Lemon is among the most popular citrus fruits. You know at least a few of its uses, right? However, when it comes to its peel, you often can't imagine where else it would be used, except for flavoring homemade pastries.
Even in these cases, only the outer layer is used - the lemon peel, as it is called in the culinary world. The truth is that even the white part between the fruit itself and its surface, is benefitial and can be used.
First of all, it is full of healthy substances. One spoon has only 1 gram of carbohydrates, but also a whole gram of fiber, as well as 10% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C. The lemon peel also contains small amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium.
This part of the citrus is very healthy for the teeth. It is suitable for maintaining good oral hygiene because it has antibacterial properties. They restrict the growth of certain bacteria in the oral cavity, which causes us to develop caries and other dental diseases. It also has whitening properties. This makes it a wonderful natural and harmless way to achieve a beautiful smile.
The lemon peel is also extremely rich in antioxidants. They fight free radicals that damage the cells. The type of antioxidants - flavonoids, which are contained in the lemon peel, are known for other properties - they have been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as cancer - especially for stomachc cancer.
Apart from bacteria and free radicals, the lemon peel also fights against germs and fungi. Studies have already shown that it successfully limits the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are one of the biggest problems of our time.
Lemon peel is also recommended for biliary diseases. Flavonoids help treat kidney stones. Some studies go further - by directly injecting antioxidants into the cortex of the body, nearly 50% of people in the study report that gallstones have disappeared completely and permanently.
How can you take advantage of all the health benefits of lemon peel? Add not only the yellow outer layer, but also the white part of the peel when cooking - both in cakes and in raw dishes. It is suitable for preparing fish, soups, salad dressings, marinades, as well as adding them to smoothies, cocktails or homemade lemonades.
