The benefits and harms of orange peels, rules for their preparation, storage and use

Orange, like other citrus fruits, is one of the best remedies for boosting immunity and improving the general condition of the body in winter. The pulp of this fruit is eaten raw, added to desserts and salads, and processed into sauces and juices. In this case, the orange peel is usually thrown away.

And completely in vain. Orange peels are a useful household product. It is used in cooking, cosmetology, and gardening. This product is also suitable for cleaning apartments. Citrus peel has a number of beneficial properties and has a positive effect on health. Experienced housewives do not throw it away, but store it for future use. How to do this - read on.

Composition and properties of orange peels

Orange peel contains a number of elements valuable for the human body. In addition, citrus peelings are useful in many household areas.

Biological and nutritional value

The nutritional value of orange peels is 97 kcal per 100 g. This amount of product accounts for 0.3 g of fat, 1.5 g of protein and 25 carbohydrates.

The product contains a number of useful substances. Among them:

• vitamins A, B, E, C;
• minerals – iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, selenium, sodium, zinc, phosphorus, copper;
• alimentary fiber;
• flavonoids;
• useful acids;
• essential oils.

Orange peel contains up to 90% limonene. This substance has a pronounced antibacterial effect.

note! Citrus peels contain several times more vitamin C than the pulp.

Harm and benefit

Benefits of orange peels:

• relieve inflammation;
• remove harmful cholesterol from the body;
• destroy pathogenic microorganisms;
• improve metabolism;
• activate immune processes;
• normalize intestinal function;
• facilitate the work of the liver;
• break down fats;
• stop bleeding;
• eliminate insomnia;
• normalize sebum secretions;
• tone the body;
• improve the condition and color of skin and hair;
• lower blood pressure;
• improve the condition of teeth;
• removes mucus from the lungs.

Orange peels can bring not only benefits, but also harm. This product can cause allergies and is harmful during periods of exacerbation of gastric diseases, as it irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Particularly dangerous are the substances with which the orange peel is impregnated so that the product can be stored for a long time. To remove harmful components, before use, oranges are washed with water and soda and doused with boiling water.

This is interesting! It is believed that orange peels reduce the risk of cancer. However, there is no scientific evidence for this.

Can you eat orange skins?

Orange peels have a pleasant citrus taste and pronounced aroma. However, many people consider their white part to be bitter. Therefore, in most dishes only citrus zest is used.

However, orange peels can be eaten whole. To get rid of bitterness, the peel is soaked or boiled several times in boiling water.

Important! Peels that have undergone heat treatment lose some of their beneficial properties.

Therapeutic effects on the body

Orange peel has medicinal properties.

It is often used in folk medicine to combat:

1. A cold. Orange peel improves immunity and has an antibacterial effect. Its use during ARVI and influenza helps to cope with the disease faster.
2. Lung diseases. Orange essential oils have expectorant properties. Natural preparations for cough treatment are prepared from the peel.
3. Obesity. The product speeds up metabolism and breaks down fats. This promotes weight loss.
4. Uterine bleeding. Orange decoction has hemostatic properties.
5. Depression, insomnia. The product improves mood and improves sleep.
6. Atherosclerosis. Orange peel helps to cope with these diseases due to its ability to remove cholesterol.

Folk remedies should be used only as an addition to the main treatment and with the permission of a doctor.

How to use orange peels

Orange peels are added to many dishes and used in cosmetology, gardening, and everyday life.

In folk medicine

In folk medicine, there are many recipes using orange peels:

1. To improve appetite. Place the peels of 7 oranges in a saucepan and pour in 1.5 liters of water. The mixture is boiled until 0.5 liters of liquid remains in the pan. The broth is removed from the heat and filtered. After 10 minutes, add 2 tbsp. l. honey Before each meal, take 0.5 tbsp. facilities.
2. For the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. Add 50 g of crusts to 500 liters of vodka. The product is infused in a dark place for 20 days. Take 5 times a day, adding 30 drops to a glass of water.
3. From uterine bleeding. To prepare the product, boil the peels of 7 oranges for half an hour in 1.5 liters of water. Take a glass three times a day.
4. Against cough. 200 g of fresh orange peels add 1 tbsp. Sahara. The mixture is boiled for half an hour.Then filter and pour into a dark glass container. Store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tbsp. l. three times a day.
5. For heartburn. Pour 1 tbsp into the pan. l. dried orange peels and 2 tbsp. l. licorice. The ingredients are poured into 1 liter of water and boiled for half an hour. The broth is filtered and cooled. Add 1 tbsp. l. honey Take a cup for heartburn.
6. From a hangover. For 0.5 liters of water take the peel of 2 oranges and 1 tsp. salt. The composition is boiled for 15 minutes. Then drink in small sips.

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In cosmetology

Orange peels help women and men improve the appearance of their body, hair and face. This wonderful ingredient is actively used in cosmetology:

1. Mask for tightening facial skin. 2 tsp. orange peel powder is mixed with 1 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. natural yogurt. The mask is applied to clean, dry skin for 20 minutes. After this time, the product is washed off. A light moisturizer is applied to the skin.
2. Orange baths for toning the body skin. Pour 3 tbsp into a fabric bag. l. orange powder, tie it and put it in the bath. Then draw very warm water. Take a bath for at least 15 minutes. If desired, add 1 tbsp to the bag of orange powder. l. honey
3. Anti-dandruff remedy. 3 tbsp. l. orange peels are poured into a thermos and 0.5 liters of boiling water is poured. The product is infused for 12 hours. Then filtered and used to rinse clean hair.
4. Lip scrub. Honey, apricot kernel oil, powdered dried peels and sugar are mixed in equal proportions.The product is applied to your finger and rubbed into your lips for 2-3 minutes, then washed off.
5. Mask to eliminate wrinkles on the face, neck and décolleté. Honey, orange peel powder and crushed oatmeal are mixed in equal proportions. Add 1-2 tsp to the resulting composition. warm cream or milk. The mask is applied to the neck, décolleté and face for 15-20 minutes. Then wash it off.
6. Body Scrub. The peel of 1 orange is twisted in a meat grinder or grated. Add 4 tbsp to the resulting mass. l. sugar and 1 tbsp. l. almond oil. The ingredients are mixed and used to scrub the body.
7. Teeth whitening. Add orange powder to toothpaste or simply wipe your teeth with fresh orange peel.

In cooking

Orange peel is often used to prepare various dishes. It gives products a subtle citrus aroma and unusual spicy notes:

1. Pies and cupcakes. In this case, orange zest or candied fruits are used. The additive is added to dough or cream, and is also used as a decoration for desserts.
2. Jam. The entire peel is used, often along with orange juice. Jam is made from citrus fruits and fruits that go with them (cherry plums, apricots, apples). To make jam, the peel is pre-soaked for several days, then it is mixed with fruit, sugar, and citrus juice. The mixture is boiled, then blended with a blender or left in pieces.
3. Bird and fish. Citrus zest or peel powder is used as a seasoning for poultry and fish. It is often combined with pink and white pepper, thyme, nutmeg, and paprika.
4. Tea. The zest can be brewed either on its own or added to black or green tea. In the second case, 1 tbsp. l. tea mixed with 1 tsp. zest.In order for the citrus to reveal its aroma and make the drink healthy, it is brewed for 15 minutes. at a temperature not exceeding 15°C.

Cleaning

Citrus peels help in household cleaning. Natural and effective detergents are made from them:

1. Citrus vinegar will get rid of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator, clean plumbing fixtures to a shine, and remove old grease. To prepare the product, fill the jar halfway with dry citrus peels, the rest of the volume is filled with vinegar. The mixture is infused in a dark place for a week. Then filter, pour into a spray bottle and use for its intended purpose.
2. Adding a few orange peels to your dishwasher when loading clear glassware will help keep it streak-free.
3. The peel of one fresh citrus is poured with a cup of water and placed in the microwave for 7 minutes. After this, just wipe the device with a damp cloth and all dirt will be removed.
4. To remove mineral deposits from plumbing fixtures, sprinkle a teaspoon of coarse salt onto fresh citrus peels. This “sponge” is used to wipe problem areas.
5. To disinfect a wooden board and get rid of food odors, wipe it with fresh citrus peel.

At home

Orange peel is useful in everyday life. It is used to make many useful items for the whole family:

1. Orange candle. The top part of the orange is cut off. The pulp is taken out of the resulting “bowl”, being careful not to damage the white “tail” inside the peel. Pour 1-2 tbsp into the peel bowl. l. olive oil so that the “tail”, which will be the wick, is saturated with fat. The fuse is set on fire.
2. Natural air freshener. Peels of two oranges (dry will do), three tsp. cinnamon, 1 tbsp. l. vanillin, 1 tbsp. l.ground cloves pour 0.5 liters of water and 2 tbsp. l. vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the spices release their aroma. The liquid is poured into a spray bottle and used for its intended purpose.
3. Starting the fire. Orange peels are suitable for lighting a fire or fireplace. The essential oils contained in them act as fuel. Such a fire will not only burn for a long time, but also emit a pleasant aroma.
4. Sachets for cabinets. Dry citrus peels are crushed and poured into a fabric bag. Such sachets are placed in cabinets to protect against moths and in shoes to get rid of the smell.
5. Mosquito repellent. To do this, rub the exposed parts of the body with fresh citrus zest.
6. For the treatment of fleas in animals. The peels of 7 oranges are poured into 1 liter of water, brought to a boil and boiled for 30 minutes. Then the broth is allowed to brew for 4 hours. The liquid is filtered and poured into a spray bottle. To get rid of fleas, animals are sprayed with orange infusion. The product is also used to repel mosquitoes and ticks from humans.

In the garden

Citrus fruit peels are used in the garden:

1. Growing seedlings. Experienced gardeners grow seedlings in whole “bowls” of orange peel.
2. Control of harmful insects. Citrus peels are used against thrips, spider mites and aphids. 250 g of dry peels are poured into 1 liter of hot water and left for 4 days. Add 2 tbsp to the resulting infusion. l. laundry soap. Before use, the product is diluted in a bucket of water. Plants are sprayed twice a week.
3. Making compost. To make the compost more nutritious and rich in plant-beneficial compounds, orange peels are added to it.
4. Repelling ants. The peelings of 2 oranges are ground in a blender or meat grinder and diluted with 1 tbsp. warm water. The resulting mixture is poured onto the anthill.

How to prepare and store crusts

Orange peels are prepared for future use, since dried peels are suitable for the recipes described above. Before drying, the oranges are doused with boiling water to remove harmful substances.

Citrus peels are prepared in three ways:

1. In a refrigerator. In this case, the peels are simply placed in a bag and placed in a vegetable drawer.
2. Dried. To dry the peel, it is cut into strips. Then lay it out on newspaper near the radiator or dry it in the oven at 80°C. Some people use special dryers or microwaves. Dry peels are stored in a glass jar or fabric bags in a dark place.
3. Candied fruit. Peeled and cut into small strips orange peels are poured with water and brought to a boil, then the liquid is drained. This procedure is done twice. In a separate pan, prepare sugar syrup from equal parts of water and sugar. When the sugar has dissolved, add the peels to the syrup. The ingredients are simmered over low heat for about an hour. Then they are thrown into a colander, allowed to drain and laid out in one layer on a baking sheet. When the candied fruits dry, they are transferred to a jar.

Contraindications

This product has contraindications:

• pancreatitis;
• diseases of the stomach and intestines during exacerbation;
• allergy to citrus fruits;
• tendency to allergic reactions;
• diabetes.

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Conclusion

Orange peel is a useful product that has found application in many areas. It is part of folk medicines and cosmetics, used as ingredients in various dishes, and helps in cleaning and gardening. Moreover, in dried form they are no less useful than in fresh form.