Many studies focus on the therapeutic virtues of lemon on the well-being and overall health of the body. Indeed, it is enough to integrate citrus into your daily life to observe the benefits, especially to promote the elimination of toxins harmful to your body. On the other hand, being constantly focused on citrus juice and pulp, we often miss out on the many benefits of its zest. Explanations.
You may not know it, but the peels of fruits and vegetables are for the most part excellent sources of antioxidants, including polyphenols that protect against oxidative stress and help fight against aging cells. Indeed, citrus fruit is full of benefits that we can take advantage of, starting with incorporating his zest into our daily lives.
Some advantages of using lemon zest:
1- Good for your immune system: Lemon peels, like other citrus fruits, have good doses of vitamin C which help strengthen the immune system. So adding zest to your meals or tea can be an effective cure for pathogens.
2- Good for your digestive system: The zest of lemon contains a good concentration of fibers. These promote the proper functioning of the digestive system by avoiding unpleasant bloating and improving your intestinal transit at the same time. Mixed with olive oil to season your salads or alone incorporated in your desserts, it will bring a touch of freshness while making you benefit from its virtues!
3- Good for heart health: According to the findings of an in vivo study, the consumption of lemon juice and aqueous extracts of its zest would significantly reduce blood pressure if it is combined with physical activity like walking. In addition, the polyphenol content of the citrus fruit and its bark would act effectively to combat the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thus preventing clogging of the arteries.
4- Good for controlling weight: When referring to the lemon's ability to promote weight loss, we are mainly interested in citrus polyphenols and flavonoids. According to a study conducted on rodents, these molecules present in the citrus fruit and its zest would limit weight gain while regulating the metabolism of lipids.
5- Good for the skin: Thanks to the essential oils and the vitamin C that it contains, the zest of lemon gives you antioxidant benefits to preserve a clear and healthy skin and fight against acne.
To use it at home, place your peels in a bowl and cover them with coconut essential oil. Heat in a bain-marie for 2 to 3 hours over very low heat. This will allow you to extract the essential oil from the zest of your citrus fruit. Then let stand for 2 hours then filter everything before pouring the contents of your bowl into a glass container that you close hermetically. You can apply this preparation to your skin for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water. To know that it is better to keep your jar in a cool and dark place.
6- Good for hunting insects: Need to repel insects without harming your health? It is possible to use lemon zests in a simple and natural way. To do this, simply arrange the lemon peel on their way. Windows, doors or bay windows, you will manage to block the access of your interior to these little animals without using chemicals.
7- Ideal to neutralize bad odors: Lemon is known for its powerful scent that is concentrated in its bark. So you can use lemon zest to neutralize foul odors in your trash cans or refrigerators.
CAUTION :
Lemon peels contain oxalate which can promote the appearance of kidney stones if consumed in excess. If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a medical opinion.
Lemon is not recommended in case of gastric and / or biliary disorders. Also know that its topical application is not recommended before exposure to the sun, citrus being photosensitizing.
