Orange Zest

Orange peels are the thick finely-textured and orange coloured skin of oranges. Since ancient times, orange peels have been valued for their curative properties.

Many of us normally throw out the peels when it comes to oranges-whether we’re making fresh orange juice, snacking on whole oranges or making a yummy citrus salsa. But this is one big mistake as many of the highly nutritious compounds of oranges are found in the peels!

Health Benefits of Orange Peel

Anti-cholesterol:  Almost all the anti-cholesterol compounds in oranges are found in the peels. These compounds help combat the LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol in our bodies that form clots and plaque culminating in clogged heart arteries. Therefore, including orange peels to your diet can lower the total cholesterol levels in the body.

Averts Cancer:  Apart from repelling oxygen free radicals that steal oxygen from healthy cells, the chemical compounds in orange peels also help inhibit the growth and division of cancerous cells.

Heartburn: There’s a natural relief to get rid of severe heartburns- orange peels!  Research shows that an active chemical in orange peels helps relieve heartburn. When used over a period of 20 days, you can get a extended relief from heartburns.

Digestive problems:  Orange peels contain a lot of dietary fiber. 100 grams of orange peels contain at least 10.6 grams of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is useful for preventing irritable bowel syndrome including constipation and bloating. You can prepare a relaxing tea with orange peel extract to soothe your digestive system.

Respiratory Conditions:  Orange peels are bursting with vitamin C that is a great immune booster. The anti-oxidants in oranges especially vitamin C may help avert numerous respiratory problems such as bronchitis, colds, flu, asthma, and lung cancer.

Indigestion:  Long ago, people treasured orange peels for their natural healing properties. The ingredients extracted from orange peels were used as medicine to cure various digestive disorders including indigestion. The rich dietary fiber helps regulate bowel movement, thereby soothing the digestive system.

Other uses and benefits of orange peels

Besides the valuable health benefits of orange peels, there are also various other benefits of orange peels-from creating an orange-scented perfume to making compost.

Here are some of the creative benefits of orange peels that you may find useful.

Air freshener: Using orange peels as a room/air freshener is an excellent way to keep your home smelling delightfully citrusy. All you need to do is to gather some aromatic ingredients of your choice like sandalwood or cinnamon and make a potpourri. The best part is that it is 100% natural, eco-friendly and super cheap!

Teeth Whitening: A very cheap and natural way to whiten yellow stained teeth is by using orange peels. You can either make it into a paste and apply on teeth or simply rub the inside of an orange peel over your teeth. Many people may doubt this and even think it may bring out sensitive teeth. Actually, it’s quite the opposite! Another added benefit of orange peels is that they help prevent sensitive teeth!

Cleaning agent: You can use the fresh inside of an orange peel to vigorously scrub the inside of a dirty sink. Orange oils act as a natural cleaning agent for getting rid of dirty surfaces.

Compost: Orange peels are great composting material as they’re rich in nitrogen that helps in formation of leaves in plants. Besides that, orange peels are filled with nutrients that will enrich the humus in your garden. Don’t overdo it, though. High levels of nitrogen in the soil can actually have a reverse effect on leaves, that, it leads to shrinking of leaves.

Skin Whitening: Vitamin c in oranges is very beneficial as a natural skin bleacher. Orange peel extract when applied to skin can lighten and cover up dark blemishes and spots. Orange peels are safe to use on skin. Just be sure to rub the peel lightly on your skin and also use diluted orange peel pastes to prevent burns. Besides skin whitening, orange peel extract also helps tone the skin, naturally cleanse pores and shield the skin from harmful UV rays.

Cuisine: When oranges were first cultivated, their peels were greatly treasured. They were popularly used as flavouring agents to garnish and add a tangy taste to foods. Even today, you can exploit the nutritional benefits of orange peels through countless ways including making a dish or zest using shredded orange peels.

Getting rid of bugs: Did you know that oranges contain natural acids that keep away mosquitoes, flies. But now you can make your own orange peel extract spritzer and spray away over ant paths and other areas where insects like to gather.

Also see Lemon Zest, Zest