# Eating the skin of an orange **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2005, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990 "2005-06-05T11:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/21 "2005-06-05T20:25:55Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > I heard of a kid who got the stem stuck in his backbone by swallowing it wrong and died šŸ˜• :eek: real news story!), Iā€™m wierd too. šŸ˜‰ An apple stem stuck in his backbone from swallowing it? That would be quite an astounding achievement for any person of normal anatomy. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/22 "2005-06-05T20:34:07Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > An apple stem stuck in his backbone from swallowing it? That would be quite an astounding achievement for any person of normal anatomy. My goodness, to think I always naĆÆvely believed the esophagus emptied directly into the stomach. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/23 "2005-06-05T22:07:31Z")
It was a real news story, not an urban legend or some shizzel I heard from friends. Ima go find it on google and go huzzah. By the way, when was it decided to use slang like ā€˜huzzahā€™ and ā€˜dear Ogā€™ on SD? Just a general memetic/inside-joke/slang kinda thing? Huzzah is from Simpsons, right, and Og is meant to be secularly-based, Iā€™m guessing. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/24 "2005-06-05T22:24:55Z")
During my college and military days, I had a friend that would take the lemon slice from his ice tea and eat it whole (peeling and seeds). Since I donā€™t like lemon in my tea, he usually ate my slice as well. Here is another use for orange peel. Take the peelings from two oranges, two cups of sugar and 1 pint of vodka. Put ingredients in a bottle and place in the refrigerator. Shake once a day for a couple weeks (or until sugar competely dissolves.) Discard peelings and sip slowly or use in mixed drink. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/25 "2005-06-06T00:22:23Z")
> [@Nanoda](#): > > Iā€™m very interested to hear the opinions on whole-citrus-blender-orange juice.šŸ˜› Well I ran out of oranges so I used a whole grapefruit. I needed some added water to make it a drinkable thickness. After that I would say it was great. Nice and strong. I liked it and will do it again. I can still taste and smell the oils. I must be citrus fresh on the insides. Oh yea, my tounge is a little numb. Pleasantly numb ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/26 "2005-06-06T00:45:40Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > It was a real news story, not an urban legend or some shizzel I heard from friends. Well, that raises the possibility it was genuine to at least two percent! šŸ˜ƒ > [@](#): > > By the way, when was it decided to use slang like ā€˜huzzahā€™ and ā€˜dear Ogā€™ on SD? Just a general memetic/inside-joke/slang kinda thing? Huzzah is from Simpsons, right, and Og is meant to be secularly-based, Iā€™m guessing. šŸ˜‰ Huzzah is a very old cheer, actually. It goes back to middle english, so surpasses ā€œThe Simpsonsā€ by about 600 years, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/27 "2005-06-06T00:47:05Z")
I occasionally use pickeled lemon peel as a garnish for chicken schnitzel, along with the capers. Itā€™s yummy! But the recipe does call for organically grown lemons, well scrubbed, to be used for the pickeling. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/28 "2005-06-06T00:57:55Z")
> [@Qadgop](#): > > Huzzah is a very old cheer, actually. It goes back to middle english, so surpasses ā€œThe Simpsonsā€ by about 600 years, at least. Just read the wiki page on it. Apparently the comic named _Knights of the Dinner Table_ made it a popular modern phrase. Wiki also reminded me that Og was the name of that dude who wouldnā€™t let Moses lead the Israelites through his land so they killed all them dudes. I remember that part when I read the Torah once. Badass. Also name of a bread. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/29 "2005-06-06T01:02:06Z")
I have eaten the peels from oranges and lemons for many years and suffered no ill effects (Although the wife thinks Iā€™m a bit loony, but in a good way!). BTW, the thin-skinned ā€œjuiceā€ oranges, like Valencias, not so good. I prefer a thick rind like on a navel orange. OTOH, grapefruit and lime peels are simply nasty. Too bitter for human consumption, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![serious\_lark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@serious\_lark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serious_lark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/30 "2005-06-06T03:38:06Z")
In terms of benefits of eating orange peel: - peel of certain citrus fruits (lemon, orange & grapefruit) contains significant amounts of d-limonene, which studies show has cancer-protecting activity against a variety of cancers. Please see this link: ([http://www.sunkist.com/snb/press/06\_03\_skin\_cancer.asp](http://www.sunkist.com/snb/press/06_03_skin_cancer.asp)) for more information. -([http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/20040504004516\_health\_news.shtml](http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/20040504004516_health_news.shtml) ) reveals that the peel of citrus fruits contain polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) that in study have been shown to lower cholesterol. -of course, orange peel has a good amount of fibre & vitamin C Please see this link ([http://www.foodexperts.net/ask\_the\_expert/topten.php?action=showqa&id=138](http://www.foodexperts.net/ask_the_expert/topten.php?action=showqa&id=138)) for the issues re: wax & pesticide. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/31 "2005-06-06T15:59:01Z")
I recently heard of a lemon tart recipie which uses as filling an entire (de-pitted) lemon, ground in a blender. Itā€™s supposed to be wonderfully tart. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/32 "2005-06-06T16:03:11Z")
Just be aware that, anecdotally speaking only, citrus peels have been known in some people to be powerful laxatives. ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/33 "2005-06-06T16:12:38Z")
I eat kumquats with the peels on. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/34 "2005-06-09T01:07:28Z")
I make a cranberry salad at Thanksgiving that calls for grinding cranberries and two oranges (cut into eighths) together before adding them to the remaining ingredients (cherry jello, sugar, and pecans). Itā€™s delicious. And I frequently add orange zest to baked goods. As others have noted, itā€™s better to go organic to avoid the pesticide residue. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/35 "2005-06-09T01:27:19Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > Ever had Orange-Flavored Chicken chinese food? The big-piece kind? They leave little pieces of orange peel in at the bottom in all the sauce, and some pieces stick to the chicken. Iā€™ve eaten a few by mistake. > > **I usually eat the entire apple, core and all** (after chewing of course, but not the stem b/c I heard of a kid who got the stem stuck in his backbone by swallowing it wrong and died šŸ˜• :eek: real news story!), Iā€™m wierd too. šŸ˜‰ While you probably couldnā€™t eat enough to do any real damage, keep in mind that apple seeds contain cyanide. So letā€™s not go toasting them and popping them like sunflower seeds. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/36 "2005-06-09T15:53:06Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > While you probably couldnā€™t eat enough to do any real damage, keep in mind that apple seeds contain cyanide. So letā€™s not go toasting them and popping them like sunflower seeds. Actually toasting the seeds breaks down the cyanogenetic glycosides which react with digestion enzymes to create the toxic hydrogen cyanide. And with modern domestic apples I suspect youā€™d have to eat a whole lot of seeds before youā€™d start seeing any toxic effects. Apricot seeds have sufficient levels of the compounds to cause toxicity (i.e. the ā€œmiracle cancer cureā€ Laitril) but when roasted are safe for consumption. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/37 "2005-06-09T16:01:41Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > Just be aware that, anecdotally speaking only, citrus peels have been known in some people to be powerful laxatives. Damn straight! Goes through me like a freight train. And remember that the orange oil that is all the rage as a cleaning product comes out of the peel. :eek: Now that I think of it, frozen, concentrated orange juice has bitter flavors that are more reminiscent of the flavor of orange peel than what comes out of orangeā€™s innards. When they make orange juice commercially do they squeeze the entire orange and discard the waste products? Itā€™s good they can sell the waste these days: skim the oil and sell it to soap companies so they can mark it up phenomenally on infomercials while the solids go to Booneā€™s Farm for fermenting into Strawberry Hill. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/38 "2005-06-09T16:03:25Z")
> [@](#): > > While you probably couldnā€™t eat enough to do any real damage, keep in mind that apple seeds contain cyanide. So letā€™s not go toasting them and popping them like sunflower seeds. Also consider that the job of the seed is to pass through the digestive system of the animal and end up on the ground with fertilizing excrement, so you wouldnā€™t expect the seed to get digested (unless youā€™re chewing them up). So little if any of that cyanide ought to end up in you. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/39 "2005-06-09T16:08:15Z")
Eh, Iā€™ve been eating whole lemons and assorted citrus peels for decades. Like **kniz** ā€™s friend Ill also cheerfully eat the lemon slice out of my iced tea to the frequent horror of my tablemates ( but not somebody elseā€™s lemon slice - how unhygenic! šŸ˜› ). A tasty treat with the added benefit of freaking out your friends. There is no bad there :). - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990/40 "2005-06-09T16:11:40Z")
Plus all those phytochemicals! šŸ˜ƒ - Tamerlane [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-skin-of-an-orange/306990.md?page=3)