Can Eating Lemon Rinds Make You Sick?

Tough and bitter, lemon rind isn't exactly an appealing food — in fact, many people don't realize you can eat it at all. However, eating lemon rinds helps reduce food waste, and can even be a tasty and surprisingly nutritious addition to your diet.

Despite the fact that lemon rind is less versatile than the fruit's flesh, there are plenty of ways to consume it. Lemon rind is a great way to add a citrus garnish to cocktails or add an extra kick to risotto. Insider even reports that a recent trend on Tiktok has people eating lemon peels in an attempt to feel a euphoric high — but that's probably just wishful thinking since. 

Since people don't typically consume lemon rinds, you may find yourself wondering if they're safe to eat at all. Fortunately, whether you want to liven up a dish, create an elegant garnish, or jump on the latest ill-conceived Tik Tok trend, the Center for Food Safety states that it's generally ok to eat the rinds. However, the site warns that you should stick to organic, unwaxed fruit.

Healthline reports that lemon rind isn't just safe to eat — like many citrus fruits, it's healthy, too. Lemon rinds contain a high concentration of vitamin C and other important nutrients. Just one tablespoon of lemon zest contains 9% of your daily vitamin C, and lemon peel is high in fiber, too. According to WebMD, lemons have a myriad of health benefits, including helping your heart, digestion, and immune system.

Lemon rind is also good for your teeth: One study suggested that the antibacterial properties of lemon peel could help prevent oral diseases. While eating lemon peel on its own probably won't have much of an effect on your teeth, the study suggests that employing lemon peels in oral care products could be a good way to make use of rinds, which are considered waste and often discarded by the citrus industry.