Orange peel: useful properties and contraindications

Among the large number of fruits, many people give the greatest preference to the orange. And there is nothing surprising in this. This fruit not only has an exotic taste, but also includes a large composition of useful substances. Multiple therapeutic properties also have the peel of the fruit or, as it is properly called, - the zest.

It's no secret that the zest is widely used in both medicine and cosmetology. Initially, we were taught from school that the orange and other types of citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamin C. But, as it turns out, this is a small fraction of all the content in the fruit. The fruit itself is packed with beta-keratin, folic acid, flavonoids, and so on. Regular consumption of orange and its peels significantly reduces the likelihood of gastrointestinal and throat cancers. Experts have proven that this fruit is very useful for heart patients, especially those at risk of having a heart attack.

Composition and calories

Orange peel in its composition has a small amount of calories, so dietitians often advise its use by ladies who watch their figure. What is the composition of orange peels:

• a group of vitamins B, A, E, C;
• dietary fiber;
• flavonoids.

The caloric value of orange peel is 97 kcal, including:

• proteins - 1.5 g;
• fats - 0.3 g;
• Carbohydrates - 25 g.

Per 100 g of orange peels there are about 8-9% carbohydrates, 2-3% protein, and no fats at all.

The group of minerals contained in orange peels:

• calcium;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• selenium;
• magnesium;
• zinc;
• copper.

What are the benefits of orange peels

General benefits

Many people have faced this question more than once. Why are orange peels so useful, and why do doctors recommend them for consumption?

1. The peels have a significant amount of citric and pectin acids, phytoncides, which in turn are natural antibiotics of natural origin. Phytoncides destroy all harmful microorganisms. This is why our ancestors used orange peels to treat sores and wounds.
2. Due to its ability to remove cholesterol from the human body, orange peel is used to treat and prevent atherosclerosis. Moreover, experts say that this fruit can improve mood and vigor, and advise to use it often in food, such as with meat, in salads, pastries, tea, etc.
3. When orange peels are used, all the processes in the body will be much better. The peel is very useful for nausea and heartburn.
4. Orange peel powder is often used to treat coughs, colds of the throat, and asthma. Such a mixture dissolves mucus accumulated in the respiratory tract. When you have an acute respiratory infection (SARS), it is useful to make an inhalation on orange peels. If there is no possibility or time for such a procedure, spread the peels in the room where the patient is. Skins in this case will serve not only as a natural inhaler, but also as an air freshener.
5. It is no secret that orange peel is rich in essential oils, which in turn are considered one of the best anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents. Also this component part of the orange has the ability to improve intestinal processes and regulate the release of acids in the gastric juice.
6. Orange peel is useful for relieving the liver.
7. In addition, the essential oils of the peels strengthen the human immune and nervous systems. Doctors recommend it for people who suffer from insomnia, frequent stress and panic attacks.
8. People who constantly have orange and orange peel in their diet do not have disorders of salt balance and do not suffer from swelling of the body. Also the peels are a good way to clean the body of toxins and toxic substances.
9. The skins of this fruit are an indispensable ingredient in cosmetology. They are used to make scrubs and masks. After such procedures, the skin becomes silky and fine wrinkles are smoothed. It is very easy to prepare such masks and at home. It is enough to add to the fruit cream of the highest fat content. The whole creamy mass should be applied to the face and the décolleté zone.

For women

The female body ages faster than the male one, so experts advise to eat orange peel. It contains antioxidants that slow down the aging process and have a favorable effect on the skin. Eating peels on a regular basis means keeping your skin soft and supple for a long time. The substances it contains also prevent the occurrence of cancer.

In addition to antioxidants, orange peels contain limonoids, which are very useful for the female body (they prevent the development of breast and intestinal cancers).

For men

Earlier in the article we talked about the fact that the citrus fruit is rich in vitamin C. For men, it is useful in that it promotes the production of sperm and significantly improves its quality. When planning a child, a man should definitely include an orange and its peels in his daily diet. To avoid any genetic changes in the sperm, which can later have a detrimental effect on the health of the child, one or two pieces a day is enough.

In pregnancy.

The essential oil that is contained in orange peel deserves special attention. The fragrance of such oils gives the body vivacity, raises the mood, skillfully copes with stress and neuroses. Do not rush to throw away in the trash the peels of oranges, put them on a saucer and leave them in the room. After a while, their aroma will fill the entire room and will protect the pregnant woman from depression and bad thoughts. In case a woman in the position wants to constantly enjoy the smell of citrus, you need to finely chop the zest and dry it.

It is also very useful for the future mother to drink tea with dried orange peels. The recipe for this healing tea is simple: pour two tablespoons of dried peels with steep boiling water (approximately 250-300 ml) and allow to infuse. After an hour or an hour and a half the decoction will be ready to add to tea and drink. Sugar in this tea is best replaced by a teaspoon of honey. Such an infusion with honey will be very useful for the future mother and her baby.

Doctors advise expectant mothers in labor to eat oranges and their peels. This is because they contain a rare vitamin B9. It helps rule out the possibility of impaired development of the unborn child (the only exceptions may be if you are allergic to orange).

When breastfeeding

The mother's milk is the healthiest food for the newborn baby. Breastfeeding is a process that gives the baby the most necessary and important properties (vitamins), and it also saves a lot of money on special formula.

Mothers who breastfeed their babies, the diet is very important, and there is no need to experiment with food. For any questions, it is best to get advice from a doctor. Oranges are no exception in this matter, such a specific fruit can cause allergies in a newborn. Since the digestive system of the infant is not yet formed, the gastrointestinal tract usually works properly not earlier than six months of the child's life.

Recommendations from experts:

1. In case any of the relatives of young parents suffer from allergies to citrus fruits, it is best for a nursing mother not to consume orange zest. Allergy is a disease that can be passed on genetically. You should also avoid citrus fruits if your baby is prone to diathesis.
2. If your baby is three months old or more, and you plan to consume citrus peels, it is best to test this on one slice of orange (peeled from the white film). Watch your child for 12 hours, if there is no change, you can safely eat both the orange peel and the fruit itself. Note that not only on the skin may be changes in an allergic reaction, there may also be changes in the stool. Such a process can take up to two days. If diarrhea is not observed, a young mother can continue to eat oranges in small quantities and drink tea with zest. The daily rate is about half a fruit or two teaspoons of dried peels.
3. Specialists strongly advise against eating orange and orange peel daily. It is enough to eat two or three times a week.

For children

Children as well as adults, it is useful to eat oranges and peels, but you need to do it carefully to bypass the development of allergic reactions to the fruit and other citrus fruits. It is recommended that children from five to seven years of age eat no more than one orange or one teaspoon of dried peel per day. Pediatricians advise adding orange and zest to a child's diet no earlier than three years of age.

When losing weight

As you know, oranges and peels are often used for weight loss. Tea brewed with herbs and orange peel burns fat when consumed daily - a large amount of vitamin C contributes to this. Scientists have proven through research that orange peels have the ability to inhibit the process of obesity after losing excess weight.

Orange peels are useful for constipation: they contain polysaccharides that both eliminate and prevent constipation and strengthen the entire digestive system of the body. The proper functioning of the digestive system itself blocks the deposition of excess fat in the body.

Dramatic weight loss can be detrimental to a person's heart. Consumption of orange peels balances the acidity in the body and improves the cardiovascular system. The blood sugar level is also important for the body - the consumption of orange peels in the form of tea balances this level.

The fruit itself has gained great popularity among girls struggling with excess weight. First, it is available at any time of the year, secondly, its pricing is also pleasantly surprising and, thirdly, when we buy an orange, we get useful substances for the body not only with the pulp, but also with the zest (the so-called minimal waste).

Orange zest can be consumed in many ways. For the fight against excess weight it is right to brew a tea of herbs and peels. Both dried and fresh peels can be used for this decoction. Dried peels are most often used in two forms: finely chopped or grinded into a powder.

In citrus tea, experts advise adding various spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, honey, etc. Don't forget that you should wash the orange peel thoroughly before using it. While ordinary black tea is not advised to be consumed cold, such a drink can also be consumed cooled for two hours.

If your diet includes yogurts or smoothies for weight loss, you can safely add orange peel.

Orange peels in medicine

Such a fruit as an orange is an indispensable "doctor" in the family. It contains a large number of useful substances that help not only to cure many diseases, but also to prevent their appearance.

1. How to lower a high fever? Pour the orange slices with the peels in steep boiling water and insist 40-45 minutes. Take every 1.5-2 hours. If such a decoction to drink in the morning, by sunset even the highest temperature will slowly begin to fall. This method is good because it is suitable for people of any age (except for people who are prone to allergic reactions).
2. The best cure for a hangover is to grate orange peels together with the pulp, pour boiling water and infused for 40-45 minutes. The right thing is to strain this decoction and consume it before a meal.
3. Another way to cure a hangover is to add to a glass freshly squeezed juice with the peels and one egg yolk, mix well and drink immediately after bedtime.
4. A woman does not need to run to the drugstore with a heavy menstrual cycle, it is enough to have a decoction of orange peels and take it during the day.
5. Solves problems with constipation orange juice with zest and pulp.

Cosmetic applications

Today, cosmetologists from all countries use orange peels in their production. For example, the world's manufacturers produce facial masks based on orange peel. Such a mask can be made at home. Orange peels should be finely chopped, added to the cottage cheese with the highest fat content, dressed with olive oil and mixed with an immersion blender. Keep on the face for half an hour.

A mask which gives the face a healthy color: 1-1,5 tbsp. of linden flower should be poured with the juice of orange peels, leave for 15-20 minutes. Then add 1 tsp. honey and lemon juice, 1 tbsp. yogurt of the highest fat content to the broth. Beat with a blender (mixer) to the maximum homogeneous mass. Ready mask should be put on face for 30-40 minutes. If you use such a mask every day, the complexion in a short time will become natural and healthy.

A mask that cleanses the pores of the face: grind oat flakes into flour with a blender, pour the previously prepared decoction of orange peel and beat the egg yolk. Rub everything to a homogeneous consistency and keep on the face for 30 minutes.

Health Hazards and Contraindications

Although orange is full of useful substances, but it has certain contraindications. It should not be eaten by people

• With stomach ulcers;
• digestive system problems;
• People diagnosed with diabetes or high blood glucose.

Dentists around the world have repeatedly stated that excessive consumption of orange can severely damage tooth enamel. Doctors advise to rinse your mouth thoroughly after every use of citrus and its peel. Also do not forget about the allergic reaction to orange, which can be caused by frequent consumption of fruit, especially people who are overweight.

How to choose an orange to zest

Coming to the market or to the store, everyone wants to choose a good sweet orange. As we know, the healthiest fruits are sweet ones. There are certain criteria and tips to follow when choosing your own citrus fruit.

The orange season usually begins in late November and early December (depending on the region of the country) and lasts until late March and early April. Buying fruit in the off-season months, you are likely to come across chemicals that are harmful to your health. Most of the citrus fruit comes to us from Turkey, Egypt, South Africa and Peru. Immediately refuse oranges imported from South Africa and Peru, as the harvest due to the remoteness of the region is harvested unripe and treated with chemicals.

Selection advice:

1. Test the fruit to the touch; if it is soft, it means it has begun to spoil inside. Very hard oranges are not suitable either, they will be sour with a slight bitterness.
2. Always weigh it in your hand; if it's too light, don't take it, since it's already starting to shrivel up inside.
3. The ripe fruit always has a characteristic pleasant smell, so before buying do not be lazy to smell the fruit.
4. The standard color of an orange peel should be either bright orange or orange-yellow (a strong orange color with distinctive yellow spots indicates that the orange was picked when it was unripe and pitted with chemicals).
5. Do not buy fruit that has stickers on it.
6. It doesn't matter how thick the peel is, but thick-skinned fruit is more protected from chemical treatment. If the peel is too thick and lumpy, it is better not to buy such a fruit.
7. The sweetest and tastiest oranges are the ones that have the so-called "navel" (where it ovates).
8. Some people claim that the bigger the fruit, the better it is in terms of quality. This opinion is wrong. In such a fruit has a high water content and a small percentage of useful substances.

Based on the above, you can conclude for yourself that it is better to buy medium-sized oranges.

How to remove the zest

Orange peel is the peel of the citrus without the white soft part, which is just behind the orange layer. Because of this, the peel is removed very carefully and carefully, to take only the top layer. The following describes how to separate the peel from the pulp on your own (in "artisanal" conditions). Such a process is not complicated at all, as it may seem at first glance.

Preparing the Fruit

An orange should be washed thoroughly before eating, just like other fruits. This procedure is especially important if the orange peels are to be used later. It is best to rub the fruit with a sponge.

How to remove the zest from an orange with a grater

For such manipulation, you need to take a grater with stable edges on the end, so that it does not slip on the table. Further, it is worth adhering to the recommendations:

1. On the grater you need to rub only the orange layer (zest), without affecting the white and the pulp of the orange itself.
2. It is necessary to gradually turn the orange and continue the above actions, until the orange layer does not remain at all.

Useful tips

In order to obtain a quality and therapeutic product, certain conditions must be met. For example:

1. To make orange peel without the other flavors that can be acquired in the soaking process, try to buy organic fruit that has not been chemically treated.
2. It is best to buy oranges with thick and firm peels.
3. In order to make the orange peel much easier to remove, the fruit is first refrigerated. After this procedure, the peels come off very easily.
4. The dish where you plan to add the zest will get a lot of orange flavor if you use the finest crumbs possible.
5. If the citrus fruit is used primarily for crusting, it is better to store such fruit in the freezer. It's much easier and more convenient to peel off the top layer from frozen fruit.

How to Dry Orange Peels

1. Wash the fruit thoroughly to get rid of the top layer the orange was treated with.
2. Dry the fruit thoroughly to prevent it from becoming moldy.
3. Carefully, making an incision along the diameter of the orange, remove only the peel.
4. Remove any white fibers.
5. Cut the peel into small pieces, spread out in a single layer and leave in a ventilated room or outdoors in the shade.

How to store the peel

There is a proven way to store orange peels. You should grate the peel on a fine grater, avoiding the white fibers, mix it with sugar or powdered sugar in the proportion of one to two, and send such a mass in the freezer.

Can I eat orange peel?

Orange peel can be eaten in any form:

• smoothie;
• salad;
• marmalade, etc.

What you can make from orange peels: recipes

There are many ways and recipes for dishes made with orange peels. For example:

• jam;
• Turkish tea;
• orange tincture;
• compote;
• candied fruit;
• Orange-cheese-cheese pascha, etc.

Candied fruit

The following products will be needed for the preparation:

• 500 g of zest;
• 400 ml of water;
• 600 grams of sugar;
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice;
• 1 star of badjan;
• 1 vanilla pod;
• 3 peppercorns.

Preparation of the candied fruit:

1. Boil about 3 liters of water.
2. Put orange zest into a pan of boiling water, bring to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. In a colander rinse the peels under running water.
4. Repeat the boiling process and remove the peels, letting the water drain.
5. Next, prepare the syrup. Take a three-liter saucepan, in it pour 400 ml of water and sugar (the volume is listed above in the list of necessary ingredients), lemon juice, vanilla, badjan, pepper (crushed with a knife).
6. Let the syrup simmer for 6-7 minutes, then put the orange peels in it. The mass simmer in a saucepan for an hour or an hour and a half.
7. Once the mass cools at room temperature, put the pan in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
8. Drain the rest of the syrup. Dice the crusts.
9. Spread the crusts on parchment and dry (naturally or with an oven at 80°C, the whole process takes about 6.5-8 hours).

Jam

Products needed:

• 2 oranges;
• ¼ lemon;
• 1 cup water;
• 2 cups sugar;
• 1 mug of orange juice.

Preparation:

1. Remove the crust from the fruit. Extract the juice from the pulp.
2. Pour water over the peel and boil for 6 minutes, then drain the water. Then pour water again and boil the skins. Repeat the procedure three times to get rid of the bitter taste.
3. In another pot, mix 1 mug of water with 1 mug of juice, 2 cups of sugar and boil on low heat syrup for no longer than 15 minutes.
4. Then add the crusts to the boiling mixture and pour the juice squeezed from 1/4 of a lemon.
5. Boil the mass for about 35-40 minutes, it should thicken.
6. Pour the jam hot into clean jars.

Tincture .

What will be needed for cooking:

• 500 ml of alcohol (taken according to the recipe 96%);
• 1 kg oranges;
• 340 g sugar;
• 1 liter water.

Preparation:

1. Put the citron in a glass jar and pour alcohol. Insist the composition for a week, but every 2-3 days you need to stir it.
2. After 7 days, filter the mass and brew syrup. To do this, take half a liter of warm water and dissolve sugar in it. Then add the remaining 0.5 liters of water.
3. Pour the alcohol back into the syrup and send it to the refrigerator. The composition should stand in a cold place for 4 days, until an oily-looking film forms on top.
4. Drain "orangello" with a tube from the bottom into a clean bottle (oily film should remain on the walls of the container). The tincture is ready, use it chilled.

Can I Give Orange Peels to Rabbits

The basis when breeding rabbits and any other animal is their diet. It should be as balanced as possible and include nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. As a rule, all of these are found in fruits and vegetables. As for citrus fruits, the owner needs to be careful with these fruits, they can cause a serious allergic reaction. Experts advise to refrain from feeding such fruits.

Interesting facts about oranges

1. In California, there is a law against taking a bath and eating orange (orange acid when mixed with bath foam can be explosive).
2. Freshly squeezed orange juice helps with heartburn.
3. Orange smells third in the world after vanilla and chocolate.

Photo of orange peels