Is it possible to eat lemon peel? Useful properties of lemon, juice and peel. Composition, application and healthy recipes! Use in everyday life

We are all familiar with citrus like lemon. Its sour, healthy pulp is a favorite addition to tea. But in our article we want to talk about lemon peel, which special meaning Few people pay attention, but in vain! Lemon zest is truly a unique and versatile product. It is used in cooking, cosmetology, and everyday life. What is lemon zest, what benefits and harm does it do for us?

Lemon zest preparation and storage features

Lemon zest is the yellow layer of citrus peel that contains essential oils. How to make zest yourself? Very simple.
Few people know how to grate lemon zest correctly. After all, the peel consists of two components: the first is the yellow zest, the second is the white layer between the pulp and the yellow layer. So, the zest needs to be grated or cut off carefully with a knife, but without the white layer. Otherwise it will be bitter.
Store, preferably dried, hidden in a closed container made of glass or metal. The storage location should not contain moisture.
One option to preserve the zest is to freeze lemon peels. If necessary, you can simply take them out and grate them. Wherein beneficial features remain safe.

Vitamins, minerals and nutritional value

100 grams of lemon peel contain only 47 kilocalories.
The nutritional value:
Proteins – 1.5 g.
Fats – 0.3 g.
Carbohydrates – 5.4 g.
The peel contains a lot of ascorbic acid. It has a fairly rich vitamin and mineral composition: beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, iron, copper.

Is it possible to eat lemon peel

The peel is a unique part of the citrus fruit, from which there are great benefits, but it will harm our health if we use it ineptly. Despite the many useful substances and unique vitamin composition, fruits are treated with chemicals and wax compounds for long-term transportation and further storage so that they do not spoil. Fruits stuffed with pesticides and rubbed with wax for attractiveness and beauty end up on store shelves. Such a product will not bring any benefit. You can of course try to clean it. Take a brush and wash the citrus well under the tap. Then be sure to scald with boiling water. This way we may be able to kill bacteria, however, chemicals tend to penetrate into the deep layers of the peel; doctors do not advise eating the peel of lemons imported from distant countries. Also, they are picked green, which also tells us about the small amount of useful substances that are produced in the sun. If you bought citrus fruits brought from distant countries, then it is better to eat their pulp and simply throw away the peel. Indeed, unfortunately, over the years, harmful components accumulate until they reach a critical concentration, causing great harm to our health.

But if lemons were grown by you or someone you know with your own hands, then such lemon peel can saturate the body with useful substances, which will be discussed in more detail below in the next paragraph.

Beneficial properties of lemon zest

Thanks to the many vitamins and minerals, the beneficial properties of lemon peels are quite extensive:

Benefit for digestive system. Lemon zest, thanks to its dietary substance, has a positive effect on intestinal function, removes toxins from the body, and fights constipation, gas, and colic. It can be taken when stomach disorders, spasms, vomiting, as well as decreased appetite, low production of gastric juice, indigestion. Citrus peel can eliminate putrefactive bacteria in the intestines and improve the functioning of the digestive system.
Anti-cancer properties. The substances contained in the crusts prevent the formation of malignant cells. It has been proven that people who eat lemons with the peel are less likely to suffer from oncological diseases skin, prostate, colon, lung cancer, breast cancer.
Lemon peel has antibacterial properties, is a preventative against thrombosis, and also fights fungal infections.
Prevention of oral diseases. The high calcium content and anti-fungal effects will help protect against bleeding gums, caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
Useful for weight loss. Pectin slows down the absorption of carbohydrates. The zest saturates the body for a long time and suppresses the desire to eat sweets.
Reduces risk cardiovascular diseases. Normalizes blood flow, prevents the development of thrombosis, increases vascular elasticity.
Lemon peel contains many antioxidants that remove toxins from the body and fight premature skin aging.
Benefits for strengthening bones. The high calcium content together with ascorbic acid will help strengthen bones, and by consuming the product regularly, the risk of osteoporosis, arthritis, and rheumatism is reduced.
Strengthens the immune system. Ascorbic acid there is more citrus peel in the composition than in the fruit itself. Excellent prevention of colds and viral diseases.
Effectively cleanses the liver and reduces the risk of developing ear infections. Therefore, it is quite actively used for medicinal purposes.

Lemon zest in cosmetics

In cosmetology, the use of lemon peel has gained recognition due to its antioxidants and whitening effect.
If you wipe your face with a piece of yellow peel, then after a couple of weeks your skin will look much fresher. With regular use, you can get rid of acne, pimples, even out your complexion, rejuvenate and moisturize your skin, which is so important for women.
You can get rid of acne by mixing lemon peel, sugar and cucumber juice. Apply to the face, wait a quarter of an hour, then remove with water, massaging the skin.
To eliminate age spots, you can apply a lemon peel to it and hold it for about an hour, repeating the procedure periodically.
It is quite possible to clean your elbows, heels, and knees of rough skin with the help of lemon peels. Just mix the zest, a little soda and citrus juice, apply to rough areas, get soft, moisturized skin.
Mix the peel with sugar and olive oil to create a wonderful moisturizer for exfoliating your entire body. You can rub your nails. This will help whiten them and strengthen them.

The benefits of lemon zest in everyday life

For cleaning greasy stains. You can make it natural at home universal remedy from dirt and grease. Pour chopped citrus peel with vinegar into a glass container and close tightly. After 2 weeks, strain the infusion and mix halfway with water. Effective lemon vinegar for fighting dirt is ready.
If you place lemon peels in the refrigerator, it will fill it with a pleasant citrus aroma.
If you place lemon peels near windows, doors, cracks, you can get rid of pests. The citrus scent repels them.
By wiping chrome taps with citrus peel, you can get rid of limescale. And if you mix zest and sea salt, you can clean brass, copper and stainless steel.
You can remove stains on coffee and tea cups using a peel.
You can clean the microwave with water and lemon peel, which you need to boil in it. Then wipe the inside surface with a cloth.

So, lemon zest is a versatile fruit that strengthens our health, helps us look beautiful, young, and also keep our house clean.

Antioxidants are contained in the peel of any fruit and vegetable 20 times more than in the pulp - this is a known fact. So, it follows that eating lemon peel is healthy? Here you need to strictly determine where the lemon itself comes from.

If a lemon grows in your garden or there is a lemon garden near your city, then you can eat the peel from such a lemon. But if a lemon came from Turkey or Egypt, then it had traveled quite a long way and was naturally treated with chemicals. Ripe lemons are processed so that they do not become moldy or spoiled during the journey.

If they are picked in an unripe state, then there are very few such lemons in the peel useful vitamins and microelements that are formed exclusively under the rays of the sun. When lemons arrive to us, they will, of course, have a ripe appearance, but there is not much benefit from them.

Next time you buy lemons, touch them. The stickier the lemon peel and the brighter it shines, the more chemicals they were treated with. By the way, this also applies to tangerines and other citrus fruits.

So is it possible or not to eat lemon peel? Experts give a clear answer: “No” and add that it is necessary to cut it off and throw it away. Keep in mind that by putting a slice of lemon with the peel in our tea, we accumulate harmful substances in our body, which over time can reach a critical level and then health problems will begin. From all of the above, we conclude: we eat lemons and other citrus fruits without peel.

Quite often consuming various fruits as food, we do not think at all about the benefits they can bring to our body. In addition, we mercilessly throw the purifications of these products into the trash, although many such residues are quite actively used in cooking and in folk medicine. Thus, the lemon familiar to all of us can be used not only as pulp; its peel is a wonderful source of a number of highly beneficial elements. It can be used to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions to almost all people without restrictions.

What is lemon peel valued for? Benefit

All the beneficial qualities of lemon peel are explained by its rich chemical composition. This element is a source of significant amounts of fiber, as well as potassium, carotene, magnesium and calcium. In addition, it contains quite a lot folic acid and beta-carotene.

Consumption of lemon peel is sufficient effective method prevention of osteoporosis, in addition, such a product can eliminate inflammatory processes, developed with polyarthritis. Many experts value this plant substance for its ability to quickly neutralize various types of toxic compounds that accumulate in the body and are called carcinogens.

Systematic consumption of lemon peel as food can slow down the growth of malignant cancer formations. This product also has persistent antibacterial properties. Specialists traditional medicine Lemon peel is widely used in the treatment of various types of bacterial and fungal infections. It is also recommended to consume it in the treatment of anemia and in the prevention of thrombosis.

The peel contains a lot of vitamin C, so it has a positive effect on the immune system and helps prevent and cure various acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. In addition, lemon zest is an excellent source of vitamin P, and this substance can protect blood vessels from fragility, add elasticity to them and optimize their permeability. Among other things, this vitamin effectively optimizes heart activity.

Lemon peel is a great focal point essential oils, due to which it is able to improve mood and have a tonic effect. It is recommended to chew the zest if pain or discomfort occurs in the throat, especially with sore throat. In addition, such chewing will help cure various inflammatory lesions of the mouth and gums.

Among other things, lemon peel quite effectively cleanses our liver, optimizes blood circulation, neutralizes ear infections and prevents the development of varicose veins veins

The zest of this fruit is widely used in cosmetology. It contains a lot of antioxidants, so it can effectively cleanse the skin of various types of pimples and acne. Many home experts claim that using lemon peel helps to deal with age spots, as it has an excellent whitening effect. Dermatologists advise using this product to treat various skin ailments.

Lemon zest is quite often used in cooking. This seasoning can add sweet pastries special splendor, as well as unique taste. It is added to various types of muffins, puddings, cakes, charlotte and Easter cakes. In addition, lemon can be used to decorate and prepare fish and meat dishes, as well as for salads and a wide variety of drinks. Olives and pickled ginger go well with lemon.

Using lemon zest you can make a wonderful medicine, which can help with lack of appetite and fainting, calm with nervous ailments, as well as stop vomiting and eliminate pain with gout, lumbago or acute rheumatism. For cooking medicinal composition you need to take fifty grams of thinly cut zest and combine them with a glass of alcohol. The medicine must be infused for one and a half weeks in a fairly dark place, remembering to shake it from time to time. This composition should be consumed ten drops three times a day shortly before meals.

To prevent the development of hypertension and stroke, it is necessary to consume a decoction based on lemon peel. Brew a couple of tablespoons of zest with four hundred milliliters of water. Boil over low heat under the lid for half an hour, then leave for ten minutes and strain. The finished product should be consumed one hundred grams three times a day, about half an hour before meals.

To whom is lemon peel dangerous? Harm

Since lemon peel contains citric acid, it can harm those people who suffer from stomach disorders. This product is strictly not recommended for use in case of ulcerative lesions, as well as gastritis or enteritis. Among other things, it is worth considering that lemon can cause various types of allergic reactions. So it quite often provokes the development of urticaria.

If you have experienced excessive acidity of the digestive juice, you should stop consuming lemon zest in food. Excessive consumption of this product, even in an adult, can cause nausea or heartburn.

Thus, lemon peel has many beneficial properties and can be used in the treatment of various pathological conditions.

Even in ancient times, people used lemon as a weapon in the fight against colds, because it is a source of vitamin C and indispensable assistant immunity. Not everyone knows that this product can also have a beneficial effect on the body, which has been proven by doctors and homeopaths.

What it is?

Lemon zest is the outer layer of the peel. yellow color, containing a mass of essential oils located in glandular containers. It has virtually no taste, looks bright and shiny, and has a wonderful fresh fruity smell. Lemon zest can be added to baking dough; it is traditionally used to add a unique flavor to fish dishes; it can be used as a natural flavoring additive for tea and mulled wine.

If lemons were transported and stored in accordance with special GOST 4429-82, the zest should be perfectly preserved, and throwing it away would simply be blasphemy.

Benefits and harms

Let's consider the ratio of BZHU per 100 grams of raw product:

proteins – 1.5 g;
fats – 0.3 g;
carbohydrates – 5.4 g.

The calorie content of the product is only 47 kilocalories.

As can be seen from the previously presented information, eating lemon zest will not cause much harm to the figure. And the taste and aroma of dishes becomes amazing when you add a pinch of this product. This helps you lose weight, since diet dishes often lack taste.

Citrus peel contains a substance that fights cancer cells. It's called salvestrol. To prevent cancer, you need to take lemon zest regularly.

Vitamin C contained in the product is important for the body not only in terms of maintaining immunity. It is able to participate in the absorption of calcium. Thus, lemon zest, when consumed regularly, helps strengthen the skeleton and teeth.

The aromatic peel disinfects the oral cavity, killing pathogenic bacteria, and helps eliminate bad breath.

The zest contains pectin. This is a useful polysaccharide. Once in the human body, it serves as an absorbent, absorbing all harmful substances, heavy metals and toxins, which are then eliminated naturally. Pectin increases metabolic rate, breaks down fats, removes excess cholesterol, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. But it also has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal microflora and has an anti-inflammatory effect on digestive tract. The substance is also used to make natural marshmallows and jelly.

The nutritional value of lemon zest is complemented by its chemical composition: it includes selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, sodium and potassium.

Potassium strengthens the heart muscle. The vitamin P contained in the zest can help people suffering from overeating and alcoholism. It removes waste products from the body. Eating lemon zest after a heavy meal can help relieve hangovers and stomach discomfort.

If you regularly consume the zest, you can improve the condition of your skin and hair. Lemon peel contains antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on the tone and elasticity of the face. To prepare a vitamin tonic, you can brew the zest and use it for rubbing. This will get rid of excessive oily skin. The crushed peel is often used to make a fragrant body scrub. To do this, peel crumbs must be mixed with shower gel and applied with massaging movements to the entire body.

If you use lemon peel many times as a face rub, you will notice another beneficial property: it whitens the face and is useful in the fight against unwanted freckles. Lemon peel is also used in dermatology. It is used as an antifungal homeopathic remedy.

To get rid of dry elbows and heels, crush a lemon peel in your hand and rub the problem areas with this product. If you do this regularly, you can forget about the problem within a month.

There are a lot of benefits for human health, but lemon zest is also used in the household. To get rid of strong odors from cooking or just to add flavor to your home, you can place pieces of lemon peel everywhere. If your refrigerator and trash container smell bad, simply place pieces of lemon peel there. It will absorb the bad smell.

To get rid of limescale in the kettle, you can rub it with a piece of lemon peel. You can easily clean your microwave using the same method.

Various insects are known to be repelled by the scent of citrus fruits. You can place pieces of zest on the window so that mosquitoes and flies fly by.

To maintain optimal humidity in the apartment, you can place bowls of water and zest throughout the house.

Nowadays, many girls are making soap at home. By adding aromatic zest to the composition, you can count on an increase in demand for such handmade products.

The disadvantages of lemon zest include the fact that citrus fruits are usually contraindicated for people prone to allergies. And also lemon zest can cause exacerbation of ulcers and gastritis, as it increases the acidity of the stomach. People who are not prone to these diseases should also exercise caution when consuming the zest; a large amount of it will cause heartburn.

Lemon peels should not be consumed pure form with a sore throat and sore throat, you can burn the sensitive mucous membrane. For these reasons, it cannot be used in the event of dental diseases.

How to do it?

The lemon peel must be washed thoroughly hot water, it is advisable to clean it with a brush for washing vegetables. Now the whole lemon needs to be blotted with a paper towel and left to dry a little.

Zest is a tricky product; there are several ways to get it.

Using a kitchen knife. To do this, remove thin strips with a sharp object. After flavoring the dish, these strips are removed.
Using a vegetable peeler – this method is only suitable for lemons with thick peels.
Using a regular fine grater: use it to grate the lemon and get crumbly zest crumbs.
Cocktail zester. It will remove small spirals from the surface of the peel, which can be used to decorate baked goods or drinks.

Tips for removing fresh zest:

choose citrus fruits with a thick rind;
refrigerate the lemon before zesting;
try to grind the peel pieces as much as possible to increase the surface area for essential oils to evaporate;
if you often need lemon zest, store these fruits in the freezer, this will simplify the task of obtaining it;
try to use the zest immediately after removal for the best results in flavoring dishes.

There is a lot of information about fresh zest. Questions often arise about how to properly prepare lemon peel for future use.

Algorithm for making dried lemon zest:

wash and dry the lemon thoroughly;
cut off the zest, being careful not to touch the white layer, or grate it;
spread the zest on parchment paper in a clean, cool room; it will dry in a couple of days with occasional stirring;
if you don’t have time to wait, you can put the crushed lemon peel in the oven for 1-2 hours at 60 degrees.

What can you cook?

Lemon peel can be useful everywhere. But its use in cooking is especially popular.

Exist various recipes on preparing zest as an independent dish.

Lemon zest in sugar

To prepare, you need to take 100 g of zest and 150-200 g of sugar. Lemons must be washed well with a brush and boiled for a minute in water. After this, remove the softened zest using a grater and grind it with sugar. After this, place in jars and cover with another layer of sugar. This mixture can be poured into dough, drinks, ice cream.

There is a popular combination of ginger, lemon and honey that has been helping people fight colds and improve their vitality for many years.

Several recipes for the joint preparation of such products are more in demand.

Candied lemon peel

This excellent dessert is very easy to prepare. To do this, you will need to make sugar syrup: boil a few tablespoons of water with sugar in a saucepan. When the volume of water is reduced, the candied fruits come out crispier. After making the syrup, you need to dip thinly sliced lemon zest into it and cook them for about half an hour. After this jam has cooled, take out the pieces and place them on foil or a tray and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Once the pieces are completely dry, they are best stored in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator.

Lemon curd puffs

For cooking you will need ready-made puff pastry yeast dough 500 g, cottage cheese 200 g, sugar – 150 g, zest of half a lemon. Cut the puff pastry squares into 4 pieces for a total of eight servings. Mix cottage cheese with sugar and lemon zest, you can add vanillin to taste. Place the curd mixture in the middle of each dough square and pinch along the edge. Place the prepared puff pastries on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake them according to the recipe written on the dough package. When serving, sprinkle the puff pastries with powdered sugar to decorate.

Pancakes with citrus flavor

To make pancakes with a unique lemon scent, add a little lemon peel to the dough according to your recipe. This will make them taste very piquant. You can also add zest to sauces for pancakes. For example, mix sour cream with sugar and zest to taste.

Flavored muffins

Beat 3 eggs with 300 g sugar with a mixer on average speed rotation. Prepare the zest of 1 lemon. Add 100 g butter, 200 g zest and sour cream. Sift 400 g flour, add a teaspoon of baking powder and add to the mixture. Pour the finished dough into muffin tins greased with butter and bake for 20 minutes at a temperature of about 200 degrees.

Pie with aromatic zest

If guests suddenly arrive and they have nothing to serve, you can quickly prepare a sponge cake with a delicious lemon aroma.

You will need: 4 eggs, 250 g of sugar and a glass of flour, butter so that the cake does not stick to the pan, baking powder and a pinch of lemon zest.

To prepare this quick bake, beat the eggs and sugar into a fluffy foam, carefully add the flour with a teaspoon of baking powder, then add the lemon zest and mix everything. Pour the mixture into the mold. Bake in the oven for thirty minutes at 200 degrees.

If desired, you can also add pineapples and apples to this pie, and vanilla will help enhance the aroma of the zest.

Lemon cake

For the cake you will need 6 eggs, 1.5-2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of flour. Beat sugar and eggs until thick foam, add flour and mix. Add baking powder to make the baked goods more fluffy. This amount of finished mass is designed for 4 cakes. Bake them on a pre-greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes. After the baked goods are cooked, let them cool thoroughly.

The cream consists of two glasses of sour cream, one glass of sugar and the zest of one lemon. Beat the chilled ingredients until fluffy and spread the cream on the cakes. Leave the cake in the refrigerator for a day. Then it will be as tasty as possible.

Marinade for poultry meat

To make a fragrant marinade, you need to mix a quarter cup of vegetable oil, salt and pepper to taste, several chopped garlic cloves, Italian herbs, and the zest of one lemon. The meat should be soaked in this mixture for about a day at a temperature of about 4 degrees. As a result of this method of marinating, the meat turns out simply amazing.

Fish lemon marinade

To prepare it you need to prepare: half a glass of lemon juice, one tablespoon of zest, chopped garlic clove, a pinch of ground black pepper, half a glass of wine. The fish should remain in this marinade for at least three hours. After infusion, the fish is baked in the oven or grilled. This marinade can also be used for shrimp and other seafood.

Sauce for meat

Olive oil in the amount of half a glass, mix with a glass of chopped sweet dates. Add a bunch of green onions and a bunch of parsley chopped in a blender. For a softer taste, it is advisable to add crushed pine nuts, literally a handful. About 4-5 tablespoons of lemon zest will add piquancy. IN total weight put crushed hot peppers and your favorite seasonings. Add salt there to taste.

Beef stew with lemon flavor

To prepare this delicious dish, take a kilogram of beef tenderloin, a couple of bell peppers, two onions, carrots, potatoes - 1.5 kg, garlic - 1 head, lemon zest - 1 tablespoon, vegetable oil- two tablespoons, spices and salt at your discretion, dill and parsley.

Wash the beef and potatoes and cut them into cubes convenient for you. Chop the onion, carrots and bell pepper and fry until half cooked. Prepare ceramic pots, put in them a mixture of prepared ingredients and spices with lemon zest. Cook in the oven for about two hours, checking for doneness from time to time. After cooking, divide the dish into portions and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Tea for a surge of strength and vigor

Add 3 tablespoons of grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of chopped lemon zest to your favorite tea; in addition, throw in a sprig of mint, cinnamon and a few peas of allspice. Pour it all over with two liters of boiling water. When the tea is steeped, add sugar or honey to taste.

Tea to relieve flu and cold symptoms

Ingredients: ginger root – 20 g, lemon zest – 20 g, honey – 30 g.

Preparation:

peel the ginger and cut it into thin slices;
grate the lemon zest on a fine grater;
you need to brew your favorite tea (black or green) along with ginger and zest, then let the drink brew for a few minutes;
Add honey to a warm drink (remember that the beneficial properties of honey are reduced to zero when you add it to boiling water).

Drink the drink three times a day and at night.

Hot tincture with lemon zest

The zest of three lemons is mixed with a chopped bunch of peppermint. This herbal mixture is added to a half-liter bottle of vodka and sealed securely. This mixture is infused for about a week, shaking 4 times a day. After the tincture is prepared, it is necessary to strain it through a layer of gauze and sterile cotton wool. Store the tincture in a cool, dry place.

How to save?

You can store zest in three ways, which depend on the type of preparation.

Storing dried zest in an airtight dry jar. After preparing the dry crushed lemon peel, it must be placed in a container specially prepared for this. This way the lemon zest will retain its unique aroma for a long time.
Storing zest in sugar is also done in a closed glass container, but this mixture is best stored in the refrigerator.
Storing the zest in lemon juice at sub-zero temperatures. This method will help you prepare a delicious sauce for meat or fish at any appropriate time. You can grate the zest and place it in small molds and pour on top lemon juice– this is very convenient for further use.

To learn how to remove and store lemon zest, watch the video below.