Citrus Peel

While the flesh and juice of citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are sweet or tart, the outer peel and white pith are bitter. This is due to the presence of flavonoids, which not only defend the fruit from pests but also offer several health advantages to humans. Citrus peels, in fact, have the highest concentration of flavonoids of any portion of the fruit. Hesperidin and naringin, two of the most common citrus flavonoids, are both potent antioxidants.

Citrus flavonoids may help fight cancer by lowering inflammation, increasing detoxification, and inhibiting the development and spread of cancer cells in test tubes and animals, but the human study is needed. If you want to eat the citrus peel, it can be grated and eaten as zest, dried and used in spice mixes, or candied and added to sweets.