Does Orange Peel Contain Vitamin C

Does Orange Peel Contain Vitamin C

April 10, 2020 beauty, recipes, zero waste, zero waste beauty, Zero Waste Cooking, Zero Waste DIY, zero waste home, zero waste kitchen, Zero Waste Moms, zero waste recipes

It's not news that oranges, like all citrus fruits, are packed with vitamin C. But you might be surprised to learn that orange peels are also packed with fiber, and rich in nutrients, like vitamin C, calcium, several B vitamins, vitamin A, flavonoids and polyphenols.

1 tablespoon (about 6 grams) of orange peel provides 14% of your Daily Value of vitamin C. Read more about the benefits of Vitamin C.

But munching on orange peels isn't exactly tasty, so here's how to make it into a powder so you can easily sprinkle it into your smoothies, juice, tea on top of oatmeal, cereal, or yogurt!

Note: Use organic oranges! Pesticides settle on the outside of produce, and a simple scrub under water most likely won't remove enough of the toxins to make this powder worthwhile.

DIY Vitamin C Powder

Materials:

1. 4-8 oranges, washed an dried (the amount shown in the jar above is from 4 oranges)
2. Blender, food processor, or coffee grinder
3. Optional: oven or dehydrator.
4. small air tight container

Directions:

Wash the oranges, scrubbing off any dirt from the peel and pat dry.

Peel the oranges – either consuming the fruit, juicing them, or however else you prefer to use your orange fruit. Just save the peels and pith.

Drying the peels

Dehydrator: If you have a dehydrator,  set it to a low temperature oven (around 100 to 105 degrees, if possible). This can take 12-24 hours!

Oven:Evenly layer the orange peels on a baking sheet and bake in a 200F oven until hard and crispy, about 50 minutes, but check on them after 30. Don't let them burn!

Natural: You can also leave the peels in a warm, dry place for several days until fully dry.

Once dry and crispy, you are ready for the next step.

Powderize the peels

Using a blender or electric coffee grinder, process the peels under they are a fine powder.

Storage

Store in a mason jar or airtight container – you want to fit it in the smallest jar possible, leaving little room in the container for air. The more air in the jar, the faster it will oxidize and spoil.

Store in the fridge for up to one year.

Serving

Since we aren't wasting all the nutrients that is stored in the pith, and the pith can be quite bitter, I recommend adding a natural sweetener, like maple syrup, to counteract the taste.

I usually aim for 3 tablespoons throughout the day. It's difficult to overdose on vitamin C and would require consuming several cups of powderized orange peels (and no that's not a challenge.)

For children, 1-2 tablespoons is perfectly reasonable, if they like the taste.

My favorite Vitamin C Powder Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 3/4 cup frozen spinach (or kale)
• 1 cup of fresh or frozen orange juice (juice your own!)
• 1 cup of ice water
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon Vitamin C Powder
• 1 and 1/2 to 2 and 1/2 tablespoons of maple syrup or sweetener preference, to taste (optional)

Directions:

1.) Soak chia seeds in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes.

2.) Add all ingredients to blender, process until smooth

3.) Serve cold!

Vitamin C Powder Skin Calming Mask:

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons orange peel powder
• 1 tablespoon oatmeal (ground into powder, if possible)
• 2-3 tablespoons warm water

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix the orange peel powder and oatmeal
2. Gradually add warm water and mix until a thick paste is formed
3. Remove all make up, wash and dry face.
4. Using clean hands, gently massage a thick coat of the mixture onto your face.
5. Relax for 15 minutes.
6. Rinse your face with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Your skin will feel vibrant, refreshed and clean.

Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal that has been ground up and suspended in warm water. It can be especially helpful calming eczema (and other forms of dermatitis), something I have had since I was a kid. If my skin feels a bit dry afterwards, I will apply a few drops of jojoba oil and massage it in. Unfortunately, I have a bad reaction to coconut oil.

Notes:

Note: Use organic oranges! Pesticides settle on the outside of produce, and a simple scrub under water most likely won't remove enough of the toxins to make this powder worthwhile.

Further reading:

Orange Juice: The Dirty Truth

Sources:

USDA: Orange peel, raw

Does Orange Peel Contain Vitamin C

Source: https://zerowastecalifornia.org/2020/04/10/diyvitamincpowder/