Inedible Food Parts That Are Still Surprisingly Useful

All the bounty that we receive from nature, every single part of it can be beneficial to us in some way or the other. And this applies rightly to the foods that we consume. For most of the food items, we usually just eat the edible part and throw away the inedible parts thinking that it’s of no use to us. However, the healthiest sections of foods can come from the most surprising parts of the very food that we thought was of no use to us. Before we dispose of those parts, we need to learn about the fact that those food parts are the ones that are actually brimming with all kinds of health benefits. When we got to know about this, we were pleasantly surprised. And we decided to share them with you because you, our readers deserve to know what’s best for your health. Read on.

1. Banana Peels

Tons of banana peels are thrown away every single year. But did you know that these peels are rich sources of potassium and also contain antioxidants like polyphenols and carotenoids in abundance? These are required to keep critical health problems like diabetes and heart diseases at bay (1).

If you’re wondering how to use it­ –  we can boil and eat them to reap the benefits. The inside part of banana peels can also be used to polish leather products like your shoes as well. Furthermore, we can also use the peels to heal wounds. Just rub the peels on bruises. You can also use them as fertilizer for your plants.

2. Potato Peels

We have got to learn to love the humble potato peels as much as we love potato fries peeps! Potato peels can be used just like the cucumber slices to give you a spa treatment at home. Potato peels have the ability to lighten those stubborn dark circles of yours. Potatoes have in them an enzyme called catecholase, a skin-lightening agent which allows the peels to lighten our skin (2).

Use the peels or leftover potato slices; place them on the dark spots of your skin for just ten minutes. You’ll see results within a week or so.

3. Pumpkin Filling

Halloween is probably the only time we look at pumpkins with so much love. When we carve the pumpkin for Halloween decorations, we usually throw away the flesh inside. Don’t do it! The pumpkin is a hub of all things healthy – it’s rich in vitamins (A, C, E), zinc, and retinoic acid. All of these properties of pumpkin make an ideal face mask ingredient— it not only nourishes our skin with the vitamins, but the zinc also acts as a soothing agent, and retinoic acid is used for exfoliating properties (3). Mix the Jack O’Lantern aka pumpkin puree with some honey and milk. Apply this mixture as a thick layer on your face. Leave it on for ten to fifteen minutes and rinse.

4. Stale Bread

Generally, we only think of making breadcrumbs with the leftover breads at home, right? But guess what, the use of leftover or stale bread doesn’t end there; you can add some of those bread croutons inside your spice mixer to get rid of its odor. Also, the stale bread makes for a great eraser that can erase marks or stains on the wall. Just wipe the stained wall with a soft cloth. Next, cut the rough crust of the bread off and rub the wall with it for a smooth wipe out.

5. Olive Oil (Expired)

The olive oil that you use for cooking, if its expiry date just went by, it must be beginning to smell and taste bad. However, its uses still remain fresh. You use this olive as a makeup remover. You can use the oil for making your plants shinier by rubbing it onto its leaves. You can also use it to polish your shoes as well.

6. Onion Skin

The flaky skins of onions that we throw away are nothing but a powerhouse of all things beneficial. The skin of the onion is considered to be rich in quercetin, it’s a plant pigment that prevents conditions of lower blood sugar, prevents blockages in arteries, and reduces inflammation (4). We understand that the flaky skin clearly isn’t edible, however, we can still reap the benefits from it; when you’re cooking broths or soups, add these onion skins to it. Let the soup or broth extract the health benefits from the skin. Just make sure that when the soup or broth is ready to eat, strain it and get rid of the onion skins.

7. Orange Peels

When we want to repel pests, using foods can never be one of the ways to do it, right? But the peels of orange act as an ant repellant. Orange peels contain oil that is linked to limonene that acts as a natural ant repellant (5). This works on mosquitoes and flies as well. So, the next time you decide to camp in the woods or go hiking, you know what to carry to keep the pests away!

Do you know of any other food parts that need to make it to this list? Let us know in the comments below.

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