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Tangerine peel, that is, the dried peel of citrus, has a wide range of applications in traditional Chinese medicine and is known as the "medicine for all diseases". But no matter how good things are, if they are not used correctly, they can also cause damage to the body. In this article, I want to talk to you about the "2 wants and 2 don'ts" of tangerine peel soaked in water, otherwise the stomach and intestines will really hurt.
Choose the right tangerine peel and drink the right tangerine peel
First of all, the first point of drinking tangerine peel water is to choose a high-quality tangerine peel. There are many types of tangerine peel in the market, but not all tangerine peel can be used in medicine. Tangerine peel needs to be naturally aged for more than three years to remove excess volatile oils and make them more effective.
The tangerine peel should be yellow-brown or tan in color and smell fresh rather than musty. High-quality tangerine peel is high in flavonoids, such as flavonoid glycosides and flavonoids, the main components of flavonoids, which have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Studies have shown that high-quality tangerine peel has more than 30% higher antioxidant activity than ordinary tangerine peel.
Drinking in moderation is also key. Excessive intake of anything can have negative effects, and tangerine peel is no exception. Drinking tangerine peel water should be controlled at an appropriate amount every day, and it is recommended that the amount of tangerine peel should not exceed 10 grams per day to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.
An appropriate amount of tangerine peel water can promote digestion, improve gastrointestinal function, and help relieve symptoms such as indigestion.
Avoid an empty stomach and stay away from cold foods
Drinking tangerine peel water on an empty stomach is not recommended as it may lead to excessive gastric acid secretion, causing stomach discomfort and even stomach ulcers. In particular, drinking tangerine peel water on an empty stomach in the morning can easily irritate the stomach lining and lead to excessive stomach acid, which is very bad for stomach health in the long run.
The best time to drink it is after a meal, which not only helps digestion but also avoids stomach irritation. Experiments have shown that subjects who drink tangerine peel water on an empty stomach have 40% higher gastric acid secretion than those who drink after meals.
Tangerine peel water should not be drunk with cold food. Cold foods such as cucumber and watermelon can conflict with the warming effect of tangerine peel and lead to digestive disorders. Cold food itself is easy to cause stomach cold, and if it is combined with the effect of tangerine peel, it may cause indigestion and stomach pain.
Studies have shown that up to 50% of the experimental group with tangerine peel water and cold food have indigestion and stomach pain.
The protective effect of tangerine peel on the stomach and intestines
Tangerine peel is not only a precaution in drinking, it also has a significant protective effect on the stomach. Studies have found that the flavonoids in tangerine peel can effectively promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and improve gastrointestinal health. Tangerine peel water can increase the frequency of gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote food digestion, and reduce gastrointestinal discomfort.
The flavonoids in tangerine peel, such as flavonoid glycosides, improve digestive function and reduce the occurrence of constipation by promoting peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract.
Its anti-inflammatory effects also help to relieve inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing symptoms such as stomach pain and bloating. Drinking tangerine peel water in moderation can significantly improve the health of the stomach and intestines.
Other health benefits of tangerine peel water
In addition to its protective effect on the stomach and intestines, tangerine peel water also has a wide range of applications in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer applications. A variety of active ingredients in tangerine peel, such as flavonoids, volatile oils, etc., have strong antioxidant capacity, which can remove free radicals in the body and slow down the aging process.
The flavonoids in tangerine peel can effectively scavenge free radicals in the body, and the antioxidant effect is better than vitamin C. In terms of anti-inflammatory, the flavonoids in tangerine peel can inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors in the body, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and reduce inflammatory response. This makes tangerine peel water effective in relieving chronic inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.
In terms of anti-cancer, flavonoids such as flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid aglycones in tangerine peel can inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells through a variety of pathways. For example, studies have found that flavonoid glycosides can fight lung cancer cells by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.
Recommendations for drinking tangerine peel water
To get the most out of the health benefits of tangerine peel water while avoiding damage to your stomach and intestines, here are some tips for drinking it:
Choose high-quality tangerine peels: Make sure that the tangerine peels you buy have undergone sufficient natural aging, with a yellow-brown color and a fragrant smell.
Drink in moderation: Drink no more than 10 grams per day and avoid overdose.
Drink after meals: Avoid drinking on an empty stomach to reduce stomach irritation.
Avoid cold foods: Choose warm foods to reduce the risk of indigestion.
It is indeed a healthy habit to soak tangerine peel in water, but the premise is to pay attention to "2 wants and 2 don'ts", otherwise it will not only fail to achieve the effect of health care, but also may cause harm to the stomach and intestines.
Finally, what experiences and insights would you like to share? Feel free to leave a message in the comment area!
bibliography
- Shi, M., Guo, Q., Xiao, Z., Sarengaowa, Xiao, Y., Feng, K. (2024). Recent Advances in the Health Benefits and Application of Tangerine Peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium): A Review. Foods 2024, 13, 1978. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13131978