Orange peel tea: what it is for, how to make it and care

Orange peel tea: what it is for, how to make it and care

Natural treatments

Orange peel tea is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, strengthening the immune system and helping to prevent problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and flu.

Furthermore, orange peel tea is a good option to help with weight loss, as it has excellent amounts of potassium, a mineral with diuretic properties, helping to eliminate excess body fluid and slim the belly.

The tea is prepared with fresh or dehydrated orange peel, and can be consumed pure or with cinnamon, ginger and honey, thus varying the flavors and nutrients of the drink. However, to obtain the benefits of this tea, it is also recommended to maintain a healthy diet, as well as exercise regularly.

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What is orange peel tea good for?

Orange peel tea can be recommended for:

1. Help with weight loss

As it contains excellent amounts of potassium, orange peel tea promotes the elimination of excess body fluid, deflating the belly and contributing to weight loss.

Furthermore, orange peel has 4 times more fiber than the fruit, making this tea a good option to help prolong satiety and control the desire to eat.

2. Prevent cancer

Orange peel tea is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, such as hesperidin and naringenin, which have antioxidant action, helping to fight excess free radicals and thus preventing some types of cancer.

3. Help in the treatment of varicose veins

Orange peel has great amounts of hesperidin, a flavonoid that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, improving blood circulation.

Therefore, orange peel tea can be a good option to prevent and help treat varicose veins and tired legs.

4. Control high blood pressure

Orange peel tea has good amounts of potassium, a mineral that helps eliminate excess sodium from the body through urine, helping to control high blood pressure.

Furthermore, orange peel contains great amounts of antioxidants, such as hesperidin and nobiletin, which improve artery health and prevent the formation of free radicals, preventing high blood pressure.

5. Prevent colds and flu

As it contains 3 times more vitamin C than the fruit, orange peel tea helps to strengthen the immune system, preventing colds. See some recipes with orange peel to prevent and fight colds.

The antioxidants, such as hesperidin, nobiletin and naringenin, present in good quantities in orange peel make this tea a good option for fighting excess free radicals and preventing the flu.

6. Prevent neurodegenerative diseases

Orange peel tea contains good amounts of the flavonoids nobiletin and tangeretin, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, protecting the cells of the central nervous system against free radicals, and can help prevent diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. .

7. Prevent diabetes

Because it contains excellent amounts of antioxidants, orange peel tea helps improve the functions of insulin, the hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar levels, preventing diabetes.

8. Detoxify the liver

Orange tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which fight free radicals, in addition to protecting and improving liver functions, thus contributing to the elimination of toxins from the body.

How to prepare orange peel tea

Orange peel tea can be made with the dried or fresh peels of the fruit, and it is recommended to prioritize, when possible, the organic or agroecological versions of the fruit, as they do not contain pesticides, which are chemical products that are used to kill insects in plants. See what they are and how to avoid consuming pesticides.

The nutrients present in the orange peel are preserved even when heated to 70ºC, as long as the tea is not reheated and is consumed within a maximum of 20 minutes after preparation.

1. Orange peel tea

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of fresh or dehydrated orange peel (without the white part);
  • 200 ml of water.

Preparation mode:

When using the fresh peel, you must wash the orange well before peeling. Boil water in a kettle or pan. Turn off the heat, let the water cool a little and add the orange peels. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then drink, without adding sugar or sweetener.

2. Orange peel tea with cinnamon

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of fresh or dehydrated orange peel (without the white part);
  • 200 ml of water;
  • 1 small piece of cinnamon stick.

Preparation mode:

If you prefer to use the fresh peel, it is important to wash the orange well before peeling. Boil water in a pan. Turn off the heat, let the water cool a little and add the cinnamon stick and orange peels. Cover and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon and orange peels and drink, without adding sugar or sweetener.

Care when drinking tea

Orange peel can contain pesticides, which can cause simple symptoms, headache or vomiting, or more serious problems, such as hormonal changes and cancer. Therefore, whenever possible, organic or agroecological oranges should be prioritized, which do not contain pesticides, thus avoiding the ingestion of these compounds.

Furthermore, it is important to avoid sun exposure for up to 6 hours after handling orange peels while preparing tea, as the peel contains photosensitive compounds that can cause skin burns.