Origins of bergamot

Bergamot is the common name of a plant called Citrus Bergamia Risso with unclear origins: there is no precise agreement among botanists whether bergamot is a species in its own right or a derivation of bitter orange. Some claim that it was imported from the Canary Islands by Christopher Columbus, others from China or Greece but also from Spain. It is also probable that this "green gold" is indigenous to Calabria, because as early as the 14th century there is talk of a limon pusillus calaber from which bergamot would have originated.

 

The fact is that it is grown exclusively in a part of Italy or the province of Reggio Calabria which goes from Villa San Giovanni to Monasterace where it has found its favorable habitat, so much so that in this area 90% of the world production. The fruit, the same size as an orange, has a yellow skin and is harvested from November to March. The essential oil, extracted from the peel, is used both to sweeten many varieties of infusions, and is well known in the cosmetic industry both for producing perfumes and in the pharmacopoeia for its disinfectant properties. Bergamot then found its space, as well as in the kitchen, subsequently the foods defined as "functional", ie those foods that can boast direct beneficial effects for health (in rapid diffusion lately) as it is now well known that it is a fruit rich in substances useful for well-being and the prevention of certain problems, in particular thanks to the possibility it offers to control and reduce the levels of bad LDL cholesterol.

Properties and benefits of bergamot

Great impact to confirm all this, were the Italian scientists of the Magna Grecia University of Catanzaro who conducted a study in which it is emphasized how a group of enzymes known with the acronym "HMGF" (hydroxy flavonones glutaryl methyl) can counteract the harmful action of some proteins believed to cause heart disease.The researchers, who published the results of the study in the "Journal of Functional Foods", highlighted how the precious citrus fruit can have statin-like effects in controlling LDL cholesterol, without however the side effects of known drugs.Tests conducted to compare the effects of statins and HMGF enzymes on cholesterol in general showed that bergamot worked just as well. Not only did citrus enzymes reduce LDL cholesterol levels, but they increased those of "good" or HDL cholesterol.

 

High cholesterol is a common health problem for all of us, and statins are often prescribed to help treat the condition. Bergamot extract reduces total cholesterol and LDL levels, but has been shown to increase HDL levels ".

"Therefore - add the scientists - a daily supplement of bergamot fruit extract could be very effective for the treatment of high cholesterol".
Bergamot boasts a very lively popular fame, which has always been used both in cosmetics and perfumery and in the kitchen as an ingredient in liqueurs, elixirs, jams, candied fruit and sweets in general, we can define it as one of the many "excellences" that the Italian territory offers us, or as a popular traditional remedy for many ailments, now sees it further "promoted" by science as a beneficial food for cardiovascular health.

 

The beneficial properties of bergamot were discussed at the 78th National Congress of the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC) held in Rome, where a further study and presentation of bergamot was made, which thanks to its powerful flavonoids reduces cholesterol levels. in the blood, especially recommended by doctors. The statements that emerged from the Congress by the cardiologists representing are important and significant:

 

“Bergamot juice has a high concentration of bioflavonoids - explained prof. Vincenzo Montemurro, member of the SIC Governing Council - and from its juice structures similar to statins, cholesterol inhibitor drugs, have been extracted.
Therefore, we recommend that those suffering from hypercholesterolemia drink a bergamot juice every day, possibly mixed with an orange juice that mitigates the sourness ".


Flavonoids possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective properties.


“But no citrus fruit has such a rich concentration of it - stressed Montemurro - so the consumption of bergamot is also recommended for diabetics, obese, hypertensive, for those suffering from liver disease, for smokers. It is a 'natural drug' well known as a heart saver ".

Bergamot is an endemic plant of Calabria widely used in the perfume industry, recently rediscovered as a consumer fruit. The creator of the relaunch of this precious citrus fruit is a company from Cesena, "Citrus", which has been marketing a bergamot net in supermarkets for years and which has just launched a premium package accompanied by a recipe by chef Davide Oldani.

 

"90% of production goes to the cosmetics industry - Ezio Pizzi, President of the Bergamot Consortium clarified - and 10% to fruit shops, but the growth in consumption grows exponentially every year. Today 20 thousand quintals of fresh fruit are marketed annually for a value of about 3 million euros. In addition to being enjoyed as a fruit, it is also consumed for juices, infusions, or as a flavoring or marinating in gastronomy. We also remind you that it is a PDO with a controlled supply chain O.P. recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture".