The Power of the Peel


Pucker up, everyone. Lemon peels aren’t to be glossed over. For one thing, they’re sweeter than their pulpy insides. But for another, that yellow flesh is full of healthy citrus bioflavonoids sure to keep you feeling sensational.
Zesty Health Facts
How healthy are those lemon peels you’ve been tossing out? Lemon peels pack 5 to 10 times more vitamins than fresh-squeezed lemon juice. And we’re not just talking Vitamin C here, which all citrus is known for. Lemon peels tout fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, folate and beta carotene to boot. That’s practically half your vitamin pill, all found in nature.
Got Lemons?
Bone health isn’t just powered by milk and soy-based products. Small but mighty, lemon peels have a high density of calcium and have been shown to help in preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, inflammatory polyarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. And those aren’t the only quality of life blasters that lemon peels are kicking to the curb, as they are naturally packed with fiber and Vitamin C, too.
Say Goodnight, Cancer
Lemons are a natural sanitizer (one of the reasons humans love lemon-fresh scents in our soap products!). Well, lemon peels are busy giving cancer some trouble, too. When eaten, lemon peels help prevent numerous types of cancer, including skin cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. Especially when eaten fresh, lemon peels (and other bioflavonoid citrus) help remove carcinogenic elements from toxins in the body. Sanitizing us inside and out!
Peel More: Here’s How
Incorporating lemon peel into your diet is simple, promise. Buy organic lemons, and ask about their freshness. Remember, the longer any citrus spends off the tree, the more they lose their anti-oxidant value. When you get home, either zest the lemon before you use the fruit, or freeze the lemon and zest the entire thing, peel, fruit and all.
Then, sprinkle away: Add lemon zest to salads, smoothies, casseroles, stir fry, pasta sauces, yogurt, pudding, even brownies and home-baked bread! Some people even toss lemon peel in their wine or whiskey for a new flavor on an old treat. There is no wrong way to eat a lemon peel.
