Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : December 19, 2014 12:35 PM IST
With the winters here oranges have flooded the market. But apart from eating the juicy fruit or using it to make a healthy juice, you can use the peel to stay healthy too. Here are 7 ways orange peels are far better used than thrown away.
1. Is a great body scrub: Dried and ground orange peels make the perfect natural body scrub. Not only does it help make your skin silky smooth but it also helps keep it free of any infections. This is because of the peel's potent antibacterial properties. Apart from that, oranges have compounds (that are most concentrated in its skin) that help beat inflammation, making an orange peel perfect to treat irritated skin. What's more, the orange peel has skin softening properties too and helps get rid of dead skin and ingrown hair.
Tip to use: Run a warm bath and add some crushed orange peel to it. Avoid adding any other type of soap to the water as this could undo the good that the orange peel will do. Allow the warm water to stand for about 15 minutes before you step in for that relaxing bath.
2. Is the perfect natural cleanser: Orange peels are great for your skin. Not only do its citric properties help keep pimples at bay, reduce oiliness, get rid of blemishes and help beat wrinkles but is also a very potent cleanser. Read more about how you can use orange peels to get rid of common beauty problems.
Tip for use: Sun dry orange peels and crush them. Add about a teaspoon of this to a bowl of besan and rose water to make an effective pack. Apply this on your face once a day and watch all your skin problems vanish. As an option, if you have dry skin add a little bit of full-fat milk to the mixture to help keep your skin supple and well moisturized.
3. Can help rejuvenate you : The citric scent of oranges is known to be very good in relaxing the mind and beating stress. It also helps relieve mild aches and pains in the body that makes it a perfect addition to a relaxing bath or as a part of scented candles. For that perfect stress buster extract some fresh orange oil and add use it as a part of your stress relief strategy.
Tip to use: Take some fresh orange peels and crush them while they are still fresh. Once you have a smooth paste, use a sieve and press out the oil. Now add this oil to a warm bath or as a part of some potpourri.
4. Can help beat depression, stress and ward off a cold: According to practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, orange peel has a number of health benefits including the ability to loosen mucus and relieve the symptoms of a cold. Therefore drinking orange peel tea is the perfect natural remedy for an upset stomach, get rid of excessive gas, treat a cold and get rid of congestion. It is also known to help beat depression and the ill effects of stress.
Tip for use: Put some orange peels in a pot of hot water and allow it to stand. Add some honey to this mixture and drink it while it is still warm. Make sure you drink this tea only twice a day.
Apart from all the benefits the tea has on your body, orange peels can help keep you home clean too.
5. Is a great way to clean your microwave and other greasy surfaces: The citric content of orange peels makes it a perfect way to get rid of grease and food odours from your microwave, refrigerator and kitchen. You can read more about natural ways to clean your refrigerator.
Tip for use: Mix crushed orange peels with a little vinegar and use it to clean the walls of your microwave, fridge and cooking surfaces.
6. Makes a healthy room freshener: Artificial room fresheners have been found to have immense ill effects on the human body. But that does mean you live in a home with over powering odours, you can use orange peels to help instead. The strong yet pleasant odour of an orange is not only an instant stress buster but the citric content in the peel helps get rid of even the most stubborn odours.
Tip to use: Add a small piece of orange peel to an uncovered pot of boiling water. Boil it till you see vapours rising from the pot and allow it to boil till the water almost dries up. Another way you can use an orange peel is to put a few pieces of it in in an uncovered bowl with water in your microwave. Allow it to boil and watch the vapours vanish.
7. Helps keep mosquitoes and ants at bay : The citric smell of orange is a great deterrent for mosquitoes and ants. So simply applying a little orange oil on your body or spreading some crushed orange powder in the areas that ants enter your house help naturally keep this critters away.
Image source: Getty Images
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