Spring is a great season for health preservation, and many people choose this time to focus on it. There are many fruits suitable for eating in spring, but after eating the fruit, how do you handle the peel? Do you throw it away or... Here are the 8 amazing health benefits of peels you might not know about.
1. Watermelon Peel for Clearing Heat and Relieving Summer Heat
Watermelon peel is rich in carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins, and has effects such as clearing heat and relieving summer heat, purging fire and eliminating vexation, and lowering blood pressure. It can be eaten cold, stir-fried with meat, or used to make soup.
2. Apple Peel for Antioxidation
Apple peel is rich in dietary fiber, which aids digestion. Almost half of the vitamin C in an apple is found just beneath the skin. Studies have shown that apple peel has stronger antioxidant properties than the flesh, even more so than many other fruits and vegetables. Many manufacturers have already started extracting active substances from apple peels to develop functional foods.
3. Pear Peel for Clearing the Mind and Moisturizing the Lungs
Pear peel is a traditional Chinese medicine with high medicinal value, capable of clearing the mind, moisturizing the lungs, reducing fire, and promoting the production of body fluids. Washing and chopping the pear peel, then stewing it with rock sugar in water, can treat coughs. Adding a bit of pear peel when making homemade pickles makes them crunchier and more delicious.
4. Orange Peel for Stimulating Appetite and Resolving Phlegm
Orange peel is rich in various nutrients such as vitamin C, carotene, and protein, and can be used to make many delicious dishes. Orange peel porridge is aromatic and appetizing, and can also treat symptoms like chest and abdominal bloating or a cough with excessive phlegm. Adding a few pieces of orange peel to meat soup can make the broth tastier and reduce its greasiness. Steeping orange peel in water or tea has a fresh aroma and can stimulate appetite, relieve flatulence, and refresh the mind. Steeping orange peel in wine has the effect of clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm. Lemon peel is similar.
5. Tomato Peel for Preventing Cancer
Lycopene is the most powerful natural antioxidant discovered to date. It can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, boost the body's immunity, and prevent cancer. It is most abundant in the tomato peel. Additionally, tomato peel helps maintain intestinal health. Therefore, eating tomatoes with their skin on is the most nutritious way.
6. Grape Peel for Lowering Blood Lipids
Grape peel contains more resveratrol than the flesh and seeds of grapes. It has effects such as lowering blood lipids, preventing thrombosis, preventing arteriosclerosis, and enhancing immunity. The flavonoids in purple grape peel, in particular, also have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Grape peel is also rich in fiber, pectin, and iron. Research has begun on using grape peel to process foods for treating high cholesterol and diabetes.
7. Cucumber Peel for Detoxification
Cucumber peel contains more cucurbitacins, which are the essence of the cucumber's nutrition. Eating cucumbers with the peel allows for full absorption of vitamin C and helps the body detoxify effectively. Furthermore, cucumber peel has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. "Fresh Mixed Three Peels," a cold salad made by blanching watermelon peel, cucumber peel, and winter melon peel, is perfect for people on a diet.
8. Eggplant Peel for Protecting Cardiovascular Health
Eggplant is an excellent food therapy choice for patients with cardiovascular diseases, but most of its nutrients are hidden in the peel. Peeling the eggplant not only reduces its health value but also causes the iron in it to oxidize upon contact with air, turning it black and affecting the body's absorption of iron.
So, after reading the above, you should have a new perspective on these fruits and vegetables. Re-understand their nutritional value and don't throw away these good things anymore. In fact, the prevention of disease often starts with these inconspicuous foods. Now, you should also start making good use of these "peels".