Did you know the peels of some fruits hold
some of the most powerful nutrients in the world?
There are many uses, both medicinal and
practical, for orange and banana peels that aren't known by many.
So, next time you think about
throwing away one of these peels, you may want to remember this information.
Orange Peels
It's always a good idea to minimize
pesticide levels by choosing organic oranges. Oranges tend to be grown with
lower pesticide usage than most fruits but a good cleaning with 1 tablespoon of
lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in 1 cup of water will remove
almost any pesticide with ease.
An Orange's peel and apple's skin are
similar because most of the nutrients are in the skin of these fruits.
According to Rebecca Wood, author of The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, “One
medium orange contains over 60 flavonoids and 170 different phytonutrients.”
They are good for your skin, your system and your home too. Dr. Jaishree
Bhattacharjee, Ayurvedic consultant with Satvikshop helps us find out its
different uses.
Medicinal Properties of Orange Peels
As per Ayurveda, orange peel is tikta
(bitter) and it improves digestion and can speed up your metabolism. It helps
to naturally beat gas, heartburn, vomiting and acidic eructation. It's also
great to perk up your appetite and relieve nausea.
Due to its pacifying properties, orange
peel powder helps dissolve phlegm in respiratory systems, alleviate coughs, and
asthma.
Most of the beneficiary aspects of orange
peels come from their essential oils, which have anti-microbial and
anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oil “d-limonene” has the ability to
defuse stomach acids and maintain normal intestinal movements. It also promotes
normal liver function.
Studies have shown that orange peel can
dissolve cholesterol and triglyceride. That means consumption of an orange peel
can benefit obese people who have high cholesterol levels. It has a flavonoid
known as hesperidine, which is said to be effective against colon cancer and
osteoporosis.
Essential oils from orange peels are
sedative in nature so it makes them great for calming nerves and inducing
sleep. Use orange peels in baths, simmer in a pot to uplift your mood, or beat
insomnia naturally.
Beauty Properties of Orange Peels
Rub some orange peels on your skin gently
if you have oily skin. Oily skin responds well to application of orange peels.
It helps balance the skin's oil and makes your skin smoother and softer.
Dried orange peel beads can act as a
natural exfoliator by removing dead cells and blackheads gently and
naturally.
Orange peels help in removing dark spots
and blemishes.
Due to its cleansing, anti inflammatory,
antibacterial and antifungal properties, it works well against pimples and
acne.
To remove damp or musky odor from your
house and fill it with a beautiful fragrance, boil a few peels in water (you
may also add some clove or cinnamon.)
Cooking With Orange Peels
f you use organic peels in cooking the
orange zest can enhance the taste and flavor of many dishes.
Dried orange peels can absorb
humidity from brown sugar. Just place half a peel in the bag.
Candy made with orange peels can improve
your appetite and the vitamin c in them boosts your immune system. Although the
sugar content in most candy weakens the immune system, choosing candy made with
orange peels is a better choice if you cannot resist eating sweets.
Banana Peels
Like oranges, make sure you use organic
banana peels to reduce your exposure to pesticide levels and you may even want
to try the wash described above anyways.
Banana peels are full of
antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, so they can naturally cure many ailments
and can aid cell regeneration. Here are just a few uses, if you know of more
please comment in the comment section on the bottom of this article.
Water Filtration
Research shows they have a capacity to
absorb lead and copper from water.
Bug Bites
Just rub a banana peel on a bug bite
to soothe the skin and reduce the itch.
Bruises
With regenerative properties, banana peel
can speed up the healing of bruises.
Teeth Whitening
Rub the inside of a banana peel on your
teeth for a couple of minutes every other day, and your teeth will be
noticeably whiter in a few weeks.
Warts
Banana peels help eliminate warts and
prevent their return. Tape or somehow strap a piece of banana peel to the wart
overnight for about a week or rub the banana peel on the affected area daily.
This can also work for plantar warts. Potato skin has been known to accomplish
the same thing.
Scrapes and Scratches
Rub a banana peel on small cuts or
scratches and it can help promote healing.
Splinters
The enzymes help dislodge the
splinter and can help kick-start the healing process if you tape a piece of the
peel over a splinter for a couple hours.
Acne
A banana peel can soothe the inflammation
and irritation of acne. It also helps to prevent future outbreaks. Rub a peel
over the acne every night. You should see a positive change within a few
days.
Psoriasis
Once or twice a day, try rubbing a banana
peel on a psoriasis-affected area. Bananas have properties to reduce itchiness,
moisturize, and heal psoriasis. You should see a noticeable difference in only
a few days.
Rashes and Itches
Poison ivy, mild rashes, dry skin,
irritated skin and even sunburn. Banana peel is good for relieving itch and
promotes healing of the skin. Rub the peel over the rash or affected area twice
daily until it is gone. If you notice it getting worse you should see a
professional.
Headaches
Simply take the banana peel and spread it
out across your forehead and relax while the nutrients are absorbed into your
skin.
Wrinkles
Regularly applying banana peel to your
forehead, face or cheeks can tighten the skin,
shrink pores and reduce wrinkles.
Household
Banana peels are great for
polishing. After removing the stringy parts from the peel, rub away and watch
the shine.
One last reason and it's sure not the sole use left, however we might advise you to invariably compost your unused waste material because it makes for nice organic nutrient-rich soil to grow your future plants with. thus bear in mind the following pointers next time you visit throw away any peels!
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