Most of us are familiar with citrus fruits for snacking and cooking. There is nothing better than a sweet juicy orange with lunch or a squirt of lemon on fish. Citrus is packed full of healthy vitamins, minerals and fiber that benefit our health as well as our taste buds. But did you know the peel (rind) of citrus fruit also packs a nutritional punch. Yes, there is more to a peel than just zesting!
Today modern medicine acknowledges that peels are a good source of insoluble fiber which helps the digestive system run smoothly. This is something that herbalists have known for centuries. The Chinese used the rinds of mandarin oranges and bitter oranges for specific health support. They found it particularly useful for the support of digestive and respiratory health.
Bulk herbs in peel form:
Parts of a Citrus Peel/Rind
Flavedo – The tough outer skin of the fruit. It contains cellulose, essential oils, paraffin waxes, steroids, triterpenoids, fatty acids, pigments, limonene which are bitter, and enzymes.
Albedo – In inner part of the rind (peel). It is also referred to as the pith.
Carpels with Juicy Vesicles – The pulp of the fruit that is usually eaten.
Central Column – Is the core of the fruit.
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No attribution required April 4th 2016