Orange Peel's Health Benefits

The peels of many fruits are the most under-valued and

overlooked parts when it comes to health. There is a

wide range of beauty and health remedies by simply

keeping the peels of some of the fruits when you eat

them. So you do not need to throw away anything from

fruits when you eat them.

Orange peel in particular is known and used widely by

those who are into an organic lifestyle, perhaps

because the fruit is available almost everywhere in the

world today. We’re pretty sure that after you’re done

reading about these health benefits, you’ll be collecting

bits of the orange peel next time you dig into the fruit.

Improves Digestion

Fibrous fruit like oranges have a marvelous effect on

the digestive system. They help clean out your insides

and as well aid in regulating bowel movements. One of

the best orange peel health benefits is that it has over

200% more fiber than the flesh of the fruit! So if you

suffer from regular digestion problems, try an orange

peel tea for quick effects. First, leave the orange peel

out in the sun till it is dry. Soak a little, about a

teaspoon full, in 450 ml of hot water. Let it steep for

about 15 minutes, longer if you can take the strong

flavor. Drinking the resulting tea will prove to be a

pretty effective laxative.

Helps with that Cold

We’ve already seen that orange peel has more vitamin

C than the orange itself. Vitamin C is known to help

tremendously when battling a cold. Soak orange peel in

some boiling water. Let it sit for a bit. Drink this from

time to time during the day and your cold will

disappear sooner than usual.

An Effective Anti-inflammatory

Inflammation within the body is never a good thing.

The problem is that it occurs more often in the modern

world due to stress and unhealthy eating habits.

Inflammation inevitably raises your risk for other

health issues like lupus, cardiovascular disease and

arthritis. Orange peels are known to be rather effective

at lessening inflammation. Those suffering from very

severe inflammation often find relief by incorporating

orange peel in their diet on a regular basis.

Gives you Stronger Bones

Little-known fact – oranges contain calcium too and are

a decent source of the nutrient. However, orange peel

has more than twice the amount of calcium that

oranges do. 100 gm of orange peel packs more than 150

mg of calcium while 100 gm of orange flesh holds less

than 50 mg. As you probably already know, calcium is

crucial for the health and maintenance of your bones as

well as your teeth.

Helps with Bad Breath

Throw away those sugary mint pellets and extra-strong

gum. Chewing on orange peel can help alleviate bad

breath. Do it on a regular basis and you may even be

able to ditch your mouthwash in the morning.

Battles Heart Disease

There are as many active ingredients in orange peel as

there are in the actual fruit. One of them, hesperidin, is

a fantastic antioxidant which protects your heart by

lowering your blood pressure – the top cause of heart

disease. In addition, orange peel helps to lower your

cholesterol, thus adding another layer of protection

against cardiovascular problems.

Anti-Cancer

Where there are antioxidants, there is the potential for

a cancer-fighting food. So orange peel is recommended

for those at high risk since the peel has a higher

concentration of antioxidants and flavonoids which

have been shown to reduce cancer risk as well as be

instrumental in the cure for the disease.

Improves Immune System

Vitamin C is a crucial nutrient for overall health.

Everyone knows that it is available in large quantities

in oranges, but it’s the orange peel that holds the

higher concentration. Regular intake of vitamin C has

been shown to reduce the occurrence of minor illnesses

and lead to better health, making the common cold,

fatigue, infections and headaches a thing of the past.

Vitamin A, another vital nutrient in orange peel, also

aids to boost your immune system in addition to

improving your vision.

How to Consume more Orange Peel

You can just break off a piece of orange peel and chew

on it. Be careful that you start with a small portion as

orange peels aren’t the yummiest things to put in your

mouth and you may be put off by the strong flavor.

Why not just eat it with the orange flesh?

That will help

to mask the flavour of the peel too.

Can’t stand the flavour even with the smallest bites?

Grate orange peel over your salad or your dessert. The

flavour is a real pick-me-up so it will do more than

make your food taste better. The fresh smell of the

orange peel will make you feel more alert too.

You can also julienne parts of the peel to your fruit

salads or use them in your recipes.

Soak orange peels in sugar syrup and store in the

fridge.

Orange shavings and dark chocolate is a yummy flavour

combination. 

You can sprinkle it on a chocolate square

or, better still, melt your chocolate first and lightly coat

juliennes of orange peel with it.

Sprinkle a little orange zest into your cakes for a tangy

surprise! Mind you, just put in a little bit because the

flavor is really strong and can overwhelm the cake

entirely if you end up adding too much.

Caution: Since most orange orchards are sprayed with

pesticides today, the orange peels can have high

concentration of the poison on them. But that’s not all.

To make oranges look more appealing, wax is rubbed

on them. So make sure you wash orange peels properly

before eating them. When buying dried orange peel,

ensure that it is sold by a trusted brand.