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Orange Zest Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Orange Zest: Mulled Spiced Wine
Recipes with Orange Zest: Mulled Spiced Wine
Zest of immature oranges is used medicinally. The volatile oils of the orange zest are used across many traditions for low agni, nausea and indigestion. It clears congestion.

Orange zest is used in weight loss formulas. It speeds up the heart rate and increases blood pressure. It boosts the metabolic rate, expends calories and increases energy. Orange zest suppresses the appetite for Kapha but increases the appetite in Pitta and Vata.

Orange zest contains volatile oils that sparkle when orange skin is squeezed over a candle. Like most volatile oils, the oil in orange zest is an anti-spasmodic.

The fruit is also known as zhi shi (in traditional Chinese medicine). It's known as green orange, sour orange and bitter orange in other parts of the world.

About Orange Zest

The zest is the orange skin of the orange. The rind is the white part of the orange beneath.

Buying & Preparation

Zest peelers are the easiest way to get the zest from citrus fruits. Otherwise I use a knife to slice the zest from the rind before cutting the orange. Has anyone ever tried a cheese grater?

Cooking Orange Zest

Make into a medicinal marmalade with ginger. Or into a cranberry sauce.

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Is Orange Zest Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Orange Zest' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Metabolic Nature of Orange Zest

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Subtaste:
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Orange Zest
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

,
Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:
Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Vessel Tonic

VESSEL-TONIC

An herb that improves the tone and integrity of blood vessel walls. This is helpful in easy bruising.

SEE ALL 'VESSEL-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Orange Zest

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Digestive, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Digestive, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Zest

    Lemon Zest has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Nervine, Wakes-you-up, Appetizer, Digestive, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

  • Ajwain

    Ajwain has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Cardamom

    Cardamom has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Nervine, Appetizer, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Dill

    Dill has these Actions in Common

    Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Nervine, Appetizer, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Cilantro

    Cilantro has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Refreshing, Appetizer, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Nervine, Appetizer

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Appetizer, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Hing (Asafoetida)

    Hing (Asafoetida) has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Orange Zest

  • Bitter Orange Peel

    Bitter Orange Peel has these Actions in Common

    Vessel-tonic, Wakes-you-up, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Carminative, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer

    LEARN MORE

  • Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

    Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Spleen-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

    External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Digestive, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

    Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Vessel-tonic, Carminative, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Appetizer, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Orange Zest may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

View other ingredients
for Autumn-Winter

Orange Zest is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter foods here.
VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA / KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 7 kids live in Asheville, NC

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