Lemon Zest And Its Lesser Known Uses

Although lemon peel can be very beneficial in many cases, to take advantage of all its properties, it is important to use organic lemons, in order to avoid harmful chemicals.

Lemon is one of the citrus fruits that is most used for gastronomic, medicinal and cosmetic purposes, together with its peel.

Its high content of vitamin C, antioxidants and essential oils is useful for improving the appearance of the skin and preventing the development of diseases.

What many still don’t know, however, is that lemon zest, the part we usually throw in the trash, contains up to 10 times more vitamins than juice and a high concentration of fiber and minerals.

While we don’t usually include it in our diet for cultural reasons, many people actually use lemon zest for a wide variety of purposes.

It contains essential oils, citric acid and other important compounds that can be used for health, home and beauty care.

Since we know that many are unaware of all the possible uses of lemon peel, in this article we will reveal a series of tricks that will prevent you from wasting this treasure of nature.

Take notes!

Use lemon zest

1. Purifying tea

Vitamin C and pectin which contains lemon zest are useful for purifying the liver, colon and kidneys.

Its active compounds favor the elimination of toxins and create a protective barrier against the negative effect of free radicals.

Ingredients

• 2 lemon peels
• 1 liter of water

What needs to be done?

• Boil the lemon zest in a liter of water, lower the heat and let the infusion rest for 15 minutes.
• Wait until the temperature becomes bearable and drink three times a day.

2. Lemon peel flavored oil

To add extra flavor to your salads, soups and stews, prepare an oil flavored with grated lemon zest.

Ingredients

• 2 lemon peels
• 1 bottle of olive oil

What needs to be done?

• Grate the lemon peels and add them to the bottle of olive oil.
• Let them macerate for a couple of days and start using them.

3. Natural fragrance for environments

The strong smell of lemon peel and its natural oils are perfect for eliminating bad smells from the house.

Ingredients

• 2 lemon peels
• ½ liter of water
• 3 branches of fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (5 ml)

What needs to be done?

• Put the lemon peels in half a liter of water and boil them together with the rosemary and vanilla.
• When the infusion is ready, let it rest and pour the liquid into a bottle with a nebulizer.
• Spray it in the areas you want.

4. Softening cream for elbows and heels

The elbows and heels are areas that become dry easily due to the absence of sebaceous glands.

To reduce black spots and dead skin cells, combine grated lemon zest with baking soda.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of grated lemon zest (20 g)

• 6 drops of lemon
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda (5 g)

What needs to be done?

• Prepare a paste with all the ingredients and rub on the areas you want to treat with gentle massages.
• Let it act for 5 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
• Avoid exposing yourself to the sun immediately afterwards.

5. Clean the oven with the lemon zest

The aromatic and disinfectant properties of lemon zest can be used to eliminate dirt, bad smells and oven fats.

Ingredients

• 2 fresh lemon peels
• 1 glass of water (200 ml)

What needs to be done?

• Put the lemon peels in a glass of water and put the solution inside the oven.

• Heat it for about 30 seconds, wait a few minutes and remove the dirt with a microfiber cloth.

6. Nail whitener

If you notice that your nails are yellow and weak, put some lemon zest in a clear polish and rub directly.

Ingredients

• 1 lemon zest
• 1 clear nail polish

What needs to be done?

Grate the zest and add it to a nail polish.

You can also take the white part of the peel and rub it twice a day on the nails to be treated.

7. Treatments for blackheads

The astringent power of lemon bark and its antibacterial qualities facilitate the cleaning of pores to eliminate blackheads and the shiny effect of the skin.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of grated lemon zest (20 g)
• 1 tablespoon of sugar (5 g)
• 2 tablespoons of cucumber juice (20 ml)

What needs to be done?

• Prepare a dough with the grated zest, sugar and cucumber juice.
• Rub it on your face and let it act for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water and repeat the application three times a week.

As you have noticed, the rinds that we throw away too easily are actually very useful.

Put these tricks into practice and take advantage of all its benefits.