The lemon peel is rich in various micronutrients and other substances. It is widely used in kitchen and cosmetics. It has various beneficial properties for the body.
Positive effect on the heart, has an antiseptic effect. Rich in calcium, it helps strengthen bone tissue. Clean the toxins organism, it favors weight loss.
Chemical composition of the lemon peel
The lemon peel is composed of 80% water. The remaining 20% contain a large number of useful minerals, fats, vitamins. The minerals that make up the shell are:
- potassium
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- match;
- iron;
- copper;
- selenium;
- sodium;
- zinc;
Useful fats contained in the shell:
- Palmitic acid
- oleic;
- Linoleic;
- Linolenic acid.
The lemon peel is rich in the following vitamins
- Vitamin E
- vitamin C;
- Group B vitamins.
Calories
There are 16 kcal for 100 grams of product. Of which: 1 gram of proteins, 0. 5 grams of fats, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of food fiber.
Limon shell properties
The lemon peel has beneficial properties for the body, has a therapeutic effect, helps lose weight, improves the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract, strengthens the immune system. Like any other product has its contraindications, in some cases, it is harmful to health.
Medicinal benefits and properties
The useful properties are known since ancient times. Lemon shell has been used for many years as a popular remedy that helps improve cardiac and intestinal function. Clean the toxins organism, it is popular to lose weight.
Heart health
It favors the work of the heart through the following actions:
- It contains substances that reinforce the walls of the blood vessels.
- Citric acid prevents the formation of blood clots.
- Dissolve the cholesterol plates, clean the blood vessels;
- Normalizes blood pressure.
Improves gastrointestinal function.
The shell, taken internally, cleanses the toxins and impurities organism. Stimulates enzyme production, accelerating digestion. It relieves constipation due to its high fiber content. It has antiseptic properties, kills the harmful germs that alter the stomach, causing inflammation. Stimulates appetite. However, in the presence of gastrointestinal diseases, zest is not always beneficial, it must be taken with caution.
Strengthening of the immune system
The shell contains a lot of vitamin C and helps accelerate the recovery of colds. Reinforces the immune system in autumn and spring. Frequent consumption of the shell prevents unwanted colds.
Cancer prevention
To prevent cancer, the peel freezes and then scratch, add to the dishes or eat alone. Free radicals accumulate in the body due to infections, which triggers tumors. The lemon peel acts as an antioxidant and eliminates them from the organism.
Skin youth
The lemon peel is widely used in cosmetology. It is used in masks, exfoliants and creams. The skin benefits from vitamin C it contains. All remedies can prepare at home. The shell is passed through the face, mixed with cream and applied to the skin, or the grated shell is mixed with olive oil for an exfoliant. Such procedures will prevent skin from age.
Strengthens bones
The calcium content of the peel is almost as high as that of ascorbic acid. It helps strengthen bones and teeth. If the shell is rubbed on the teeth, they will become brighter. It participates in the prevention of osteoporosis, arthritis, osteoarthritis and other bone diseases.
Oral hygiene
Maintain oral hygiene, eliminates harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay. Heals small mechanical damage of the mucous membranes: cracks, scratches, small pustules.
It is used as a prophylactic for stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis and other diseases. Large pieces are also used to bleach.
Help to lose weight
The vitamin C of the shell accelerates the metabolic processes of the organism. Eliminates harmful toxins, accelerates the decomposition of accumulated fat. The Cidra is part of many diets and thinning techniques.
On its base tea is made or water is taken several times a day. There are many drinks to lose weight based on lemon peel infusion.
Diabetes benefits
The elements that make up the zest reduce the blood sugar level. Type 1 and 2 diabetics can consume it. The lemon peel is taken once a day in quantity of 1 tablespoon after breakfast.
IMPORTANT: When you decide to take lemon peel, in order to reduce sugar, it is recommended to consult your doctor.
Possible damage and contraindications
If it is taken in no n-controlled amounts, the lemon peel can cause health problems:
- nausea;
- Vomiting;
- heartburn;
- High concentrations of vitamin C in the blood.
There are also contraindications for the use of exfoliation:
- For pancreatitis, an attack can occur
- peptic ulcer;
- gastritis with hyperacidity;
- allergic reaction;
- hypertension;
- In throat pain, irritate the mucosa and cause pain.
In the presence of these diseases, it is recommended to completely avoid the lemon peel or limit its consumption.
Important: If you suffer from any gastrointestinal disease, see your doctor before taking lemon peel.
How to choose a good lemon?
The quality of a lemon depends on its maturity, the thickness of the shell and its freshness. To know how to choose a good lemon, you have to know some tips:
- The maturity of the product does not depend on the color of the peel. If Maduro is brilliant, as if it had been polished.
- We recommend buying a hard lemon or a slightly soft one. Hard lemons are not ripe and should be eaten slowly. Hard but elastic pressure indicates that it is mature. A soft fruit is too mature or slightly unbalanced inside and should be discarded.
- The rough lemons with the bark full of potholes mean that they are thick and have little pulp. Fine skin lemons are recommended. It is said that they come from young trees that fruit for the first time. These fruits have more nutrients than cobbled lemons.
- Brown spots in the fruit indicate that the product has frozen excessively. This means that a large percentage of its nutrients has disappeared, so the fruit has a minimal utility.
- If you can try the fruit before buying it, do it. If it is not bitter, it is mature, and if it is, the opposite.
How to get lemon peel
The lemon peel can be obtained using various kitchen utensils that everyone has at home. The most used utensils are: a grater, a vegetable peel and a fruits knife. The manipulation is done using a grater as follows:
- Wash the fruit well, since your skin will be used to cook. Wash it with warm water.
- Prepare a cutting board, a fine grater, a plate to save the zest.
- Place the grater on the table. Grill the yellow part of the lemon. Rub in one direction, from top to bottom.
- GROUND UNTIL THE WHITE LAYER OF THE FRUIT APPEARS, AND BELOW, CHANGE SITE.
Important: Do not remove the zest from the ends of the lemon.
Peel using a vegetable peel:
- Wash the fruit under water;
- Hold the lemon with one hand and peel it with the other.
- Be careful not to grab the white part of the lemon.
With this method more zest is obtained than with a grater. It will be less tasty. The pieces will also be larger and can not be used in some dishes. They are used to decorate cocktails. If necessary, it can be cut into smaller pieces.
To peel with a knife, use a smal l-sized fruit peel. If you peel with a knife, the skin will be dry and will not contain lemon juice. Proceed as follows:
- Previously wash the fruit under water;
- Cut the two ends of the lemon;
- Place the fruit on a cutting table, with one of the ends cut down;
- Cut the bark into fine strips;
- Remove the white part of the fruit from the corteced cortex;
- If necessary, chop it finely.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the knife is very sharp.
Lemon peel in sugar
Mix sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Add 25 ml of water for each cup of sugar. Heat, add the zest. Remove from heat and drain the peel.
Confited lemon
Cut the lemons into fine slices. Pour into a mold, cover with boiling water. Remove the water. Then pour cold water. Drain after 1 minute. Put into a medium saucepan, pour a glass of water and add the sugar. Remove until sugar crystals dissolve. Cook over low heat for 60 minutes. Place the curd puff pastry prepared in the prepared fountain.
Lemon curd puff pastry
Use no yeast puff pastry already prepared or do your own. Extend the dough as a fine layer. Cut the dough into squares. Prepare the filling using any fat curd and lemon zest. Mix all the ingredients. Put the filling in a square and cover with another, seal the edges. Bake at 180 ° C for 25-30 minutes.
Citrus flavor pancakes
Add lemon zest, finely chopped, to any recipe for pancakes and batch. Mix all the ingredients to make the pancakes. In a separate bowl, add the sugar and lemon zest. Add to the dough at the end and mix well. Bake the pancakes.
Magdalens full of flavor
To make the muffins, eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, wheat flour, powdered yeast, sour cream and vanilla are used. The lemon zest and fruit juice are previously extracted. In a separate container, 3 eggs and a glass of sugar are beaten. Then add half a glass of vegetable oil, lemon juice and zest. Be hit. Add 1. 5 teaspoon powder yeast and a vanilla bag. Add 2 flour cups. Add 2 flour cups. In the end pour a cup of sour cream. Remove the dough. Dissolve in molds. Bake for 30 minutes at 200 ° C.
Aromatic bark cake
Sugar, butter, eggs, lemon, flour and dusty yeast are used for this cake. Prepare the lemon zest in advance. Beat 100 gr. of butter with 4 eggs, add the lemon zest to the mixture. Add a glass of flour and 1 teaspoon of dusty yeast. Knead the dough. Put in a greased mold and bake for 25-30 minutes at 200 ° C. Serve cold.
Conservation peculiarities
The lemon peel is used immediately, if something remains, it can be saved. If you plan to use it in the near future, put it in a glass fountain, cover the upper part with a hermetic or food film.
If sprinkling with sugar, the peel can be kept for a few weeks. It can be added to tea or used to make baked products. If small pieces are left over that they will not be used soon, you have to dry them in the sun or heat them slightly in the oven to 100 ° C for 10 minutes.
The thick pieces obtained with a knife or a vegetable peel dried for 3 days to the sun in a well ventilated place. They are removed from time to time. The lemon peel adds a special flavor to all dishes. The products baked with the shell are delicate and can surprise diners for their flavor.
In addition to its use in the kitchen, the shell is also used in cosmetology and popular medicine. It helps maintain skin tone and prevents facial wrinkles. Orally it has medicinal and antioxidant effects. Taking it in unlimited amounts can lead to health problems.
