tea. It is important to add the whole fruit. A free nutritional boost can be gifted to yourself by saving banana peels and adding a few pieces to the tea pot. The peel is the most nutritious part, and- the more ripe the skin; the more antioxidant and free radical eliminating.
Conclusion:
Vitality for our bodies systems may be considered a sum of our periodic maintenance performance. To protect ourselves from atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and the like- we may do well to observe holistically, the choices and ways of our eldest humans.
The Shikuwasa fruit has been promulgated by wise practitioners for thousands of years! It’s constituents are welcome guests in the temple of our bodies. The work they do insures our every internal pathway. Would that we should find such a friend for our mind and spirit.
Maybe, just maybe- the difference between there and here is tea.
To Your Health! Cheers!
(Photos and pottery by PLJ)
