The Craziest Slimming Superfood You’re Not Eating
The craziest slimming superfood that you give nary a thought on it is banana peel. Although most of us know banana peels as the culprit of an old-timey pratfall, this “food waste” is transformed into real delicacy in places like Caribbean and India.
As you might guess, this slimming food not only makes your meal more delicious, but also can help you burn some extra fat. Seriously, banana peels are the new trend in weight-loss nowadays.
Why Is Banana Peel The New Slimming Superfood?
Here’s why banana peels are called slimming superfoods:
- Banana peels keep your metabolism stoked with nutrients, such as antioxidants, lutein, vitamin A and some B vitamins.
- This slimming superfood makes you feel full and slows digestion because it contains more fiber than the fruit itself.
- It is the best food source for potassium, which can truly boost your normal workout.
- Green peels contain probiotics, so they maintain your body’s internal flora balanced, which is really great for weight loss.
- Green peels also boost fat burning because it’s rich in “calorie-free carbs” (resistant starches).
- Green peels make your body to release a lot of feel-good chemicals such as dopamine, tryptophan and serotonin, so your mood will definitely improve.
- Yellow peels are also a slimming superfood because they have anti-cancer qualities and help with the production of white-blood cells.
How To Eat Banana Peels?
Now that you’re convinced of the benefits of this slimming superfood, how on earth can you prepare a delicious meal with banana peels? Well, we tasted some online recipes and came across these 5 incredibly tasty banana peel dishes. But before going into kitchen, here’s what you need to know about preparing banana peels:
- Green banana peels and yellow banana peels are two different ingredients.
- Green peels need to be cooked.
- Yellow peels are better uncooked, blended into smoothies. Also, you can use them to make tea.
- No matter which color you prefer, always choose organic bananas.
- Clean the peels well before cooking; they’re full of dirt, chemicals, and who knows what else might be on them.
I would recommend green banana peels if your goal is to lose weight. Also, the fruit of green bananas can be used as a carb substitute for potatoes (French fries).
Finding innovative and delicious ways to use up food waste is big right now. So give these 5 banana peel recipes a try and you’ll wonder why the heck you’ve been tossing this slimming superfood in the trash your entire life.
1. Banana Tea
Cut off the stem and the opposite black end of a yellow banana peel, then place the peel in a pot and cover it with water. Boil for about 10 minutes. Strain and drink plain or with honey and milk.
2. Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1-2 unpeeled yellow banana, with the ends cut off;
- ¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk;
- 2 tsp cinnamon;
- Ice.
Preparation: Blend all the ingredients until smooth and serve.
3. Banana Peels With Black-Eyed Peas
Ingredients:
- 4 green banana peels;
- 1 tsp turmeric;
- Salt to taste;
- 2 tsp coconut oil;
- ½ cup black-eyed peas;
- ½ tsp mustard seeds;
- 2 tbsp unsweetened grated coconut;
- Juice of one lime.
Preparation:
- Chop peels into small pieces and boil in water with turmeric and a pinch of salt. Add a few drops of oil to the water to prevent sap from sticking to the pot.
- Bring to a boil, and then simmer until banana peels are tender.
- Drain and keep the water for a later use (you can cook rice in it or use it as a base for soup).
- If using canned black-eyed peas, rinse and drain them. If using fresh black-eyed peas, boil until tender.
- Heat coconut oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add mustard seeds and cook until they start to pop.
- Add boiled banana peels and black-eyed peas, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in coconut.
- Add salt and lime juice to taste. Serve.
4. Green Banana Curry
Ingredients:
- 4 green banana peels;
- 1 tbsp coconut oil;
- 1 tsp mustard seeds;
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped;
- ½ inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped;
- One green and one red hot chili peppers);
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder;
- ¼ tsp cinnamon;
- ½ tsp cumin;
- 3 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut;
- ¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk;
- Salt to taste.
Preparation:
- Chop peels into small pieces and soak in a bowl of water.
- Heat coconut oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add mustard seeds and cook until they start to pop.
- Add onion and sauté until transparent.
- Add ginger, hot peppers, cinnamon and cumin. Stir and sauté for a minute, and then add turmeric.
- Add banana peels and coconut. Sprinkle with salt and stir.
- Add coconut milk plus one-half cup water. Cover pan and cook slowly until peels are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add more water if needed and keep cooking.
- Stir again to combine, add salt to taste, and serve over rice.
5. Banana Peel Chutney
Ingredients:
- 5 green banana peels (keep the fruit from 1 banana too);
- ½ tsp mustard seeds;
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil;
- Cayenne or red pepper flakes;
- 4 cloves of garlic;
- 1 small onion, chopped;
- 1 small jalapeno;
- 1 tbsp turmeric;
- 1 tsp ground fenugreek seeds.
Preparation:
- Boil peels for 15 minutes. Drain and chop.
- Sauté mustard seeds in vegetable oil until they start to pop.
- Season with a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
- Add garlic and onion, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
- Add jalapeno and peels, and cook for two more minutes.
- Add turmeric, fenugreek, banana meat, and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Put everything in blender and blend until mostly smooth (it should be a little lumpy).
- Taste and season as necessary.
- Spread on bread, crackers, or use it as a dip.
Add this slimming superfood to your meal plan and boost your weight loss process. If you don’t know what diet to follow to get real and fast results, The Dukan Diet can be a great option.
