The lemon is one of the most beneficial citrus fruits. We usually eat its flesh or drink its juice to take advantage of its renown qualities, but we shouldn’t be in a hurry to cast its peel in the trash either. What’s even more, when comparing the content of certain nutrients, lemon rind even surpasses the flesh itself! Only 10g of lemon peel delivers 13.5mg calcium, 16mg potassium and 12.9mg vitamin C, amongst other nutrients.
And if you want to eat only organic lemons at low cost and take advantage of their rind’s rich nutrients, you can consider getting an indoor herb garden kit, which will do all the hard work for you and will help you grow real food at home, not just lemons, but all sorts of fruits, vegetables and herbs!
With that in mind, here are 10 reasons not to throw away lemon peel:
Improves digestion
Lemon peel contains fiber which improves bowel movement, reduce bloating, spasms, and are effective in treating constipation. Traditional medicine uses lemon peel for relieving colic, vomiting and other gastric diseases.
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Fortifies the bone tissue
The presence of calcium and vitamin C in lemon peel helps preserve the good condition of the bones and cartilages. This is a great way to keep osteoporosis, rheumatism and arthritis at bay.
Inhibits oxidation in our bodies
Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals that originate from bad ecology, fast food, tobacco, alcohol etc. As we know, free radicals are dangerous and may lead to many diseases and premature ageing. Because lemon peel delivers antioxidant flavonoids, it could reduce oxidative stress.
Detoxifies the constitution
Again, we have the good old antioxidants to thank for that. They give inestimable aid in purging toxins from our bodies.
Helps prevent cancer
Research indicates that people who consume lemons with their peels have lower risk of developing lung, colon, breast and prostate cancer.
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Benefits the cardiovascular system
Don’t throw away the lemon peel because their polyphenols are a good ally in reducing the LDL cholesterol in your blood. To boot, potassium helps regulating blood pressure and vitamin C inhibits blood vessel thrombosis.
Facilitates weight loss
The citrus fruit’s rind contains pectin which slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, reduces excessive appetite and increases satiety.
Boosts immunity
It’s common knowledge that vitamin C is a classic immunity system booster and is always on the front lines in the battle against many immunity-hindering diseases. It’s of tremendous help to ward off viruses and colds.
Sustains oral health
Citric acid and vitamin C in citruses can be beneficial to your oral health by preventing gum bleeding and gingivitis. Vitamin C defiantly fights bacteria that cause periodontitis and caries. Citric acid induces teeth whitening. To achieve that, you can rub some lemon peel onto your teeth then rinse your mouth with warm water.
Note: Avoid whitening your teeth too often with lemon, because excessive citric acid can cause erosion of tooth enamel.
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Improves skin health
Citric acid protects the skin from premature wrinkles, acne, as well as skin spots. Free radicals may lead to early signs of aging, and antioxidants such as vitamin C assist in eliminating them. You can rub your face skin with lemon peel to impart it an extra fresh look. The fruit acids will stimulate cell regeneration, regulate the functions of oil glands and moisturize the skin.
