Upon first impulse most will thoughtlessly discard the peels of their banana, and justifiably so. What many don't realize is the skin holds a host of nutritional benefits that do not belong in the rubbish. Even better this goes for more than just bananas.
Banana peels are a
better source of fiber than the inside of the fruit. The peel can
reduce cholesterol and help maintain a healthy weight. Most
interestingly the peel contains some great antioxidants. Banana peels
contain lutein, another carotenoid with antioxidant properties. It’s
known to reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals to
various organs, including your skin, but also provides nutritional
sustenance to your eyes. Lutein reduces the risk of macular
degeneration and cataracts, filters out harmful UV rays, and protects
your eyes from free radical damage.
Most of us who eat
oranges, normally throw out the peels, but what many of us are
unaware of is that these peels are loaded with highly nutritious
compounds that are beneficial for our health. Orange peels contain
more than 60 types of flavonoids and over 170 different types of
phytonutrients, in addition to being rich in various pectins,
vitamins, minerals and fiber. Think twice before discarding the
peels, the next time you consume an orange.
The humble brown spud also possesses a nutritious peel. Potato skins contain niacin also called vitamin B-3. Like potassium, niacin helps your cells break down nutrients into useable fuel. It also plays a role in cell communication and new cell development and helps your cells recover from physiological stress.
Summer squash's
best-studied benefits are the phytonutrients carotenoids. Here the
focus has been on lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, and
beta-carotene. In terms of summer squash varieties, yellow
straightneck, yellow crookneck, yellow zuccihini, and yellow patty
pan are your best choices for total carotenoids. The skins of these
squashes can be especially important to consume if you are seeking to
make the most of summer squash carotenoids.
This is just a
sampling of the natural and nutritious fruit and vegetable skins.
There are also cucumber, winter squash, sweet potato and more.
This is not a
recommendation to eat a banana or any of the other foods by biting
through the peel as the peels are typically not very palatable.
Rather eat these as you usually would, hold onto the skin and toss it
into your fresh blended smoothies. In addition to the health benefits
this also reduces trash. Best done with organic produce and be sure to wash everything first and enjoy.
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